What is the Gospel Message?

[featured_image]While on earth, Jesus continually proclaimed the gospel message.

“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.” (Matt 9:35)

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'” (Mark 1:14-15)

He announced to His disciples…

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:14)

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)

And in the Book of Acts we see them going…

“So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.” (Acts 8:25)

“They became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they continued to preach the gospel.” (Acts 14:6-7)

“After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.” (Acts 14:21)

Paul declares boldly…

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Paul writes in his letters…

“For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you.” (Rom 1:9)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16)

“And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation.” (Rom 15:20)

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” (1 Cor 1:17)

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16)

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand.” (1 Cor 15:1)

“As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Gal 1:9)

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph 1:13)

“And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.” (Eph 6:19)

“Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” (Phil 1:12)

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Phil 1:27)

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1 Thes 1:5)

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.” (1 Thes 2:4)

“Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” (1 Thes 2:8)

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.” (2 Tim 1:8-11)

After reading all these passages – it is apparent that the message of the gospel was critical to Jesus’ own mission on earth, as well as central to the work of the apostle Paul. So – what is the message of the gospel.

Paul tells us the message of the gospel in I Corinthians 15:3-5:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

I was recently introduced to a simple acronym for the gospel message:
G-O-S-P-E-L (see Dare to Share)

What is the Gospel Message?
God created us to be with Him – Genesis 1

Our sins separate us from God – Genesis 3

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds – Genesis 4

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again – Matthew-Luke

Everyone who trusts in Christ alone has eternal life – John

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever – Acts-Revelation

What would you consider the essence of the gospel message? How will you communicate it to others?