What is the Gospel?

The word Gospel means “good news!”

But....what IS the Gospel?

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 we are told what the gospel is:

• Jesus Christ died for our sins

• Jesus Christ was buried

• Jesus Christ rose again!

The gospel really is that simple! But it’s hard to comprehend! Why?

As humans we know that we are not good. We know that we have a disease because of all the bad things we think, do, and say - EVERYONE is in the same boat! In fact, look at the words of Jesus found in Mark 7:14-23.

“And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

These words of Jesus are convicting, and to be honest, really don’t feel good...but He’s not wrong...is He?

The reason why Jesus says these things is because of what happened in the Garden of Eden way back in the book of Genesis. We learn that God commands Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and that if they do they will surely die! This is called the Edenic Covenant, which Adam and Eve broke. Even though Adam and Eve broke this covenant, God still had to uphold His end of the covenant, which was to justly curse all creation to death. However, within this reality, God justly pours out his love, mercy, and grace upon Adam and Eve and provides coverings for their shame through animal skins.

God really does fulfill His promises!

In God’s word (The Bible) we are told that by nature we are children of wrath, that none is righteous, no, not one, and that we don’t even seek after God! Sin exists; therefore, death exists! Sin earns death, and as sinners according to God’s word, we all fall short of the glory of God.

“So far this doesn’t sound like good news!”

Did you know that God loves you even though you are an enemy to God? God’s word tells us that God sent Jesus into the world to save the world even while we are still sinners!

God took the initiative by sending Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, to take what we deserve, which is God’s perfect judgment and wrath in the form of death. Jesus took it upon Himself even though He didn’t sin!

Jesus really did die! He was buried but he didn’t stay that way. He rose again, conquering death (the just curse that God gave to Adam and Eve) and thereby fulfilling the Edenic Covenant and creating a new covenant in His blood.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life

There is only one way for sin to be dealt with, and that is with the punishment of death, both physical death and spiritual death in hell! If you come to Jesus, confessing your sin, asking Him to forgive you and save you, this is repenting. By repenting you are also accepting God’s free gift of salvation through faith alone by grace alone in Jesus alone, and you will be made a new creation and spend eternity with Him. God will give you grace and peace, which is what we all desperately need! You can rest assured that all of your sin and all of your debt has been paid in full.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! This is the good news; this is the Gospel!

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Psalm 34:8