What is the Gospel?
A summary for the spiritually curious and refresher for the spiritually convinced
Christians talk a lot about the Gospel. But what is it?
The Gospel is more than the “first step in a staircase” of truths. It is more like the hub of a wheel, the central reality around which every other person, place, and thing orbits.
The Gospel is not a basic truth from which we move on to deeper truths, but is the central truth from which all other truth emanates.
Whether you are investigating faith or are a life-long follower of Christ, the Gospel is the single thing you must grasp if your life is to be all God designed it to be. Without the Gospel, life becomes distorted in many ways. With the Gospel, life is set on a trajectory toward beauty and wholeness.
The Gospel includes some hard news that is also obvious: the universe and everything in it is wearing down all the time, and we ourselves are more damaged, unfinished, and stubbornly sinful than we realize.
The Gospel also heralds good news that through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God will restore the universe and his people to their original beauty and glory. The following three big truths of the Gospel are intended as a summary of the Gospel’s inexhaustible realities, and are foundational for all other teaching about faith and life.
First, God is restoring all of creation
Through Jesus, the love and power of God have entered history to make all things new. This renewal includes the hearts and souls of people, plus so much more. God intends to renew the entire universe. He will restore people, places, and things to their original, “very good” condition as described in Genesis 3.
The world is not the way it is supposed to be. Because of this, people and creation groan in anticipation of renewal—all things restored to their original beauty and wholeness before sin entered the world (Rom 8:18-25; Rev 21:1-5).
In the present world it is possible to enjoy seasons of joy and splendor (a satisfying friendship or romance, a new car, straight A’s, an athletic victory, a delicious meal, beautiful music, etc.) but much of material life is also flawed and fractured (frustration in work, pain in relationships, financial strain, sickness, death).
Despite that all things eventually break down, those who live inside the Gospel can also rest in a sure hope that is immune to circumstances (2 Cor 4:7-18, 12:7-10). Things are not perfect now, but all will all be made right when in the end, God renews all things.
There is also an invitation to redemptive discontent for those who believe the Gospel. Think of the last improvement project you set out to complete like remodeling a kitchen, dusting off furniture, weeding a lawn, strengthening a relationship, healing an illness, getting a haircut, washing a dog, editing an essay, etc. The frustration you felt before the work was done (This isn’t how it’s supposed to be…it could be so much better!) and the satisfaction you felt when the project was completed, are glimpses of God’s image working in and through you.
God eagerly desires, as the rock band U2 sings, to “make beauty out of ugly things.”
Second, God is rescuing a people for himself, by grace through faith
At the center of the Gospel is not a list of ideas, rules, commands or propositions, but a Person. That Person is Jesus Christ, who, being in his very nature God (Php 2:6; 1 Jn 5:20), took on human flesh to bridge the otherwise insurmountable gap between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity (Isa 6:1-7).
Jesus lived the kind of life we should have lived and declared us righteous based on his perfect faithfulness, then he died the kind of death we should have died to accomplish forgiveness for our sins. When we believe and rest in these things, we find true and irrevocable peace with God.
There are basically three ways to approach life:
The life of religious moralism focuses on behavior:
“You won’t be accepted unless you perform and keep our rules and embrace our cultural norms.”
The life of I religious selfism focuses on personal autonomy:
“You can be happy apart from God’s rule in your life.”
Life in the Gospel focuses on personal trust in God’s heroic rescue.
Most people think that a “good Christian” is someone who follows Christ’s teaching. But the Bible says this is impossible. Rescue would not be necessary if the human race wasn’t in a perishing condition and unable to save itself.
How many times have you seen a corpse bring itself back to life?
Jesus, knowing the helplessness of the human condition (Gen 6:5; Eph 2:1-10) gave himself as a sacrifice for those who trust in his gracious gift, which is neither earned nor deserved by us. The gift was his very life. Jesus Christ came not to buy us a second chance but to be our substitute. Everything we needed to do to achieve peace with God, Jesus did for us. Our part is to receive and live from this reality.
Those who trust in and receive his free gift can truly say:
“As far as God is concerned, everything that’s true about Jesus is true about me. God regards me as blameless and beautiful. He loves me as much as he loves Jesus. He gives me credit for the good that Jesus did, and he puts all the blame on Jesus for the wrongs I have done and will do.”
The Gospel gives us a “Who,” not just a “what.” Christianity is not something we do as much as it is a Person we trust—the doing merely flows out of the trust. Jesus lived the life we should have lived, and he died the death we should have died. It is on this basis alone (Jn 14:6) that anyone can stand blameless and fully accepted in the sight of God. The Reformer Martin Luther likened all people to a caterpillar caught in the middle of a ring of fire. For us, as for the caterpillar, the only hope for deliverance is rescue “from above.”
Third, God is perfecting and beautifying his people—every last one of them
Returning to the first point above, God will not only rescue his people, but also start them on a life-long journey of restoration to their original beauty. He intends for us to reflect his image in all its radiance, perfection, glory, and joy.
Believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ will one day actually be like God in their character, way of life, and deepest, most foundational desires (1 Cor 13:8-12; Eph 4:24). This will happen in the New Heaven and New Earth, where the Bible promises there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev 21:1-5).
So the Gospel offers a healing journey that leads to a life-giving destination of abundance and joy. It is a journey that we do not embark upon alone, but alongside others who share with us a common trust in Jesus.
As fellow sojourners, Christians exist in part to help each other along toward the destination of knowing and becoming like Jesus, having first been with Jesus and enjoyed the riches of his mercy, lovingkindness, and grace.
In this life, God’s ultimate aim for us is to shape us, to renew us, to re-make us into Christ-like people. When his goal and vision for our lives becomes ours as well, we become the best version of ourselves. Even things like regret, hurt, and fear can make us instead of breaking us.
The hardest parts of life can become instruments in God’s hands to chisel the rubble and dragon skin off of us, leaving room for only those parts of us that will last into eternity. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ for good works and purposes. He who began that good work in us will be faithful to complete it (Eph 2:10; Php 1:6).
I really liked that! I'm coming around months after you first wrote this. A friend just sent me a link to your "We are all Drunk" blog. I loved it so much! This too. I have a question about this particular blog, and you actually may have answered it in the blog by saying "this is intended as a summary of the Gospel’s inexhaustible realities." But, I'm still asking because the title of the blog is What is the Gospel. Imperative to the cross is the resurrection, just as the resurrection is imperative to the cross. You didn't mention the resurrection, you did elude to it, though. So... I notice that a lot. Many Christian writers talk about the death of Christ, the sacrifice, which was our substitute... but without the resurrection, it would have ended there. I guess more than anything I'm wondering why this point is often overlooked. Thank you for your writing and mostly, thank you for your heart! This and the we're all drunk is all I've read so far but both have me thinking about many things.
Whew, Scott ... I'm a blubbering baby after this one. SO good! After years of regret, shame, guilt -- especially after Dad's fall from ministry, I'm now able to look 'back' on it all after his home-going, get honest with Self and family, and do the tedious work of healing. It's a daily grind, and most days it 'feels' worth it. But some days, it's just hard. Love your insights and writings. Carry on my friend ... thank you!