What is the Gospel?
The Gospel begins with God. He is good, righteous, and holy (Psalm 145:17; Isaiah 6:3; 1 John 1:5) and is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3). As such He has the right to establish the laws by which His creation is governed (Exodus 20:3-17; Matthew 22:37-40).
Everyone has broken God’s laws and sinned against Him...
“For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God.”
– Romans 3:23
And, we have done so because we are sinners by our very nature (Ephesians 2:3; Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 14:12).
God is just and will not just overlook sin (Nahum 1:3; Psalm 5:5). His punishment for sin is death and hell…
“For the wages of sin is death…”
– Romans 6:23a
Since everyone has sinned and God can’t just overlook it, how can anyone be saved?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 6:23
Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, became a man to fully identify with man. He lived a perfect life and kept every law God ever gave. Yet, God the Father punished Jesus in our place as if He was the one guilty of sinning against God. While Jesus was being crucified on the cross God the Father poured out on Him the wrath we deserve. Christ was punished in our place as our substitute. He was treated as a sinner by God and gave to us His righteousness so that we could be treated as righteous by God.
“He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus]
who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:21
And we know Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf was sufficient and acceptable to God because three days after He died Christ rose again.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance
what I also received: That Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures,
that He was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
While the Gospel call is universal and is intended for everyone to hear, salvation is not universal. Not everyone will be saved. Not everyone is a “child” of God.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad
that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life
and there are few who find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12
What must you do to be saved? Repent and believe the Gospel…
“Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God,
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe the Gospel.” – Mark 1:14-15
To be saved you must recognize that you have sinned before a Holy God (Psalm 51:3-4), believe that Jesus Christ accomplished what the Scriptures say He did and trust exclusively in Him for your salvation (John 14:6).