We often talk about the importance of preaching the gospel. But what does that mean? The gospel is foundational to our faith. Therefore, if we are to be “ready to make a defense…for the hope that is in [us]” (1 Peter 3:15), then we ought to be able to concisely explain it to others.
So what is the gospel? Let us consider four points here.
The Gospel Is “Good News”
This is the literal meaning of the Greek word (euangelion) that is translated gospel in our English Bibles. Being “good news,” it denotes a proclamation or an announcement. Therefore, of necessity, it is a message that needs to be preached.
The work of preaching the gospel is that of bringing good news to people. Paul wrote, “How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Romans 10:15). Why is the gospel “good news”? We will notice why in the next points.
The Gospel Is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus
This is, at the very least, the foundation of the message. Paul reminded the brethren at Corinth of “the gospel which [he] preached to [them]” (1 Corinthians 15:1) and explained what it consisted of: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). This was the solid ground “in which [they could] stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1) because it provided the basis for their faith and hope.
Without this foundation, nothing else in the Bible would matter. Paul went on to explain, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). If the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ did not happen, we would be wasting our time following His teachings and giving our lives over to Him. The gospel has to have this as the foundation; otherwise, we would have no reason to listen to it.
The Gospel Is the Message of Salvation
Paul said that “the gospel…is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16). In other words, it reveals the way for us to be saved. As Paul explained later in the same letter, we “reenact” the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus when we obey the gospel: “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17). What “form of teaching” did they obey in order to be freed from sin? He described the pattern a few verses earlier – as Jesus died, was buried, and was then raised from the dead, we die to sin, are buried in baptism, and are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6). The gospel is not just the message of salvation, it shows us the pattern to follow to obtain salvation.
This message is for everyone, regardless of their background or past sins. When Peter met with the household of Cornelius, he said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). Paul, because of his former life as a persecutor of the church, described himself as the “foremost of all” sinners (1 Timothy 1:15); yet even he was able to be saved, showing that the Lord is willing to save anyone who will come to Him (1 Timothy 1:16).
The Gospel Is Our Standard of Judgment
After declaring that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16), Paul said that God will judge us according to the gospel (Romans 2:16). The message that Paul (and others) were preaching was the standard by which the Lord will judge us.
On the last day, we will all stand before the Lord in judgment. Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be judged according to what is revealed in the gospel and whether or not we have followed it.
Conclusion
So what is the gospel? It is the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. It is the message of salvation and shows us how to be prepared for judgment. So let us make sure that we believe and obey it.
