What is the Gospel?
For the Christian, the gospel is the bedrock that separates Christianity from all other religions. While all other religions endorse self-righteousness as a way to heaven, for Christianity, it is the gospel alone through Jesus Christ which is our path to God. This begs the question of what is the gospel? The gospel is…
Hope
Since the first sin in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been separated from a holy and just God. This separation has left us all hopeless if we were left to ourselves. However, it is the gospel that brings us back into union with God. This union is our great hope for eternity. The promise of the gospel is that for all those who put their trust in the finished work of Christ, heaven will be their eternal home.
Love
Since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden mankind has made a mess out of the world that God created to be good. Man has become a rebel towards God, wanting to go his own way with little to no concern for their Creator. Despite man’s turning away from him, God has a deep and passionate love for mankind and sent his Son to this world to redeem the world back to him.
Substitution
When the Lord Jesus was hung on the cruel Roman cross 2000 years ago, he was taking the place of all those who by faith received him as their Lord and Savior. Instead of believers being punished for their own sins, Jesus bore the wrath of God for them. In every sense Jesus swallowed up the believer’s punishment and paid the penalty for sin.
Forgiveness
Because God is just and holy he cannot overlook sin. The Bible declares that there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. As Christ shed his blood on the cross, those who put their trust in him would receive forgiveness as Jesus took their punishment.
Power
The Bible declares that the gospel is the power of God for salvation. This power of the gospel empowers sinners to cry out to God for forgiveness, and this power of the gospel empowers believers to live out the Christian life throughout all of eternity. There is no sin, circumstance, or past that the power of the gospel cannot overcome.
Plea
The gospel is the great plea for man to turn from his sin and the rotting riches of this world to Jesus by making Jesus their greatest treasure and their great King. The Bible declares today to be the day of salvation. Would you hear and respond to the plea by giving your life to Jesus?
Praise
The gospel is a person, the Lord Jesus. What could be better news than that God himself would leave the comforts of heaven, put on the robes of human flesh, and redeem a lost and dying world? What great love God has for us! Our great God and King is worthy of all of our praise!
Personal
We pray that if you personally have not turned from sin and put your faith in Jesus Christ, that you would repent today so you too can know the riches of the gospel and the joys of knowing God.