Literally translated from the Greek, Gospel means “good news.”
The Good News of Jesus Christ
What's the Gospel?
Before we dig into the good news, we have to start with the bad news and the bad news is sin. Sin is separation from God and is caused by our transgressions against God. We are all sinners. Not one of us is innocent of sinning against God. Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means we have permanent separation from God because of our sin and the payment for our sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is not a physical death, but a spiritual, eternal death.
While that sounds bleak, there is hope; and it comes in the form of Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s only Son and God sent Jesus to earth to die as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
As God’s Son, Jesus lived a perfect, holy, sinless life. As an atonement for our sins, Jesus willingly gave His life and suffered death on a cross as the payment for our sins. With His death, the debt of our sins has been paid. But Jesus is not a dead Savior. He’s alive! After this death, 3 days later, he was raised from the dead, conquering death and the grave, and giving us hope for eternal life. Jesus bridged the gap between us and God. We do not and cannot earn our salvation. Salvation, or deliverance from sin, is the free gift for all those who trust in Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.
Romans 10:9 says, “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.” If we place our faith in Jesus Christ, accept Him as Lord and Savior of our lives, turn away from our sins, we, too, can have eternal life with God, the Creator of all the universe.
This is the GOOD NEWS.