What is the Gospel?

Let’s begin

 Let’s begin at the foundation of the Christian faith. The central truth-claim of Christianity is the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. It is what distinguishes Christianity from all other faiths (although it is connected to Judaism, but that is for a later post). The gospel has freed us from ourselves and has given us hope when we were hopeless. It is what allows us to be reconciled with God.

What some call the gospel

What is the gospel? I have heard many different and conflicting answers given to this question. Unfortunately, I must include some ministers among those who miss on this. One answer that people give is “relationship with God”. Probably the most common answer is some form of love or charity towards others (love for our neighbor). Both of these are an important part of what Christ expects from us. However, they are not the gospel.

What exactly is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The gospel of Jesus Christ can be clearly understood from the teachings of Jesus, the teachings about Jesus found in the four New Testament Gospels, and from the teachings of the Apostles. Also, Old Testament prophecy can help us understand the gospel (Gen. 3:15, Is. 53). However, in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul gives one of the most clear and concise statements of the gospel you will find.

“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Cor. 15:3-4, CSB)

Paul lays out the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that is clear and unambiguous. He does so without apology or fluff. He also warns us not to stray from this as the true gospel:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If  anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you have received, a curse be on him!” (Gal. 1:8-9)

In the 1 Cor. 15:5-7 he issues a challenge to the reader regarding this point. He references the hundreds of people who witnessed the risen Christ with the added note that many are still alive as of the writing of his letter. In other words, “if you don’t believe me, you can go ask them for yourself.” 

Core Teaching of the Faith

This is the core teaching of our faith. The Apostle Paul made this point clearly in verse 14 when he stated, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” It is the death of Christ that vanquished our sins, but it is His resurrection that demonstrated His enthronement as King of Kings. It also demonstrated that His death was powerful enough to cover all sin for all time. We don’t worship a dead man; we worship the risen Christ, the true and living God. 

I am reminded of an example story. There are two men who were the closest of friends as they grew up together. After graduating high school they go their separate ways. The one man goes off to law school. He graduates and becomes a lawyer and eventually becomes a judge. The other man falls on the wrong side of the tracks and eventually runs into legal trouble. He ends up standing before his friend in court.

The judge recognizes his friend. His friend is guilty and deserves a large fine, but he knows his friend cannot pay it. The judge loves his friend, But he knows he must follow the law. So the judge levies the maximum fine to his friend. Then he steps down from the bench, takes off his robe, and writes a check for the full amount.

Nicky Gumbel

Why then does our teaching stray from the true gospel?

In a way, the true gospel is uncomfortable. It is simple for our minds, but difficult for our hearts. The true gospel reveals the unfathomable love of God, which is the best news ever brought to mankind, and it reveals the wrath and perfect justice of God. God’s incomprehensible love and His perfect justice intersect at the cross of Jesus Christ.

I have found in my experience that many Christians want to focus on the love of Christ but not the perfect justice of Christ. Yes, Jesus was the picture of love and compassion, and His sacrifice was the most loving act in history. However, He was also truthful and often tough on those who ought to have known better.

Christian Apologist Dr. Frank Turek frequently points out during his lectures and Q&A’s that many Christians believe Jesus never said a cross (angry) word. One only needs to read Matthew 23 to understand otherwise. Here Jesus took the Pharisees, the religious people of His day, to task for their hypocrisy and their leading people astray.

We are a people who are addicted to our comforts. The “Jesus of love” is more comfortable than the “Jesus of judgment”. This also ingratiates some Christians to the current culture. We no longer stand against a culture that is growing more sinful. We, at best, look away, and at worst, celebrate their sin with them (see Romans 1:32). The Apostle Paul told us it would be this way when he wrote:

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Tim. 4:3, NIV)

Submit to the full authority of Christ and His Word.

How do we avoid the trap of a false gospel? We must commit ourselves to the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Study the scripture and learn what Jesus said, not just what people tell us Jesus said. In this way we can relate to the true Jesus of the Bible and not the Jesus we try to create to fit our own preferences and self-declared truth and morality.

Related Posts

Jesus warned us about false prophets (Matt. 7:15-16). He also warned us that the surrounding culture would not accept us (John 15:18-19). However, if we stay connected to Him and study His word, faithfully seeking the truth, His Spirit will aid us in discerning what is right and true. 

Blessings