10 Things You Should Know About the Gospel
"Gospel" is an often-used word, but what does it mean? And how can we understand it? Here are some important points that you can know about the Gospel:
Excerpted from a sermon by Roy Gustafson
1. ITS DEFINITION IS CLEAR
What is the Gospel? Let us ask Paul for the answer. He wrote: “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved ... For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:1-5, NIV).
2. IT'S SIMPLE
You will be quick to notice that the Gospel is composed of two parts: First, Christ died for our sins; second, Christ rose from the dead.
3. IT'S NOT A RELIGION
Religion is mankind’s quest for God. The Gospel is the Savior-God seeking lost men and women. At its best, religion can only succeed in producing an outward reformation. The Gospel creates an inward transformation.
4. IT'S FREE
Even the wealthiest are so pitifully poor that they couldn’t purchase salvation. It comes as a free gift—by grace, through faith, plus nothing!
5. IT'S FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE
It is called the “Gospel of our salvation” because it is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
6. IT WILL FREE YOU FROM BONDAGE
It is called the “Gospel of peace” because through Christ it makes peace between the sinner and God, and imparts inward peace.
7. IT HAPPENED ONCE FOR ALL OF TIME
When Martin Luther saw the great truth that justification was by grace, that justification was by faith, that justification was by the blood of the Cross, he cried out: “Calvary seems as though it were only yesterday!” We human beings, with our limitations of time and space, date the Lord Jesus’ death in the first century of this present era, and place it upon “the green hill far away without the city wall.” But as far as God is concerned, it is a timeless event.
8. IT'S UNIQUE
The vital difference between our supernatural faith and all of the naturalistic religion of the world is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead.
9. ITS WORK HAS BEEN DONE
A young pastor asked an aged and dying woman if she had made her peace with God. “No, I have not made peace with God, and I am not afraid to die," she said. "You see, I do not need to make peace with God. Jesus Christ made peace with God 2,000 years ago, through the blood of His cross, and I am simply resting the peace that He made.”
10. YOU CAN RECEIVE IT
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—" (John 1:12).
If you will receive Him, He will receive you, and you will find that this Gospel, which tells of His death, burial, and resurrection for you, is the power of God unto eternal salvation.
Here is how you can receive Christ:
•Admit your need. (I am a sinner)
•Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
•Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
•Pray a prayer like this: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, Amen.
