What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4).
This is the Gospel. It is the good news of the Church’s redemption and salvation accomplished by the death and resurrection of Christ.
Man was first created to worship God and bring glory to Him, but mankind rejected God’s purpose for life and worshipped other things. This rebellion against God is called sin, and it has continued to this day. Sin was brought into the world by the first man Adam, and ever since then all of mankind has been born sinful, spiritually dead, and unable to live in obedience to God’s Law. Our holy and just God’s penalty for sin is physical and spiritual death, and eternal condemnation in hell.
But God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son to die for us. Jesus the eternal Son of God humbled Himself, taking on human flesh and lived among us. Instead of sinning like the rest of humanity, He lived a perfect life, keeping God’s Law perfectly. He preached good news, that He had come to fulfill God’s Law and give eternal life and forgiveness through His death and resurrection to those who come to Him for salvation.
Jesus was then crucified. He sacrificed Himself as a substitute for sinners, receiving God’s wrath and judgment for man’s sin upon Himself. He received the penalty for our sins. He then was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, triumphing over sin and death.
Because Jesus appeased the wrath of God, sinners who come to Him are forgiven. Our salvation was purchased by His blood, and salvation and forgiveness is available to sinners through Him. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). Those who trust in Christ alone for salvation can stand righteous before God because their guilt was placed upon Christ, and Christ’s righteousness has been given to them. There is nothing we can do to achieve our own salvation or to merit God’s favor. Salvation is entirely grace. It is a free gift from God by Christ alone.
All who come to Christ in faith are no longer spiritually dead, but they have been spiritually reborn and given new life as the Holy Spirit lives within them. No longer an enemy of God, we have been redeemed and adopted as His children. This makes us brothers and sisters together in Christ, and members of the Body of Christ — the Church. This is only the beginning of new life in Christ, and we anticipate an eternity of joy with Him!
If you would like to understand more, or talk about this with someone, please contact the church office. One of our pastors would be glad to speak with you!
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4).
This is the Gospel. It is the good news of the Church’s redemption and salvation accomplished by the death and resurrection of Christ.
Man was first created to worship God and bring glory to Him, but mankind rejected God’s purpose for life and worshipped other things. This rebellion against God is called sin, and it has continued to this day. Sin was brought into the world by the first man Adam, and ever since then all of mankind has been born sinful, spiritually dead, and unable to live in obedience to God’s Law. Our holy and just God’s penalty for sin is physical and spiritual death, and eternal condemnation in hell.
But God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son to die for us. Jesus the eternal Son of God humbled Himself, taking on human flesh and lived among us. Instead of sinning like the rest of humanity, He lived a perfect life, keeping God’s Law perfectly. He preached good news, that He had come to fulfill God’s Law and give eternal life and forgiveness through His death and resurrection to those who come to Him for salvation.
Jesus was then crucified. He sacrificed Himself as a substitute for sinners, receiving God’s wrath and judgment for man’s sin upon Himself. He received the penalty for our sins. He then was buried, and on the third day rose from the dead, triumphing over sin and death.
Because Jesus appeased the wrath of God, sinners who come to Him are forgiven. Our salvation was purchased by His blood, and salvation and forgiveness is available to sinners through Him. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). Those who trust in Christ alone for salvation can stand righteous before God because their guilt was placed upon Christ, and Christ’s righteousness has been given to them. There is nothing we can do to achieve our own salvation or to merit God’s favor. Salvation is entirely grace. It is a free gift from God by Christ alone.
All who come to Christ in faith are no longer spiritually dead, but they have been spiritually reborn and given new life as the Holy Spirit lives within them. No longer an enemy of God, we have been redeemed and adopted as His children. This makes us brothers and sisters together in Christ, and members of the Body of Christ — the Church. This is only the beginning of new life in Christ, and we anticipate an eternity of joy with Him!
If you would like to understand more, or talk about this with someone, please contact the church office. One of our pastors would be glad to speak with you!