What is the Gospel?

A number of years ago I subscribed to a Christian ministry publication out of Florida. I questioned the scriptural basis of an article in one of those publications, and, as a reply to my question, they sent me a tape of a sermon entitled, “The Gospel.” The text of the sermon, which the preacher quoted up front, was the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians, chapter 1, verses 6-9:

I thought, “whoa, that’s a great place to launch a sermon on the gospel.” But, unfortunately, that is as far as the man got with it. From that point on he identified a rival ministry, and spent the next thirty minutes lambasting them for not preaching “the gospel,” but never once got anywhere close to preaching it himself. Thinking I might have missed it, I listened to the entire thing again, and still, no gospel.

Since then, I have listened to a lot of “gospel” preaching, and have come to the conclusion that this habit of talking about the gospel, but never revealing exactly what it is, is pandemic in Christian religions.

“What are you talking about!” Some of you will say. “Certainly the gospel is preached at our church!” “We proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. What else do we need to do?”

Preach “the gospel of Christ!” Naming the name of Jesus, my friends, is not preaching the gospel. For sure, Jesus Christ is the subject of the gospel, but he isn’t the gospel. The gospel is what he did, and what that produced. What he did was die for our sins, and then “God raised him from the dead…for our justification” (Romans 4:25: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 1:20). This singular act of faith produced the grace by which anyone, under any circumstances, at any point in their lives can be saved by simply believing this truth (Romans 3:22; 10:9). It caused God to be at peace with the world, for as it is written,
“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation……. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor. 5:19,21)

This is what Paul referred to as “the preaching of the cross” i.e., “Jesus Christ, and him crucified,” which he said was, “to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved the power of God” (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:2).

This message, “Jesus Christ, and him crucified,” is foolishness to the world, it says. Why is it foolishness? Because the world has been led to believe that they must change their ways (repent), “straignten up and fly right,” for God to accept them.

How can this be true if God is not imputing (counting) their sins to them? What is it that they must repent of? I read a statement by a man just the other day, wherein he claimed that a particular political candidate, whose past was less than squeeky clean, was now winning because God had forgiven him of his sins; sure evidence that he had indeed repented, and was being rewarded. Folks, the sin issue was setled 2000 years ago at the cross! When Christ said, “It is finished,” He meant that He had then and there paid the debt for the whole human race:

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5, 6).
The gospel of Christ is not about “fixing” or reforming one’s life: it’s about transforming peoples lives by securing their eternal destination.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Which is that, “….all men be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (Romans 12:2; 1 Timothy 2:4).

The first order of business here is to be saved, and the only thing that can save anybody today is the gospel of Christ, “…for it is the power of God unto salvation, to everyone that believeth….” (Romans 1:16). The gospel doesn’t say to “ask Jesus into your heart,” or “repent,” or promise anyone a wonderful life if they do this; it says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” …but…“Christ died for our sins…and was raised again for our justification…and… If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved….call upon the name of the Lord, and thou shalt be saved…believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (1 Cor. 15: 3; Romans 3:23; 10:9,13: Acts 16:31).

Friend, your sins were paid for at the cross, 2000 years ago. God is reconciled to you, therefore, “be ye reconciled to God” by accepting the free gift of salvation he now offers you, and His righteousness will be imputed to your heavenly account, ((Romans 4:6,8; 6:23). This is a permanent righteousness that has nothing to do with your “sins,” past, present or future. Have you done this? If not, now is the time.

Mike Schroeder

Please feel free to reproduce and distribute this tract. All scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.

Related Articles:
The Purpose of Paul’s letter to the Galatians; Will Only Good People Go to Heaven?; Immortality