What Is the Gospel?
The word “gospel” comes from the Greek word, εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), which means “good news.” The apostle Paul, writing of his eagerness to proclaim the gospel to the saints in Rome, described it as “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). This gospel begins with the proper understanding of God, recognizes the fallen condition of man, and requires a way of recovery.
God Created and Owns Everything
God created all things through His Son Jesus Christ (Gen 1; John 1:3; Col 1:16), and, as sovereign Creator, He owns, upholds, and rules everything (Ps 24:1; Heb 1:3). Therefore, we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
God Is Holy
God’s holiness is the perfection of His inherent majesty and moral purity. He is transcendently distinct above everything outside Himself and is absolutely morally separate from sin (1 John 1:5). In Isaiah’s vision of Yahweh, Seraphim called out to one another: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is Yahweh of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa 6:3; cf. Rev 4:8).
Mankind Is Sinful
We were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy Him forever; however, sin separates us from Him. Proverbs 20:9 asks, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure, I am clean from my sin’?” Everyone is guilty of sin and rejecting God (Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Rom 3:10–18); indeed, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
Sin Demands a Penalty
The sovereign, holy God requires perfect obedience to His law (Matt 5:48), meaning “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (Jas 2:10). And the just punishment for sin is death (Ezek 18:14; Rom 6:23); performing good deeds or changing our patterns of behavior cannot solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
Jesus Christ Is Lord and Savior
In great love, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for sinners and pay their penalty (Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18). Christ’s atoning death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s righteous life of perfect obedience satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2 Cor 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Rom 3:26).
Repent and Believe in the Gospel
Sinners must turn away for all that dishonors God (Isa 55:7; Luke 9:23; Acts 17:30) and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith (Rom 10:9).
The Character of Saving Faith
True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thess 1:9), pursue Christ (Matt 11: 28-30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (Jas 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Eph 2:10).
The word “gospel” comes from the Greek word, εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), which means “good news.” The apostle Paul, writing of his eagerness to proclaim the gospel to the saints in Rome, described it as “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). This gospel begins with the proper understanding of God, recognizes the fallen condition of man, and requires a way of recovery.
God Created and Owns Everything
God created all things through His Son Jesus Christ (Gen 1; John 1:3; Col 1:16), and, as sovereign Creator, He owns, upholds, and rules everything (Ps 24:1; Heb 1:3). Therefore, we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
God Is Holy
God’s holiness is the perfection of His inherent majesty and moral purity. He is transcendently distinct above everything outside Himself and is absolutely morally separate from sin (1 John 1:5). In Isaiah’s vision of Yahweh, Seraphim called out to one another: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is Yahweh of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa 6:3; cf. Rev 4:8).
Mankind Is Sinful
We were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy Him forever; however, sin separates us from Him. Proverbs 20:9 asks, “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure, I am clean from my sin’?” Everyone is guilty of sin and rejecting God (Ps 14:1–3; 53:1–3; Rom 3:10–18); indeed, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).
Sin Demands a Penalty
The sovereign, holy God requires perfect obedience to His law (Matt 5:48), meaning “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (Jas 2:10). And the just punishment for sin is death (Ezek 18:14; Rom 6:23); performing good deeds or changing our patterns of behavior cannot solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
Jesus Christ Is Lord and Savior
In great love, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for sinners and pay their penalty (Rom 5:8; 1 Pet 3:18). Christ’s atoning death satisfied the demands of God’s justice, and Christ’s righteous life of perfect obedience satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2 Cor 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Rom 3:26).
Repent and Believe in the Gospel
Sinners must turn away for all that dishonors God (Isa 55:7; Luke 9:23; Acts 17:30) and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith (Rom 10:9).
The Character of Saving Faith
True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thess 1:9), pursue Christ (Matt 11: 28-30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (Jas 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Eph 2:10).