Short Answer: The gospel is the good news that Jesus is the crucified-and-risen King—God’s promised Savior—who now reigns as Lord and offers forgiveness, new life, and God’s kingdom to all who turn to him.
Long Answer: The gospel is the good news that Jesus is the crucified-and-risen King—God’s promised Savior—who now reigns as Lord and offers forgiveness, new life, and God’s kingdom to all who turn to him.
The word “gospel” means “good news.” That matters because the gospel is first an announcement about what God has done in history through Jesus—not a list of religious tips or a vague message of inspiration.
The gospel is news about King Jesus
Jesus came announcing “the gospel of God” and the arrival of God’s kingdom (Mark 1:14–15). The gospel is the proclamation that the God of Israel has kept his promises: Jesus the Messiah has come, has acted, and now reigns.
Paul summarizes the heart of that message like this: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). That is not merely a private spiritual experience. It is a world-changing event: the King has won through the cross and resurrection.
Why the cross and resurrection are the center
The cross shows God’s justice and love meeting in the same moment. Sin is real guilt before a holy God, and Jesus truly dealt with it (Romans 3:23–26). His resurrection is God’s public vindication of Jesus and the defeat of death (Romans 6:9). Christianity stands or falls on the claim that Jesus is alive (1 Corinthians 15:14).
The gospel includes Jesus’ lordship and kingdom
The gospel is not only “Jesus saves me”; it is also “Jesus is Lord.” After the resurrection, the apostles preached that God made Jesus “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). God exalted him, and every knee will bow to him (Philippians 2:9–11). The good news is that the rightful King has taken his throne—and his reign brings salvation to all who come to him.
How do we respond to the gospel?
Because the gospel is news, it calls for a response. In Acts, when people believed the message, they didn’t stop at agreement; they turned their lives toward Jesus.
A biblical response includes:
- Repentance: turning from sin and turning to God (Acts 3:19).
- Faith and allegiance: trusting Jesus and submitting to him as Lord (Romans 10:9–10).
- Baptism: the faith-filled step where believers unite with Christ and receive the promised forgiveness and new life (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3–4).
These are not ways to earn salvation. They are how Scripture describes surrendering to the risen King and receiving his saving grace.
What to do next
- Read Mark 1:14–15 and 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 and ask, “Do I believe this is true about Jesus?”
- Turn to God in honest repentance and confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9–10).
- If you haven’t been baptized into Christ, don’t delay—respond fully to the gospel (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36).
- Join a faithful church and learn to live under King Jesus day by day (Matthew 28:19–20).
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:14–15; 1 Cor 15:1–4; Rom 3:23–26; Acts 2:36–38; Rom 6:3–4; Rom 10:9–10; Phil 2:9–11; 2 Cor 5:18–21; Matt 28:19–20