Chelsea church of Christ . . .
undenominational Christianity
undenominational Christianity
What is the Gospel?
What is the Gospel? The Greek word for Gospel, 'euagge/lion (euangelion), means "good news". Specifically, it is an announcement of an event that has good ramifications, a declaration of victory, a triumph, good news, glad tidings.
The Gospel centers on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ: who He is and what He has accomplished by His life, death, burial and resurrection.
What is the Gospel? The Greek word for Gospel, 'euagge/lion (euangelion), means "good news". Specifically, it is an announcement of an event that has good ramifications, a declaration of victory, a triumph, good news, glad tidings.
The Gospel centers on the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ: who He is and what He has accomplished by His life, death, burial and resurrection.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul provides the most succinct summary of the gospel: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures . . . "
The Gospel is only "Good News" to those who have heard, and believe that there is a diagnosis of "Bad News" about them to start with. God's word says that ". . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Therefore, we all come to a point where it can truly be said that ". . . your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). The harsh truth is that all of mankind is fallen because of sin and God's curse on mankind. Therefore, all are corrupted and this is seen in our desire to honor and give glory to ourselves rather than to God who created us. In this state, all we deserve is God's anger and wrath.
We are also faced with the problem that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness)" (Hebrews 9:22). God, however, provided a solution to this problem by sending His only Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to shed His blood and die on the cross for our sins. He was buried in a tomb and on the third day was raised from the dead. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Therefore, although "the wages of sin is death . . . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Here is a visual illustration of the Gospel of Christ:
The Gospel is only "Good News" to those who have heard, and believe that there is a diagnosis of "Bad News" about them to start with. God's word says that ". . . all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Therefore, we all come to a point where it can truly be said that ". . . your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). The harsh truth is that all of mankind is fallen because of sin and God's curse on mankind. Therefore, all are corrupted and this is seen in our desire to honor and give glory to ourselves rather than to God who created us. In this state, all we deserve is God's anger and wrath.
We are also faced with the problem that "without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness)" (Hebrews 9:22). God, however, provided a solution to this problem by sending His only Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to shed His blood and die on the cross for our sins. He was buried in a tomb and on the third day was raised from the dead. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Therefore, although "the wages of sin is death . . . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Here is a visual illustration of the Gospel of Christ:
