What is the Gospel?

By:  Rodney Skyles, Effects of Grace Ministries, Inc.

The word Gospel means “good news.” In short, the good news is that the Perfect and Powerful God has chosen to satisfy (or pay) the penalty for sin for His people.  A more thorough explanation is that a biblical Gospel presentation includes four main points:  Awe of God, Man being Dead in Sin, Lordship of Jesus and that man should Obey.

Awe:

All of humanity should be able to see and acknowledge that God created the heavens and the earth (Romans 1:18-23).  The detail with which all things exist, point to the fact that they were created.  If things were created, then of course there must be a Creator. The Bible further explains the method that the Creator used to create and give life to all things … He simply spoke (Genesis 1:1-2:3)!   This unmatched power comes from a perfect (or holy) God.  As the Perfect Creator, God demands and deserves to be respected and honored with complete obedience.

Dead:

Humanity did not and does not honor God as He deserves (Romans 1:18-23).  This resulted in a spiritual death of humanity (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14).  Every human being is born spiritually dead in sin and separated from God.  Every human being is born under the wrath of God and facing judgment for not honoring Him as He deserves (Ephesians 2:1-3).

This judgment is the result of humanity’s refusal to honor God as God (Romans 1:18-23).  The God Who created heaven and earth and deserves praise, honor and worship from all people.  This good news was not deserved.  It is given completely by God’s grace.

Lord:

But God, in His own time, chose to fulfill His own judgment against His people (Matthew 20:28).  Jesus, Who existed with God the Father in eternity past (John 8:58; Colossians 1:16-17), chose to come to earth to fulfill God’s righteous requirements and to sacrifice Himself for all who would believe in Who He is (Philippians 2:5-7). Jesus was born from a virgin; therefore, He did not inherit the sin that has been handed down from Adam.  Jesus perfectly obeyed God the Father, by doing all things that God the Father asked all men to do since the beginning of creation (Matthew 3:15; 5:17; John 8:29).  Jesus was killed as a sinner, even though He had no sin of His own (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15).  His sinless death allows Him to serve as a substitute for others who have sin ( Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10).  God affirmed His acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for others by raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 4:10; 13:30; 17:31; Rom. 4:24) .   The Father also gave the Son glory, or worth to be worshiped, because of His obedience; therefore God requires that all people, everywhere, honor and worship His Son (Phil. 2:8-11; Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:21).  So, what is the gospel?  The gospel is that God has done and is doing what humanity would not and could not do.  God has secured salvation for His people through the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:12). [tweet_box design=”box_13_at” pic_url=”https://effectsofgrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Skyles_Photo_2013_11151.jpg” author=”Rodney Skyles”]The gospel is that God has and is doing what humanity would not and could not.[/tweet_box]

Obey:

Because of Who Jesus is, God manifested in the flesh, He deserves our worship and obedience.  Because of what Jesus did, He deserves our humble gratitude.  If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, then your words and actions will show that (Matt. 16:16-17; Phil. 2:12-13).