The question “What is the gospel?” is one I feel privileged to write about because, at its core, the gospel is an invitation from our Lord. In its most basic form, the phrase gospel means “good news,” and the very reason it is good news is because not only does it answer what is the deepest and most troubling problem every person faces, but, when received, it gives us the gift of being delivered from this problem. Despite modern day claims to the contrary, the foremost problem of humanity is not political, it is not economic, it is not social or cultural, and it is not psychological. Humanity’s central problem is a spiritual one, the problem of sin.
The Problem of Sin
Scripture tells us plainly that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD…” (Rom. 3:23). Sometimes sin is overly characterized as poor choices, bad decisions, and wrongdoing, but from beginning to end, the Bible repeatedly affirms that sin is the condition of our heart that rebels against the Lord, that humankind has wandered away from Him (Is. 53:6; Ecc. 7:20). Genesis 1:31 tells us that was not the Lord’s design nor desire for His creation, but when sin entered the world, our relationship with God became fractured. This separation from, and rebellion against God is the problem every person on earth is faced with.
The seriousness of sin cannot be understated not only because of the fractured relationship, but because it violates the very essence of who God is. God’s holiness is such that He cannot dwell with sin (1 Sam. 6:20; Ps. 5:4; Hab. 1:13; 1 Jn. 1:5). And our Lord is also the God of perfect justice (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 89:14; Nah. 1:3), and because of this, God cannot simply overlook sin. Sin is a perversion of God’s character, it corrupts justice, it sabotages our ability to have a relationship with Him, and in every way, sin seeks to destroy God’s designs and patterns for the flourishing of His creation. Because of its devastating effects, Scripture tells us plainly that “…the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), and this is exactly why the gospel is necessary. Without the gospel, humanity remains lost and separated from the Author and Sustainer of life, wandering in darkness, confused and isolated, and cut off from the fullness of life God intended.
We all are in Need of Redemption
This is not just an abstract theological idea, but it is the ultimate personal reality for each and every one of us absent of the gospel. For many years of my life, I lived the consequences of this brokenness quite directly. From familial abuse to poverty to homelessness to a decades-long involvement in the criminal-legal system, I know firsthand what it means to experience and be culpable for the crushing weight of sin. And yet my experiences, as well as your own I would imagine, fundamentally underscores the truth the Bible has always declared which is this: Each of us desperately needs redemption.
The Good News offered through Jesus Christ
And this is the good news. God, in His infinite mercy, kindness, and love has made a way for us sinners to be rescued. Our rescue is found in the person and the work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:8). Jesus Christ, the Son of God our Father entered our broken and evil world, taking on human flesh (Jn. 1:14), and in doing so, Christ lived an exemplary, sinless life, perfectly obedient to our Father in every way (1 Pet. 2:22). Why? Christ came to stand in the place of sinners, to take upon Himself the very judgment that our sins deserve.
Jesus, in perfect submission to His and our Father, voluntarily and selflessly subjected Himself to brutal torture on a cross leading to His execution because it was His purposed and deliberate mission to deliver us from our sins, to reconcile us back to God. This is why the cross stands at the very center of the gospel, an event that was foretold hundreds of years beforehand (Is. 53).
But the gospel does not end at the cross, and it was not the end of the story. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead because the grave could not hold Him any longer! God raised Him from the dead, vindicating His Son and declaring that the power of sin and its ultimate end of death had been destroyed (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Christ’s resurrection is God’s decisive act proving that Christ’s sacrifice for sin was accepted and that Jesus is our “…resurrection and [our] life” (Jn. 11:25), and that eternal life is a free and unmerited gift to all who place their faith in Him (Jn. 3:36).
So what does all of this mean?
An Invitation to Live in Gospel Freedom
The gospel is an invitation, but it demands a response. The gospel is not merely information to understand: it is truth that demands action. Jesus said it best: “…Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk. 1:15). The Bible makes this promise to us. “…If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).
This message is especially powerful for people who feel broken by their past. Many of us know what it means to carry regret, guilt, or shame. The gospel speaks directly into that reality. Scripture promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).
In short, no one, and I mean absolutely no one, is beyond the reach of God’s mercy. Jesus came for all sinners. It is my deep hope that this message speaks to those who may feel broken by their past, that it encourages those who may feel weighed down by their present, that it may bring comfort to those who are worrying about their future. It is my deepest hope that this message would help you to know that the answer lies straight in front of you-open, unobstructed, and unhindered-and that Jesus, my Lord and Savior, is waiting to receive you with His arms wide open.
And if you make this decision please celebrate, because that is truly good news!
Written by: member of Crossway Community Church