Answer:
The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the central message of Christianity, proclaiming that reconciliation with God is not achieved by human effort, but is offered freely by God's grace and received through faith.
At its heart, the gospel addresses four key realities:
- God is holy, righteous, and the Creator of all things (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:11).
- Man is sinful and separated from God, deserving judgment (Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1–3).
- Christ lived a sinless life, died in the place of sinners, and rose again, securing forgiveness and eternal life for His people (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
- Response: Salvation is offered freely and must be received by repentance and faith (Mark 1:15; Ephesians 2:8–9).
The gospel is not advice about how to live better. It is an announcement that God has acted in history to redeem His people. As Paul summarizes it:
“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
In Reformed theology, the gospel stands at the center of all doctrine. The Five Solas reinforce this truth: salvation is by grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide), in Christ alone (Solus Christus), according to Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura), all for the glory of God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).
To believe the gospel is to rest entirely in the work of Christ, trusting that His life, death, and resurrection are sufficient to reconcile us to God. The gospel is not merely the beginning of the Christian life; it is the foundation, the center, and the end.
Recommended Resources:
- The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
- What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert
- The Cross of Christ by John Stott
- Knowing God by J.I. Packer
- The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson
