What is the Gospel ??

The Good News is that God has already reconciled the whole world to Himself through the death, burial and resurrection, of His Son Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 NKJV

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Jesus Christ did everything God the Father demanded of Him to pay the price for all the sin in the world. (John 1:29)

John 1:29 NKJV

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The “Good News” also is that Jesus died for everyone, past, present, and future. God didn’t check our backgrounds. Jesus didn’t check to see if we qualified for His sacrifice or not. He just died for us, the sinless Son of God, so we may have the opportunity for eternal life. All God asks is that we believe it.

What is the Gospel that Saves Today?

The gospel for us today is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day. The Gospel is the power unto salvation! (Romans 1:16) Anyone that believes by “faith” in this “good news” will be saved. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 10:9,10) There is nothing, nothing, nothing a person must do to be saved but believe (Romans 3:22,26) the gospel. Salvation is by the grace of God, it is a gift from God (Romans 6:23) and by believing by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8,9) that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose three days later. Trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross alone is the only way a person is saved. This is the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (NKJV)

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

The Gospel is the Power of God for Salvation… Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

The Gospel of Grace was a Mystery “Secret”

The gospel of grace was hidden from the world by God until He revealed to the apostle Paul by the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:11–12 NKJV

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 9:15,16 the Lord said to Barnabas “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

25 Now to Him, that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 16:25

Mankind will be Judged by this Gospel:

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 2:16

“Anyone that believes the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 1:16) is saved, instantly sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), immediately becomes a member of the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13) which is the Church, and is indwelled with the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5, 8:9) and blessed with all spiritual blessing in the heavenly’s. (Ephesians 1:3) Looking forward to that “Blessed Hope” the glorious appearing of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)”

What do you have to do to be saved?

Believe the gospel. A person must believe by faith only that God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to died for their sins, was buried and rose again from the dead three days later.

Faith

The key ingredient for salvation is faith.  Believing, trust, and faith all mean the same thing. A person has to believe what God says.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:4,5

Faith has always been the necessary ingredient for salvation. The Bible makes it crystal clear that it is impossible to please God without faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6

“Believing isn’t a mental assent to a historical fact”

It’s Always Been by Faith From the very beginning of Biblical history, faith has always been what God looks for in a person, it is always faith in what God says that saves. Chapter 11 in the Book of Hebrews makes it so clear, it has always been about faith. By faith, Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, by faith Noah believed God, built the ark and was found righteous. By faith, the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Throughout the Bible, salvation has always been the result of a person’s faith (believing) in what God says.

What makes the gospel of grace so amazing (Amazing Grace) is all that God requires for salvation is belief. Just believe the gospel. There are ABSOLUTELY NO WORKS INVOLVED.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:4,5

Mankind will Be Judged by the Gospel of Grace

From the time the gospel of grace was revealed to the apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11,12),  sometime around Acts 9 (38,40 AD), ALL MANKIND will either be saved or judged by that gospel.

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 2:16

Now to Him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.

Romans 16:25

The Simple Road to Salvation First, the “good news” the “gospel” message for us today is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you 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

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.

Ephesians 1:13

Why do I even need to be saved?

Because of Adam’s disobedience (Genesis 3:6) in the garden sin and death (Romans 5:12) entered the world and all mankind became separated from God.

Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:12

Every human born (except Christ Jesus) from Adam right up to this present day and beyond are ALL be born with a SIN nature and enemies of God. (Romans 8:7)  We are all born with what the apostle Paul calls our “old man”. That “old man” or sin nature is what produces the sin’s we commit.

“We are not sinners because we break the law, we break the law or commits sins because we are ALL born sinners”

When we sin it comes naturally, we’re born with a sin nature. That’s why the Scripture declares;

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 64:6

Romans 5:12 makes it so clear.

Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Romans 5:18

There isn’t anything a person can do to change their sin nature. That’s something only God can do. No amount of good works can change it, living a good life can’t change it, donating all your money to charities will not help, trying your best to keep the ten commandments won’t help you either. You can not be saved by works or by doing something! (that’s called religion) A person’s sins and “sin nature” have already been dealt with by Christ Jesus our Lord on the cross. (Romans 6:6) When a person believes the gospel they are believing that Jesus Christ took care of their sin nature and ALL their sins past, present, and future on the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us (mankind), who knew no sin; that we (mankind) might (if we believe the gospel) be made the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16

The Big Question – Your Final Answer

Lastly and most importantly, you’ve heard the good news and the bad news, you know there is nothing you can do to save yourself from an eternity in the lake of fire, separated from God. But now you also now know that Jesus Christ took care of your sin problem past, present and future on the cross. Do you believe it?

“You have already been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ by the cross”

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

The question is do you believe it? Do you believe the gospel? Do you believe what God said He did for you? For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

John 14:6

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9-10

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Believing isn’t a mental assent to a bunch of facts about Jesus Christ. First, you must believe in your heart that you’re a sinner, with no hope and there is nothing you can do to save yourself. (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Romans 5:18) Secondly, you must truly believe in your heart the only way to be saved from a certainty of complete separation from God in the lake of fire is believing in your heart by faith alone in the gospel; (Romans 1:16) that God sent His only Son to die for your sins, was buried and was resurrected three days later. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Use this Only as a Guide:

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe with all my heart, by faith alone that I’m a sinner and because of sin I am without hope in this world and eternally separated from You. But I also understand and believe by faith alone that God the Father, because of His great love, mercy, and grace saved me, by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins, was buried and rose again from the dead three days later. Never to die again, and I too will one day be raised to be with the Lord forever because I believe.

Amen.