What is the Christian Gospel? The Christian Gospel is based on the message presented in the Bible. It presents a problem, and reveals the solution. The solution is Christ and life, and that’s the good news.
We are often very wary when we receive an offer that seems too good to be
true. We’ve been burned one too many times to fall for yet another scam.
The good news part of the Gospel definitely falls into the “seems too
good to be true category” but with a twist… it’s really true and it’s
really good.
Paul sums it up quite well in 1 Timothy 1:15 when he states: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
Who Will Obey
The Bible is full of stories about people doing what God commanded them to do. When God told Noah to build the Ark in order to save himself and his family from coming judgment, “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22.
When God ordered Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldees for another land he would inherit with his descendants “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3.
When God gave Moises instructions for building the tabernacle, a place He would fill with His glory, Moises guided the people so that “According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.” Exodus 39:42.
These are examples of people took seriously the message sent by the Creator, and acted on it. They obeyed the Word of God.
In Philippians 2:8 we read of another who became “obedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross.” Jesus Christ did this with a purpose to save us from our sins.
Clues from History
God has many times, and in many ways, tried to get mankind’s attention. The message has been declared and the cry from the Creator is, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”. Will you be among those who will believe His word?
It started early, and it happened often. The first clue of coming salvation is recorded in Genesis 3:17, when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall cross his heel.” A conflict for the ages, and a battle for your soul. The victory would be obtained through the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ some 4000 years later.
In Genesis 22:8, Abraham gives another clue when he says to Isaac, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” A prophecy of the coming salvation through “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”, John 1:2.
In Isaiah 7:14 we read a prophecy of the coming Saviour 700 years before His coming “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”. This was fulfilled in Matthew 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
The Death of the Innocent
It is widely accepted by most, that guilty people must pay for their own bad deeds. Most legal systems are established on this premise.
When it comes to salvation, God did something totally contrary to human logic. God established a plan whereby the innocent pays for the guilty. Even though it might be difficult to understand this reasoning, it is totally necessary for the salvation of your soul. The really good news for you is that you don’t have to pay for your crimes against God. Your offenses, your sins and your wrongdoing were all paid for by an innocent person.
The innocent person is Jesus Christ. The Father said of Him in Matthew
3:17: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” After the
governor Pilate examines him, he declares to the people “And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any
of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to
us.” Luke 23:14 – 15
Nothing deserving of death was done by him. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22. The innocent dies, not for His own guilt but for the guilt of many. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” 1 Peter 3:18
God punished His Son, and showed Him no mercy when He died for ours sins. Isaiah 53:6 declares: “and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” and “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”, 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Lord Jesus Christ offered himself willingly to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.
Decision Time
God has done all He can in order to save you. Jesus Christ completed the work necessary to save you. Now, it’s up to you. Throughout the Scriptures the options are clearly laid out on the table.
From Moses to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 30:15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” to Joshua to the people of Israel in Joshua 24:15 “choose this day whom you will serve”.
In Acts, we can read of decisions made to believe and to not believe. In Acts 17, some mocked and some believed. In Acts 28, some were convinced and some disbelieved.
It is time for you to decide. Consider the consequences of the decision you are about to make: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36.
Action Point: Summarize the Good News
- Watch the short video here: What is the Christian Gospel: The Good News
- Read in the book of John from chapter 1 to chapter 3.
- Click here to download a PDF Reading Sheet: John 1 to 3
- Review the Bad News part of the Gospel.
- Meditate on what the Word of God is saying to you about the Good News.
- Pray that the Spirit of God works in you to reveal to you the truth about the work of Christ on your behalf.
- Click here for a general overview of the Christian Gospel
Something I’ve never understood about christianity, the gospel, or religion in general. Isn’t it true that people say “God sacrificed his only begotten son for our sins”? Maybe I’ve been out of the “gospel” for too long, but what’s the purpose of living a certain way if it’s said that we’ve already been forgiven and that the crucifixion of Christ was to make up for the things God knew we would do?
With all do respect (I’m more of a spiritual person. Definitely not Christian) I consider nature the ultimate calm. A good hike in the woods and I’m good, but that’s one question I’ve never gotten a straight answer for.
No offense taken, and I appreciate your candidness and honesty.
I will share with you a few verses sprinkled with some thoughts that hopefully can help to answer your question about the gospel:
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. The Lord Jesus Christ did take the punishment for all of our sins.
But, even though Christ died for all of our sins, not everyone will receive forgiveness. There is an important aspect of the gospel message that places the responsibility directly on us.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey (chooses to not believe) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:36 So the question of forgiveness has to do with whether or not I believe what Christ did on my behalf.
The living a certain way part, is a product of forgiveness and does not itself lead to forgiveness nor is it a guarantee of forgiveness.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8 – 10. A gift of salvation received because of God’s goodness, received as a result of trusting in the work of Christ. Serving Him (or living a certain way) is out of gratitude because of having been forgiven.
I too love a good hike in the woods, it is so refreshing and rejuvenating. When I am out there, I see nature as a witness of the Creator and I echo what Paul writes to the Romans 1:12 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.”