What is the Gospel?

The Definition

The question “What is the Gospel?” is perhaps the most important question a person can ask. The word Gospel literally means “good news.” It is the plan that God has designed to save sinful humans from eternal separation from Him.

The Bad News

In order to fully understand how good this news really is, we must first understand the bad news.

We are all sinners. The Bible presents a clear and consistent message that all people have sinned. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory for God.” Sin means that we have missed the mark (the perfect standard) that God has set for us.

As a result of the fall in the Garden of Eden, every part of us has been corrupted by sin—our minds, emotions, flesh. We don’t seek after God.

The penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What is a wage? It is the “money that is paid or received for work or services.” In other words, it is what you deserve, what you earn. Romans 6:23 says that death is the wage for our sin. It is what we earn. We deserve to die and live separated from God forever.

The Good News

Since there is no way we can earn our way back to God, the Bible says He came to us! This is the good news—the Gospel.

Christ died for you. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ [Jesus] died for us.” The Bible says that even though we deserve the death penalty for our sin, Jesus took the penalty. He died in our place. Three days later, Jesus rose from death, proving that sin had been conquered.

You can be saved through faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We can depend on Jesus to forgive us and give eternal life, rather than eternal death.

The question is—are you ready to implement the plan, by receiving God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ? If so, believe in Christ and commit the rest of your life to Him. Remember, saying this prayer will not save you. You are simply expressing your faith to God through prayer.

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

Next steps
after being
born again.

Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
Find a local church where you can worship God.

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