What is the true meaning of the Gospel?
The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe ( Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:9 ). Since the first man’s sin, mankind has been under the condemnation of God ( Romans 5:12 ).
What are the Gospels, and why are there four of…?
Why Are There Four Gospels? The four authoritative gospels which have come down to us were written to cover four aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus. We find that each gospel writer wrote from a different point of view to a different audience. Thus, they each looked at the character of Jesus from different angles.
What is the real 'gospel truth'?
The true gospel is the message Jesus taught. The word "gospel" is an old English word meaning "good news." This good news about Jesus is expressed clearly in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
What is the real gospel?
What is the real gospel message? The real gospel message is that salvation is by grace through faith ( Rom. 6:23) – not faith and something you do like baptism or faith and speaking in tongues or faith and going to a Oneness church, etc. True salvation is freedom from the requirement of keeping any part of the Law to get or maintain salvation.
What does the Gospel of Jesus mean?
The gospel involves Jesus’ death on the cross as the sin offering to fulfill the Law’s righteous requirement ( Romans 8:3–4; Hebrews 10:5–10 ). Under the Law, animal sacrifices were offered year after year as a reminder of sin and a symbol of the coming sacrifice of Christ ( Hebrews 10:3–4 ). When Christ offered Himself at Calvary, ...
What is the key to understanding the gospel?
The key to understanding the gospel is to know why it’s good news. To do that, we must start with the bad news. The Old Testament Law was given to Israel during the time of Moses ( Deuteronomy 5:1 ).
Why is the Gospel good news?
The gospel is good news because our salvation and eternal life and home in heaven are guaranteed through Christ ( John 14:1–4 ). “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
Why am I not ashamed of the gospel?
The Bible is the gospel. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew , then to the Gentile” ( Romans 1:16 ). The gospel is a bold message, and we are not ashamed of proclaiming it.
What did the apostles preach?
Everywhere the apostles went, they preached the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Third, the message of the gospel is accompanied by proofs: Christ died for our sins (proved by His burial), and He rose again the third day (proved by the eyewitnesses). Fourth, all this was done “according to the Scriptures”;
What is the Greek word for "evangelist"?
In Greek, it is the word euaggelion, from which we get our English words evangelist, evangel, and evangelical. The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation. The key to understanding the gospel is to know why it’s good news.
What does it mean to reject the gospel?
To reject the gospel is to embrace the bad news. Condemnation before God is the result of a lack of faith in the Son of God, God’s only provision for salvation. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
What is the gospel about?
So the gospel is not only about an actual historical event, it is about the consequences to mankind forever.
What does the Bible say about the gospel?
In many places, the Bible uses the term "gospel of God" or "gospel of Christ.". In Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35 Jesus used the phrase "the gospel of the kingdom," indicating the good news that He as the Messiah was now among them to usher in the new covenant.
What does "obey the gospel" mean?
The gospel is the perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection of Jesus —which is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. But in slightly different contexts, the writers of the New Testament use the term "obey the gospel" on three separate occasions— Romans 10:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and 1 Peter 4:17.
What was the reason for Paul's existence?
For the apostle Paul, the gospel was the reason for his existence. That there would be no doubt about exactly what the gospel means, Paul specifically defines it in his first letter to the Corinthians:
What does the gospel mean in Matthew 26?
In Matthew 26:12-13, Jesus used the term "this gospel" alluding to his coming death. In Mark 8:35, Jesus explains that the gospel is of such tremendous importance that for its sake a man must be willing to enter upon a life of complete self-denial. For the apostle Paul, the gospel was the reason for his existence.
How many times is the Gospel used in the New Testament?
What is the Gospel? Gospel is a term used over 75 times in the New Testament. While it has various nuances of meaning, it's most fundamental meaning from the Greek is "good news.". But good news of what?
What is the context of 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17?
The context of 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17 is the imminent return of Christ in judgment against the Jews in AD 70. The warning of "obeying the gospel" is clearly, in these two instances, a warning specifically to the first-century Jews who have rejected Jesus and were persecuting the Christians.
What is the gospel?
The gospel is good news—the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ. One day he will make all things new. The good news culminates in a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness, where neither sin nor any of its effects can survive, and where we enjoy the presence of God forever in the context of resurrection existence.
What did Christ do for us?
Christ bore our sin on the cross. He bore the penalty, turned aside God’s judgment, God’s wrath, from us, and cancelled sin. The brokenness of our lives he restores; the shattered relationships he rebuilds in the context of the church; the new life that we human beings find in Christ is granted out of the sheer grace of God.
Why does God stand over us in judgment?
But although God stands over against us in judgment because of our sin, quite amazingly he stands over against us in love, because he is that kind of God—and the gospel is the good news of what God, in love, has done in Jesus Christ, especially in Jesus’s cross and resurrection, to deal with our sin and to reconcile us to himself.
What is the main aspect of the Gospel?
By repeating the word that, Paul calls our attention to the four main aspects of the Gospel: Christ (the “Anointed One”) died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. He was buried. He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He appeared.
What is the Gospel message?
The Gospel is a powerful message of hope in a broken world. If you are one of the many Christians who would like to learn how to: Better share the Gospel in natural ways. Start spiritual conversations in everyday life. Apply biblical evangelism techniques in the modern world.
Why Do We Need the Gospel in a Nutshell or Otherwise?
If the Gospel is the good news about our salvation it is reasonable to ask, “Salvation from what?” This gets into what we call the context of the Gospel. We live is a broken world and the evidence is all around us. We are in broken relationship with God and our fellow humans. This is the consequence of sin and what Jesus came to restore. So we the context of the Gospel (broken relationship) and the content of the Gospel (Jesus died for the forgiveness of sin rising victorious over sin and death) but the story does not end there.
What does it mean to believe in the Gospel?
Faith in the Gospel means believing what God says about our need for salvation, accepting the authority of Jesus over sin and death, and trusting that He can accomplish the forgiveness that He offers us.
What is the broken relationship in the Gospel?
We are in broken relationship with God and our fellow humans. This is the consequence of sin and what Jesus came to restore. So we the context of the Gospel (broken relationship) and the content of the Gospel (Jesus died for the forgiveness of sin rising victorious over sin and death) but the story does not end there.
How to recognize what Jesus has done in our place?
Recognize what Jesus Christ has done in our place and accept the gift that He offers us by trusting in Him alone for salvation. Are given the ability to turn away from our sin and towards God because of His help. You may have heard of this response summed up by the biblical words of faith and repentance.
What is the response to the Gospel?
To respond, we: Agree with God that we are in need of His help and that we cannot save ourselves.
What is the gospel of God?
First, we often find the phrase “the gospel of God.”. This phrase stresses the source of the gospel as a gift from God. The gospel is of divine, not human, origin.
What does Paul say about the glorious gospel?
In another place, Paul writes of “the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted,” and he specifies what that gospel is: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
What is the Great Commission of Evangelism?
True evangelism, according to the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18–20, is a matter of making disciples: first, in the narrow sense of calling men and women to believe in Jesus and, second, in the broad sense of teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has taught His people.
What is the doctrine of the church?
Near the beginning of his commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, Ursinus divides all of doctrine into law and gospel: The doctrine of the church consists of two parts: the Law, and the Gospel; in which we have comprehended the sum and substance of the sacred Scriptures.
How many times is the word "euangelion" used in the New Testament?
In the Greek New Testament, the noun euangelion (“gospel”) appears just over seventy times. Since, in one sense, the whole New Testament is about the gospel, we might have expected the word to have been used more frequently. Even more surprisingly, its use varies greatly among the authors of the New Testament books.
What does the word "good news" mean in the New Testament?
In the New Testament, it refers to the good news of Jesus the Savior. Often, it is used with the assumption that the reader knows what the word means.
Is there a greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel?
There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simpli
What does the Gospel mean?
Many people today talk about the word gospel, but few ever define specifically what they mean by the gospel. For example, most will agree that a person must believe the gospel in order to be saved, but most do not agree on what the gospel is. It is easy to say that the gospel is simply "Christ," or "Christ, crucified." It is easy to say that the gospel is merely the "death, burial, and resurrection of Christ." A preacher in a letter to me once defined the gospel as "the word of God's promise in Jesus who is the Christ." This was, as he stated, the gospel in its simplest form. The problem with all this is that it really does not tell anyone specifically what the gospel is and what it is not. Many who disagree on such vital issues as who God is, who Christ is, the sinfulness of man, and the ground of salvation, can and do agree with the statements above. Also, when we consider the words of God in Galatians 1:8 -- "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed," does this not prove to us that we need a more specific definition? Of course it does.
What is the Gospel of the Good Works?
The Gospel, wherein the mercy of God is revealed, is the main tool which God the Holy Spirit uses to motivate believers to persevere, obey, and perform good works (Rom. 12:1). All exhortations to obedience and morality and good works are to be motivated by this great Gospel truth of the certainty of our final glory based on the righteousness of Christ imputed. Even false preachers promote morality and works. What is the difference between a believer's morality and works and the false religionist's? It is the motivation revealed in this Gospel. Again, this is how we let our light shine, and this is how we are motivated to be ashamed when we sin. But it is ashamedness without fear of punishment which would set us trying to establish a righteousness of our own. This is how we are motivated to worship and obey God, but it is acceptable worship and obedience. Again, it is not because of any merit in the worship and obedience. We are still unprofitable servants in our own works. Again, it is acceptable for three reasons: (1) because it is performed by a justified sinner; (2) (2) it is the fruit of justifying faith; and (3) it is motivated by the certainty of final glory conditioned on Christ, to the praise of the glory of God's grace. Sometimes, because of the Scripture which we are dealing with at the time, we emphasize this truth more. Sometimes, not as much. But we must always make sure, when we are preaching obedience in any area, that our hearers understand that no obedience forms any part of the ground of our salvation and final glory. If we do not preach the Gospel while we are dealing in other areas of obedience, our sermons only become moral or psychological pep talks and not exhortations of grace.
What is the Holy Spirit's goal in our lives?
The Holy Spirit's goal in our lives is to establish our hearts with grace, and the preaching of Christ and His righteousness is the only truth that will do that. The less believers hear this message and the less they are settled and skillful in it, the more they are apt to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. The more we see of Christ and our complete standing in Him, the more we will see the absolute certainty of our final glory based on His righteousness alone. Looking at ourselves, we cannot be established with grace. We must always cry, "O wretched man that I am." Our motto is "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputes not iniquity," knowing we have a righteousness that answers the demands of God's law and justice. Our motto is "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Christ." This is our comfort, assurance, and confidence. We must always beware of seeking to be established or seeking assurance of our salvation based upon things which God has excluded. Our minds are so affected by remaining sin and self-righteousness that we must be continually reminded that our final glory is sure and certain, not based on our efforts, and notwithstanding circumstances and outward appearance, but based solely upon the imputed righteousness of Christ. This forms the basis of true Christian obedience, character and conduct, and of the whole Christian life. Many claim that once we are saved we begin a race. This is true, but we need to know that this race is a race of grace, not legalism. We are to run the race being assured that we will finish not based on our running but based on the fact that our Great High Priest, our Substitute and Surety, the Lord Jesus Christ, has already completed the race and has assured us of victory.
What is the theme of Romans?
Here, the Apostle Paul states THE THEME OF ROMANS. Having concluded his opening address, he now begins to explain the particulars of the GROUND OF SALVATION that include justification, reconciliation and adoption . He starts by stating, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel." Why would anyone be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Who would attack anyone who preached free grace to guilty sinners? The Apostle Paul knew from personal experience that true Christians would bear the reproach of Christ from the world. He knew that they would be attacked and ridiculed in every way possible because the Gospel of Christ addresses all by nature to be guilty, condemned, idolaters, spiritually kin to Satan, and enemies of the only true and living God.
What is grace here?
Grace here refers to all of the work of the Holy Spirit in God's people, with all subjective graces such as faith , repentance, humility and love. All of this is the direct result of Christ's work for His people by establishing that righteousness that demands their justification and eternal life. Everything necessary to bring God's elect, Christ's sheep, unto glory is the direct effect of His establishing a righteousness that was brought in and consummated by His death. "Obedience to the faith" is true belief and submission to the Gospel of God, to God's promise of all grace here and all glory hereafter based on the imputed righteousness of Christ. "By whom" and "for His name"--Christ has all the preeminence in our salvation. We freely receive the whole inheritance of grace because HE has satisfied all the conditions. Therefore, any notion that salvation is conditioned on the sinner cannot give Christ ALL the pre-eminence in salvation.
What is the only evidence of regeneration and of being objects of God's love?
exception in Rome, but all the "beloved of God" in Rome who are identified by their conversion. This conversion is the only evidence of regeneration and of being objects of God's love. Paul calls all true believers saints. They are saints NOW, and although some are Jews and others Gentiles, some are men and others women, some are rich and others poor, and although there may be differences in personality and growth, they are all equally saints and all equally "beloved of God." Saints are justified, separated out of the world by adoption into God's family, evidenced by justifying faith and repentance from former idolatry and dead works.
Why don't we share the gospel?
2. Bring it up. Often we don’t share the gospel with someone because we think they are not ready to hear it. If we use a Stop Light as an analogy for someone’s readiness to hear the Gospel—with Red being closed to the gospel, Yellow being interested in spiritual things, and Green being ready to put their faith in Christ—most of us think our friends or neighbors are at the Red light.
What is Sonlife's G.O.S.P.E.L. presentation?
In 2013, Sonlife partnered together with Dare 2 Share to train students to share their faith using Dare 2 Share’s G.O.S.P.E.L. presentation, Life in Six Words. The tool is simple, but strengthened by incredible videos and apps for students to use in sharing their faith.
What does Romans 3:23 mean?
Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [a] Christ Jesus our Lord.”.
What booklet does Sonlife use?
Sonlife had also developed a simple gospel booklet, Knowing God Personally, which incorporates the bridge illustration. Over one million people have been introduced to the gospel message through this simple tool, which is still available through our webstore.
What does Paul say about the gospel?
Paul is emphatic that the gospel he presents is the same as the one preached by the Jerusalem apostles. “Whether it was I or they,” Paul says, referring to Peter and the others, “so we preached and so you believed” ( 1 Cor. 15:10-11 ). This statement assumes a single body of gospel content.
What is the last element of the Gospel?
One of these elements was at the heart of the older gospel messages, namely, salvation is by grace not works. It was the last element that was usually missing, namely that grace restores nature, as the Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck put it.
What does the Gospel say about sin?
A generation ago evangelicals agreed on “the simple gospel”: (1) God made you and wants to have a relationship with you, (2) but your sin separates you from God. (3) Jesus took the punishment your sins deserved, (4) so if you repent from sins and trust in him for your salvation, you will be forgiven, justified, and accepted freely by grace, ...
What does it mean when liberals hear about the Kingdom of God?
When more liberal people hear about the kingdom of God for the restoration of the world, it opens them up to Christ’s kingship demanding obedience from them in their personal lives. In short, every gospel form, once it hits home, opens a person to the other points of the gospel made more vividly in other forms.
What is Paul's good news?
He writes that Paul’s good news was, first, that Jesus was the promised Messianic King and Son of God come to earth as a servant, in human form. ( Rom. 1:3-4; Phil. 2:4ff .) Second, by his death and resurrection, Jesus atoned for our sin and secured our justification by grace, not by our works ( 1 Cor. 15:3ff .)
What does Paul say about the return of Christ?
In Romans 2:16 Paul says that Christ’s return to judge the earth was part of his gospel, and if you read Psalm 96:10ff you’ll know why. The earth will be renewed and even the trees will be singing for joy. And if the trees will be able to dance and sing under the cosmos-renewing power of his Kingship-what will we be able to do?
Is the Gospel one and more than God?
The Gospel in All its Forms. Like God, the gospel is both one and more than that. The gospel has been described as a pool in which a toddler can wade and yet an elephant can swim. It is both simple enough to tell to a child and profound enough for the greatest minds to explore.
