"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . . But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us . . . the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23
The word "gospel" literally means “good news”. So the phrase "the Gospel of Jesus Christ" means the "good news of Jesus Christ."
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 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. 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, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
A. The death of Christ “. . .Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” v.3
Proof: He was buried v.4
B. The resurrection of Christ “. . .he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” v.4
Proof: He was seen. . . v.5-8 (four times stated)
So . . . the gospel is the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified but He arose and is alive.
In the rest of Scripture we learn that He did that for the purpose of satisfying the penalty for sin for anyone who will repent of their sin and trust Christ alone for salvation.
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE GOSPEL WHICH ONE MUST EMBRACE TO BE SAVED?
A. The gospel requires a personal faith or trust in Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:38-43)
Acts 10:38-43 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
One must believe in order to be saved:
1. In the identity of Christ: God in the flesh sent by God (John 8:24-30)
John 8:24-30 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. "I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him." They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
The purpose of the Gospel of John is to answer the question “Who is Jesus Christ?”.
2. In the work of Christ: He died for our sins as prophesied in the Old Testament and rose again from the dead.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9-13)
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
B. The gospel requires repentance: a turning from sin (Acts 20:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Luke 24:47)
Acts 20:21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
1. This involves recognition that we have offended a holy God by our sin and therefore are separated from Him, unable to please Him because we are dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:5)
Ephesians 2:5 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
2. It also involves acceptance of the fact that God will judge sin (Acts 10:42; 17:30-31)
Acts 10:42 "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 17:30-31 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF TRULY EMBRACING THE GOSPEL?
The gospel results in voluntary obedience to Christ—following Him willingly (Acts 26:15-19; John 8:31; Luke 8:15; 1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Acts 26:15-19 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 'But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
Luke 8:15 "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
The evidence or proof that one has genuinely accepted the gospel is that the person has a desire to follow Christ and does.
All Scripture references are from the NKJV except where otherwise noted.