The Gospel
The joyful message from God that leads us to salvation.
When we talk about living the life of a Christian, we are talking about living out the themes and implications of the gospel. But when we talk about salvation, we focus on the gospel message. When we share our faith, we center on that message that leads to salvation. It's important to note that when the Bible uses the word gospel, in the Old Testament as well as the New, it always does so in relationship to salvation.
Here's a good working definition:
The gospel is the joyful message from God that leads us to salvation.
What, then, is the message of salvation?
The gospel message answers four big questions:
Who is God?
Why are we in such a mess?
What did Christ do?
How can we get back to God?
There are no more important questions to deal with in the world, and the answers are summarized in this outline: God, Man, Christ, Response:
God is our Creator. He is loving, holy, and just. One day he will execute perfect justice against all sin.
People are made in the image of God. We are beautiful and amazing creatures with dignity, worth, and value. But through our willful, sinful rebellion against God, we have turned from being his children to his enemies. Still, all people have the capacity to be in a restored loving relationship with the living God.
Christ is the Son of God, whose sinless life gave him the ability to become the perfect sacrifice. Through his death on the cross, he ransomed sinful people. Christ's death paid for the sins of all who come to him in faith. Christ's resurrection from the dead is the ultimate vindication of the truth of these claims.
The response God requires from us is to acknowledge our sin, repent, and believe in Christ. So we turn from sin, especially the sin of unbelief, and turn to God in faith, with the understanding that we will follow him the rest of our days.