What is the gospel?
You’ve heard the word your whole life: gospel music, gospel truth, “preach the gospel.” But if someone asked you to explain it in one minute, could you?
The gospel means “good news,” and here it is: God made you to know Him, but sin cut every one of us off from Him, and we could never fix it ourselves. So God sent His Son, Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay for our sins, and rose from the dead three days later. Anyone who turns from their sin and puts their trust in Him is forgiven, made new and given eternal life. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, … He was buried, … He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). In plain words: you couldn’t get to God, so God came to you.
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The man on the cross next to Jesus
Two criminals were crucified with Jesus. One mocked Him. The other said, “We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39–43). He had no time to clean up his life, get baptized or go to church. He just turned to Jesus. That’s the gospel.
The gospel in four words
God: He made you, He is holy, and He loves you (Genesis 1:27; John 3:16).
Sin: every one of us has gone our own way. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God, and its wage is death (Romans 6:23).
Jesus: God the Son became a man, lived without sin, died in our place, and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Response: turn from your sin and trust Jesus. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Why it’s good news
Every religion tells you what you must do to reach God. The gospel tells you what God has already done to reach you. It isn’t advice. It’s news: something that already happened.
What the Bible says
- 01
The gospel.
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 - 02
All have sinned.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23–24 - 03
The gift of God.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 - 04
God so loved.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 - 05
Confess and believe.
“that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:9–10 - 06
Today in Paradise.
“One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.””
Luke 23:39–43
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Practice telling the gospel in one minute using the four words: God, sin, Jesus, response. Then tell one person this week.
Common questions
What are the four gospels?
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: the four books that tell the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Do I have to be good to receive the gospel?
No. The gospel is for sinners. You come as you are, and God makes you new.
Is the gospel only for Christians?
No. It’s for everyone: “everyone who believes in Him shall not perish” (John 3:16).
Take your first step with us.
If you prayed today, or you’re close, Become will walk with you: your first days with Jesus, step by step, with people praying for you.