Did you ever think, what is this gospel that I hear about or this gospel my friend tried to tell me about it? That is our topic for today.

 

The gospel is the “good news” because it contains the exceedingly wonderful message of God’s redemption of sinful mankind through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The gospel is the heart, the central core of the Christian faith.

 

The English noun gospel comes from the Anglo-Saxon term godspell, meaning “glad tidings”. In the Greek it means “good message.” It is interesting that before the New Testament, the word was related to news of military victory. But when the New Testament was recorded, its writers used this term gospel to describe the “good news” of salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

The gospel takes in the entire presentation of redemption and salvation to mankind as proclaimed by Jesus Christ and His followers (Matthew 4:23; Romans 10:15).

 

The announcing of good news began with an angel announcing John the Baptist’s birth to his father, Zechariah: “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.” (Luke 1:19).

 

An angel proclaimed the good news of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-14 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.).

 

John the Baptist was the first to preach the gospel (Mark 1:1–4). After John baptized Jesus, God’s Spirit and anointing rested on the Lord “to preach the gospel (Good News) to the poor . . . to preach deliverance to the captives, that the blind will see, to set at liberty them that are bruised (oppressed)” (Luke 4:18) and to “proclaim the good news of God” (Mark 1:14).

The gospel is good news because in it we find God’s promise of forgiveness from sin. John testified that Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29; see also Luke 24:46–47; Isaiah 53:4–6; Acts 13:38; Hebrews 9:28).

 

Through the gospel, we receive God’s power to live a new life in the righteousness of Jesus Christ: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:16–17)

 

According to the gospel, sin separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.; Romans 3:23.

But when Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price and canceled the debt of sin for all who would believe in Him. He was “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5; see also Colossians 1:20).

 

The gospel is good news because, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God and brought near to Him in fellowship: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

 

The gospel is good news because “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13).

 

Everyone who believes in the gospel and submits to its demands receives new life in Jesus Christ. We are adopted into God’s family (Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 3:26). We are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5–8) and receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38; see also John 7:37–39), who guarantees our heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14).

 

The gospel is the greatest love story ever told (John 15:13). What could be more excellent news than its promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ?: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16–17; see also John 11:25).

 

If you have never received the Lord Jesus into your life and never had your sins forgiven, will you trust Him today? Contact me if you want to talk more about this at pastorprbedford@gmail.com 

 

Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please contact me so I can pray for you and help you in yur new lifes journey.

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