What exactly is "the Gospel"?

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

The Clear and Simple Gospel

Part 1:What is the Gospel?
1. Romans 1:16 - the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.
2. Eph 1:13/14 - the Gospel is the Word of Truth, which upon believing, seals us for redemption, and guarantees an eternal inheritance.
3. Col 1:22/23 - the Gospel reconciles us to God through Christ's bodily death, so we can be presented as holy in God's sight.

Together these verses show the Gospel as: the perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus - which is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.

But Scripture is even more clear about exactly what the Gospel is: 1 Cor 15:1-8
v1 Gospel declared, received, held to = saved.
v2 hold to the Gospel for salvation (let's not switch topic to "loss of Salvation")
v3 we deliver (preach) what we receive: the Gospel
- and here it is in this verse: Christ died for our sins!
v4 Christ was buried (proof of His death), and rose again!
v5-8 He was seen afterwards! (evidence of His Resurrection)

The simple Gospel is: Christ died for our sins, and rose from the dead.
^ this is the Good News that saves!
And we know that this simple Gospel is all we need to preach to the unsaved, and all we should preach to the unsaved: 1 Cor 2:2

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Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

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Part 2:

So then what is required to "receive" this Gospel of Salvation?
Hear and Believe.

1. Hear the Gospel; John 5:24, Romans 10:14, Acts 18:8, Ephesians 1:13.
2. Believe the Gospel; John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 1:16... this is clearly proclaimed throughout the NT. 98 times in the Gospel of John alone.
We also see the word repent used interchangeably with the word believe. This is because they are the same thing.
Repentance is "a changing of one's mind": the process of turning from unbelief to belief. Many add that repentance deals with a changing of behaviour also... so does belief! Belief and repentance bring about outward change from an internal change, rather than external pressure or conditioning (which is simply "resolution").

So what must a person believe in order to be saved? The Gospel.
1. That Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh - that He was human, and could relate to us, so His sacrifice could be related upon us: John 4:2,9; Hebrews 2:17,4:15
2. That Jesus was the Son of God - that He was divine, and had the power to save and grant us a relationship with God: John 20:31
3. His death: 1 Cor 15:3
4. His resurrection: 1 Cor 15:4

This belief is not just an understanding or knowledge of His person and work (even the demons have this knowledge, and shudder), but a TRUST in His person and work as The Way to salvation.
Trust that it worked, and applies to you!

This Faith excludes trust in or reliance on works.
Does this mean that works are not part of saving Faith?
No!!! They are the PRODUCT of saving Faith!
Saving faith REALLY WORKS, but the works rely upon the saving Faith, not the Faith relying on the works.
(again, let's it delve into "maturity in Christ", or debates about "maintaining salvation", as this thread is about OBTAINING salvation.)

Part 2 summary:
Saving Faith comes through hearing (receiving) the Gospel,
believing in(acceptance of) His person(who Christ was) and work(what He did), - which is the Gospel,
and trust in(reliance upon) Christ alone for salvation.

Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead,
and faith in Christ and His sacrifice is enough to save us and grant us eternal life.

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Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

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Part 3:

The unscriptural phrases we use when sharing the Gospel can actually cloud up the Gospel rather than clarify it.
(Not that these phrases are "bad", but just that they are not helpful to an unbeliever as a way of getting them to understanding the simple Gospel)

1. "Give your heart to God"
-The NT doesn't ask us to do this.
-It is not about you giving Him anything; it's about Him giving YOU everything.

2. "Give your life to God"
- This is not what the NT asks us to do.
- although this phrase is useful in discipleship, IT IS NOT ABOUT SALVATION.
- it's not you giving Him your life; but about Him giving you His!

3. "Say the sinner's prayer"
- not an issue with confession or prayer, but of trusting.
- The danger is that one trusts in a prayer instead of trusting Christ.

4. "Let Jesus into your heart"
- This comes from a misunderstanding of Rev 3:20.
- Rev 3:20 was written to the Church (believers, already saved) as explicitly stated in the text, not to unbelievers.
- This verse is about obedience to the Spirit unto fellowship, not about salvation.

The sources used for this study were:
·The Bible
·Dr. Larry Moyer
·John Gills
·FaithFaith.org (couldn't find the name of the author)

JimmieD · Jan 12, 2015

I think it's pretty simple. Knowing that "gospel" simply means "good news," we see Jesus' definition:

Mark1:14 Now after John was imprisoned,Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospelof God. 1:15 Hesaid, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of Godis near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

Simply put, the gospel is that the Kingdom of God is here. A little more specifically, that Kingdom is here in and through the life, death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

This is what I have been studying and working on for the past few weeks, and has affected many of my responses to different threads.
I am hoping to hear some feedback, correction, and counter-points.
If nothing else comes of this, I at least hope this brings some to read the Scriptures referenced, and even delve deeper into the Word.
Blessings in Christ!

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

JimmieD said:

A good summery. The Gospel is the Good News that the Kingdom is Come, and available to all, through belief in Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.
I did forget to mention in the study exactly what the "inheritance" is. The Kingdom!

Some dispensationalist might disagree, and say that the Kingdom is not yet, but is still in coming. I don't think this disqualifies them from the Gospel.

Brainfreeze · Jan 12, 2015

Sophia said:

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Part 3:

The unscriptural phrases we use when sharing the Gospel can actually cloud up the Gospel rather than clarify it.
(Not that these phrases are "bad", but just that they are not helpful to an unbeliever as a way of getting them to understanding the simple Gospel)

1. "Give your heart to God"
-The NT doesn't ask us to do this.
-It is not about you giving Him anything; it's about Him giving YOU everything.

2. "Give your life to God"
- This is not what the NT asks us to do.
- although this phrase is useful in discipleship, IT IS NOT ABOUT SALVATION.
- it's not you giving Him your life; but about Him giving you His!

3. "Say the sinner's prayer"
- not an issue with confession or prayer, but of trusting.
- The danger is that one trusts in a prayer instead of trusting Christ.

4. "Let Jesus into your heart"
- This comes from a misunderstanding of Rev 3:20.
- Rev 3:20 was written to the Church (believers, already saved) as explicitly stated in the text, not to unbelievers.
- This verse is about obedience to the Spirit unto fellowship, not about salvation.

The sources used for this study were:
·The Bible
·Dr. Larry Moyer
·John Gills
·FaithFaith.org (couldn't find the name of the author)

What does this verse mean to you then Sophia ?

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

4enlightment · Jan 12, 2015

Sophia said:

The Clear and Simple Gospel

Part 1:What is the Gospel?
1. Romans 1:16 - the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe.
2. Eph 1:13/14 - the Gospel is the Word of Truth, which upon believing, seals us for redemption, and guarantees an eternal inheritance.
3. Col 1:22/23 - the Gospel reconciles us to God through Christ's bodily death, so we can be presented as holy in God's sight.

Together these verses show the Gospel as: the perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection of Jesus - which is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.

But Scripture is even more clear about exactly what the Gospel is: 1 Cor 15:1-8
v1 Gospel declared, received, held to = saved.
v2 hold to the Gospel for salvation (let's not switch topic to "loss of Salvation")
v3 we deliver (preach) what we receive: the Gospel
- and here it is in this verse: Christ died for our sins!
v4 Christ was buried (proof of His death), and rose again!
v5-8 He was seen afterwards! (evidence of His Resurrection)

The simple Gospel is: Christ died for our sins, and rose from the dead.
^ this is the Good News that saves!
And we know that this simple Gospel is all we need to preach to the unsaved, and all we should preach to the unsaved: 1 Cor 2:2

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It is the truth about God, not the distorted truth.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

Brainfreeze said:

The point is more as,
following Christ is part of discipleship, which comes after salvation, and is the very proof of our salvation.
The reason I suggested that this "clouds" the Gospel is that belief in Christ must come first. A person cannot follow someone they do not know, believe, and trust.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

4enlightment said:

Of all things, I was prayerful and careful to avoid distorting the Truth. Please, if you feel I have done so, correct me.
I am trying to train for evangelism, and want to be able to share the clear and accurate Gospel with the lost.
Do not let me share this with unbelievers if there are errors or distortions. I want to further and spread the Gospel, not harm it.

Brainfreeze · Jan 12, 2015

Sophia said:

Yes,
One first has to be open and willing to hear Gods Word, then belief, then confessing, repenting, Holy Ghost, fruit, and obedience

jaybird88 · Jan 12, 2015

i always thought of the gospel as the teachings of Jesus.

ISeeYou · Jan 12, 2015

Paul gives the summary of his gospel in 1 Corinth, starting here

1 Cr 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Cr 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

First of all

1 Cr 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Just read there as Paul is telling you the gospel he delivered and what is first, and to keep this in mind unless you believed in vain.

He starts there, as we are save by his death and resurection (delivered for our sins and raised again for our justification)

As Jesus said,

John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 6:4 Thereforewe are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

jaybird88 said:

Most of His teachings are actually from the "bad news" side of the Word.
The "bad news" is that we can't live up to the Law, and certainly can't live up to the standard of Christ and His perfection in holiness.

The Good News is that He grants us His Righteousness through belief in Him,
(and also grants us His Spirit, that enables us to actually live it out).

Karraster · Jan 12, 2015

We have a new moon every month. Does that mean last months moon is no more? No. Not anymore than the covenants of Almighty are done away, and Messiah ushered in a Renewed Covenant, where we actually love those instructions and . that's the good news! Our Creator has given us instructions for loving Him and others, it's all there in His Word if we can get past all the garbage we've been told all our lives perhaps we will see.

Check out the truth, day of atonement is coming. come out of her people.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

Karraster said:

1 John 2:1,2,3
The Day of Atonement is past. It was the Day when the Lord died for His People. Atonement is complete in Christ.
Obeying the commands is not atonement, but love for our Saviour and God, through the power and working of His Spirit within us.

Karraster · Jan 12, 2015

Sophia said:

[h=1]1 John 2 (KJV)[/h] 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

[SUP]2 [/SUP]And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Sophia · Jan 12, 2015

Karraster said:

I agree. But keeping His commands is proof of saving Faith in a person, not the way a person is saved.
It is the product, not the producer.
Faith in Christ is the Way. Faithfulness to His commands is the proof.

Again, this thread was about the Gospel, not discipleship.
It is about evangelism, not training up the Body in righteousness.
It is not possible to train up an unsaved person in righteousness. They need Christ first.

Karraster · Jan 12, 2015

Mark 1:14-15: " Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

psychomom · Jan 12, 2015

2 Cor 5:21
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

the heart of the Gospel.

What exactly is "the Gospel"?

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