What Is the Gospel?

Awe

All of humanity should be able to see and acknowledge that God created the heavens and the earth. The detail with which all things exist points to the fact that they were created. If things were created, then of course there must be a Creator. The Bible further explains the method the Creator used to create and give life to all things: He simply spoke! This unmatched power comes from a perfect (or holy) God. As the perfect Creator, God demands and deserves to be respected and honored with complete obedience.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.Romans 1:20 (BSB)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.Genesis 1:1-3 (BSB)

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.Psalms 33:6 (BSB)

Dead

Humanity did not and does not honor God as He deserves. This resulted in the spiritual death of humanity. Every human being is born spiritually dead in sin and separated from God. Every human being is born under the wrath of God and facing judgment for not honoring Him as He deserves.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.Romans 1:21 (BSB)

And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”Genesis 2:16-17 (BSB)

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.Romans 5:12 (BSB)

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.Ephesians 2:1-3 (BSB)

This judgment is the result of humanity’s refusal to honor God as God, the God who created heaven and earth and deserves praise, honor and worship from all people.

Lord

But God, in His own time, chose to fulfill His own judgment against His people. Jesus, who existed with God the Father in eternity past, chose to come to earth to fulfill God’s righteous requirements and to sacrifice Himself for all who would believe in who He is. Jesus was born of a virgin; therefore, He did not inherit the sin that has been handed down from Adam.

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”Matthew 20:28 (BSB)

“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”John 8:58 (BSB)

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.Colossians 1:16-17 (BSB)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.Philippians 2:5-7 (BSB)

Jesus perfectly obeyed God the Father, doing all things that God the Father asked all men to do since the beginning of creation. Jesus was killed as a sinner, even though He had no sin of His own. His sinless death allows Him to serve as a substitute for others who have sin. God affirmed His acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for others by raising Jesus from the dead.

He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”John 8:29 (BSB)

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.2 Corinthians 5:21 (BSB)

God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.Romans 3:25 (BSB)

He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.1 John 2:2 (BSB)

For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”Acts 17:31 (BSB)

The Father also gave the Son glory, or worth to be worshiped, because of His obedience; therefore God requires that all people, everywhere, honor and worship His Son. God has secured salvation for His people through the Person and work of Jesus Christ. This good news was not deserved. It is given completely by God’s grace.

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:9-11 (BSB)

He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.Hebrews 9:12 (BSB)

Obey

Because of who Jesus is, God manifested in the flesh, He deserves our worship and obedience. Because of what Jesus did, He deserves our humble gratitude. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then your words and actions will show it.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.Matthew 16:16-17 (BSB)

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.Philippians 2:12-13 (BSB)