What Is The Gospel?

It is important that believers get the gospel right to faithfully preach it and live it. We live in a time of redemptive history when many people claim to have their own versions of the gospel. Some say they preach ‘the prosperity gospel’. Others claim they are about ‘preaching salvation for men to live right’. We must not be confused. The only way we can properly understand what the gospel is about is to search the Scriptures.

In this write-up, I intend to use Paul’s explanation of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 with other supporting texts to help us understand the gospel.

"1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” (I Corinthians 15:1‭-‬4 NKJV)

#1. Preaching: Means Of The Gospel

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain." (I Corinthians 15:1‭-‬2 NKJV)

In Romans 1:1, Paul said that he is separated to the gospel of God. In Galatians 2:2, he tells us that Christ called him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, about five times, the apostle said that he preached the gospel to the Corinthians. The gospel was what preoccupied him. It was the central message he proclaimed. He preached no other message than the gospel. Paul gives us his passion for his gospel ministry when he said in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” Every preacher must preach the gospel.

#2. Salvation: Result Of The Gospel 

"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain." (I Corinthians 15:1‭-‬2 NKJV)

The second thing we notice in 1 Corinthians 15 is that the gospel saves sinful men and women. In Romans 1:16, Paul said that the gospel is the power of God to salvation. Colossians 1:13 says that God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. What saves men from their deadness in sins and trespasses is the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:14-17). In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, Paul recounts that the preaching of the gospel of Christ turned the Thessalonians from idol worship to serving God. 

#3. Scriptures: Source Of The Gospel 

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:3‭-‬4 NKJV)

The gospel is rooted in the Scriptures. In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul emphatically tells us that he received revelation from Jesus Christ about the gospel. It was not his own creation or man’s ideas he chanced upon and propagated. The Holy Spirit led the apostles to the truth of Christ (John 16:13). He who knows the mind of God revealed His mystery about redemption to His men to preach to a dying world (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). If you want to know and understand the gospel, take your Bible and prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to behold wondrous things in His word (Psalm 119:18).

#4. Jesus Christ: Focus Of The Gospel 

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:3‭-‬4 NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the focus of the gospel. In Romans 1:1-5, Paul mentioned the gospel of God, but it is all about the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ whom God attested to by signs and wonders (Acts 2:22).

The big question is: what are the key ingredients of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let’s explore the three major aspects of the gospel:

1. Death: Christ Died For Our Sins

The gospel is about the death of Jesus Christ. He died to save us from sin. He was made a sinner to atone for our transgressions (1 John 2:2). He was made poor so that we can become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He is indeed the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). We preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23).

2. Burial: He Was Buried

The gospel is about the burial of Jesus Christ. He truly died! We were truly buried with Him in baptism (Colossians 2:12). All our sins were buried with Him. We were buried with Him to crucify our sinful nature. We must therefore die daily to sin (Romans 6:11). 

3. Resurrection: He Rose Again The Third Day

The gospel is about Christ Jesus rising from the dead. He resurrected just as He predicted (Mark 9:31). His soul did not see corruption as the Messianic Psalm prophesied (Psalm 16:10). Scripture says that just as we died with Him, we will also be raised in glory with Him so that we walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).

The good news of our Lord Jesus Christ changes everything. It is the fulcrum upon which everything spins on. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 that,

“1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

The writer is passionate about proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ which has the power to save sinners and strengthen the saints.