What Is The Gospel?
It’s a tragedy and a travesty that the most crucial and essential doctrine of the Christian faith is so often muddied and diluted. Ask five different “Christians” what the Gospel is, and you are likely to get five different answers, ranging from works-based salvation to universalism. Why has this been the case? At its core, I believe this stems from the worldview that nothing is ever truly free—that there is no way the Gospel could really be as simple as it claims to be. However, there is a common mistake made here: just because something may be simple to understand doesn’t necessarily mean it is always easy to accept. Many can understand the Gospel message or even believe it is true, yet unless they accept it, they will not be saved. So, what is the Gospel?
The word “Gospel” comes from the Greek word “εὐαγγέλιον,” which simply means “Good News.” So, what is this “good news”? Well, first, in order to appreciate the good news, we need to start with the bad news. We read in the Bible that “All have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible tells us that all of us are born into this world in sin, and that each and every one of us falls short of God’s holy standard. Our destiny is eternal separation from Him and His kingdom forever. If that was where the story ended, it would be the most tragic tale ever told—but thankfully, it didn’t. Here’s the good news! We read in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” God sent His Son into the world to be the “propitiation” (ἱλαστήριον = “appeasement”) for the judgment that we deserved (1 John 2:2). Jesus died on the cross for our sins, willingly laying down His life for us as a sacrifice, and He rose again from the dead as proof of the sufficiency of that sacrifice!
This salvation is a gift that is ABSOLUTELY FREE and is only obtained by believing in Jesus for the free gift of eternal life! This was made possible only by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Bible is overwhelmingly clear: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). Nothing we could ever do will earn or prove to ourselves that we have salvation. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, explained in depth how the Gospel of salvation truly works: “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB).
GOSPEL SUMMARY
If you believe the Gospel (John 3:16)—that Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead as the propitiation (payment) for your sins—then you are born again. However, I would like to be very careful to point out that this is not simply believing in facts alone. The Pharisees knew who Jesus was and that He rose again, but were they saved? As Paul just said, we do not want you to “have believed in vain.” The belief that brings salvation is a trusting belief. You must believe in and trust Jesus as your Savior. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31 KJV). Salvation comes to you the moment you fully accept Jesus as your Savior and place your trust in Him as the sacrifice and payment (propitiation) for your sins, thereby believing “on” the name of Jesus.
CONCLUSION
In the book of Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 16, we read: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.” If we attempt to walk up to the throne of God expecting to make it based on our own good deeds, we will fall infinitely short. It is only possible through the grace of God. If you claim to be a follower of Christ, a Christian, then you must realize that we are commanded to live a life set apart for Jesus, living lives worthy of His sacrifice. This is critical to having a relationship with Him because fellowship with Him is maintained by living an obedient life (1 John 1:6-7). However, as I have already stated, salvation is a free gift that is received upon believing in Jesus as the payment for your sins and trusting in Him as the Savior of your soul. Once this event has taken place, regardless of the person’s feelings or actions, it cannot be revoked. Genuine salvation cannot ever be lost (John 4:13-14). If you know that you have had a genuine saving experience but are now “walking in darkness” (1 John 1:6), then you must repent and seek the forgiveness of Jesus. Why would we choose to live in open sin after all that Jesus has done for us? Repent, and be restored to the fellowship you once had. Good works and righteous deeds are the overflow of a grateful, fruitful walk with Jesus. It is because of the single fact that we are saved only by the grace of God that we may “approach the throne of grace with confidence,” because Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins and is ready with open arms to forgive and welcome us home.
— John P. Miles