What isn't the Gospel?

Consider this for a moment:- What is not the Gospel?

There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel; but too often this wonderful truth is massively distorted or over simplified. Many preachers and people who witness for Christ talk only about the benefits of the Gospel, saying, “Jesus can give you a purpose to your life”, or “Jesus can give you real meaning to your life”.

Both of the above statements and others like them are absolutely true, but they are not the Gospel message. True statements like, “Jesus, wants to bless you” or, “God has a plan for your life” are not the Gospel either, though of course I believe that the Lord does have a fantastic plan for our lives and that He wants to bless us.

I can only conclude that people speak like this because they presume that it sounds more attractive than talking about atonement for sin. Sadly - dare I say it - it would seem that a few prominent preachers believe that we have even out grown the Gospel and preach instead about being blessed, having a new focus, health and wealth. It sound more like a psychology lecture sometimes based around improving our lives through what we can get from God.

They are missing the point. Let’s consider a very important foundational scripture regarding this:

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 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

Simply put, the Gospel is the good news about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; how His sacrifice provides us with full and free deliverance from the power and penalty of sin. That is according to the grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s Him and only Him, no other god, no other person or belief system. Fact! It’s wonderful news!

It’s all about what Christ did when He was crucified for us at Calvary! This is what we need to communicate effectively. Let’s not fear talking about the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, but ask the Lord to give us boldness to preach the message!

Key Point: Ask God to give you a boldness to share the good news

Speak boldly, using the name of Jesus – many just talk about God, declaring “God loves you”, or “God wants the best for you”, or “You are the apple of God’s eye!” It’s great to hear this, but the Gospel is about JESUS and what He did for us.

·         He is the one that was tortured and died.

·         He was the one that was put in the tomb.

·         He is the one that rose again after three days.

·         He is the soon coming King.

·         It is through His atoning death alone that we are redeemed.

It’s all about Jesus and what He has done

Jesus commanded us to go and preach the Gospel to all creation. We must be clear about what it is. We are not trying to sell it, or make God more attractive, appealing or acceptable. Jesus died to save sinners like you and me. I am grateful for the cross; what happened there is so important.

When Paul and Silas were miraculously freed from the jail by the earthquake that the Lord sent, even the keeper of the prison fell to his knees and cried:

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16: 30 

He had no thought of asking “What can God do for me?” or asking whether God wanted to bless Him, give him money, give him a better life. He saw his sinful state before God, that was all that mattered in those moments. He knew that he needed a saviour. His focus was on nothing else.

Each of the first four books of the New Testament are named “The Gospel”. The obvious question is ‘who are they about’?

We have good news to share about what Jesus did for us at Calvary. All of the other benefits that come with it are fantastic. But they only come after accepting the Lord Jesus as Saviour, don’t they? Salvation is the most important thing, not health, wealth, material possessions or success.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” 1Timothy 1:15

Jesus Christ died to save sinners. That is you and me, everyone. That is the point. We need to ‘keep the main thing, the main thing’ as the saying goes.