Have you ever asked, “what is the gospel?” It is the good news about Jesus Christ. The gospel tells us how we can receive salvation through faith and repentance. It explains the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, showing us God’s love and plan for eternal life. If you wonder, “Greg Gilbert what is the gospel?”, he explains it as the message that changes lives and brings hope to everyone.
Understanding what is the gospel helps us see the Kingdom of God, know Jesus as Savior and Lord, and live a life of love and obedience. The gospel is in the Bible, the Scriptures, and the New Testament. Every time you ask, “what is the gospel?”, you get closer to experiencing its life-changing power.
The Answer Is Far More Exciting and Complex Than We’ve Been Led To Believe
The story of the Gospels is far more exciting and complex than most people realize. They are not just simple biographies of Jesus Christ; they are powerful narratives that reveal who He truly is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.
The Gospels show how Jesus’ life, teachings, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection fulfill Old Testament prophecy. Each Gospel Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John offers a unique perspective, emphasizing different aspects of His ministry, identity, and the Kingdom of God.
As you explore them, you’ll see how God’s plan unfolds, how faith and repentance connect us to salvation, and why the gospel remains life-changing today.
A Message from God
The gospel is, at its core, a message from God. It is the good news that Jesus Christ has come to save humanity from sin and spiritual death. God’s message tells us that we are loved, that our sins can be forgiven, and that we can have eternal life through faith and repentance. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, Scripture reveals God’s plan to restore humanity. He sent His Son, Jesus, as our Savior and Lord to fulfill prophecy, demonstrate His love, and establish the Kingdom of God.
The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are central to this divine message. Through His sacrifice, God offers grace, righteousness, and adoption into His family for all who believe. Biblical figures like Adam, Eve, Paul, Peter, John, and James help us see God’s plan unfold in history. Today, the gospel continues to reach people through the Bible, the Gospel accounts, and tools like the Jesus film and GodTools app, inviting everyone to experience the life-changing power of God’s love.
So what is the gospel?
So what is the gospel? The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came to bring salvation to everyone. It tells us how God’s love overcomes sin and spiritual death, and how we can have eternal life through faith and repentance. The gospel is not just information—it is a life-changing message that calls us to follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
Here are three key truths about the gospel:
- Who Jesus is: He is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world.
- What He has done: Jesus’ crucifixion paid for our sins, and His resurrection demonstrates God’s power and love.
- How we respond: Through faith, repentance, and obedience, we receive forgiveness, righteousness, and adoption into God’s family.
The gospel is central to the Bible, the New Testament, and every teaching about God’s Kingdom of God.
The essence of the gospel
The essence of the gospel is simple yet profound. At its heart, it tells us who Jesus Christ is, what He has done, and why it matters. The gospel is the good news that through His crucifixion and resurrection, we can be saved from sin and spiritual death. It is the foundation of faith, repentance, and a transformed life in the Kingdom of God.
To understand the essence, consider three key points:
- Who Jesus is: He is the Messiah, the Son of God, our Savior and Lord.
- What He has done: His death on the cross paid for our sins, and His resurrection proves God’s power and grace.
- Why it matters: Through the gospel, we receive forgiveness, righteousness, and adoption into God’s family, opening the way for spiritual transformation and eternal life.
The essence of the gospel is not just knowledge—it’s a life-changing message meant to guide how we live and love.
Four Features of the Gospels
Feature 1 – Old Testament References
The Gospels constantly show how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament story. The authors assume readers know the Scriptures well and use them in three main ways:
- Direct Quotations – Matthew shows Jesus’ healing ministry (Matt 8:14-16) as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the suffering servant (Isa 53:4).
- Subtle Allusions – In Mark 1:9-11, Jesus’ baptism is paired with God’s words, “You are my beloved Son” (Gen 22:2; Isa 42:1; Ps 2:7), blending multiple texts to highlight Jesus as the promised Messiah.
- Narrative Parallels – Matthew presents Jesus as a greater-than-Moses figure. Like Moses, Jesus comes out of Egypt, crosses water, spends forty days in the wilderness, and ascends a mountain to teach the Torah.
These references demonstrate that Jesus’ life and ministry are deeply rooted in God’s promises, fulfilling the Scriptures and showing His divine purpose.
Feature 2 – Identity Claims
The Gospels also communicate who Jesus is, both directly and indirectly:
- Direct Claims – Mark 1:1 declares, “The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.”
- Miracles & Teachings – Stories of healing, parables, and dialogues reveal Jesus’ power and wisdom.
- Testimonies of Others – God says, “This is my Son” (Matt 3:17). Disciples, townspeople, and even Roman soldiers recognize Him as the Son of God (Matt 8:27; 13:55; 27:54).
- Interactions with People – From the Canaanite woman to the high priest, various reactions highlight Jesus’ identity as Messiah, King, and Savior.
Through these stories, readers are invited to see Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as the Son of God, fully divine and fully human.
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Feature 3 – Climax of the Biblical Story
Every Gospel presents the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as the narrative climax of the Bible.
- Time and Focus – Mark dedicates ten chapters to Jesus’ three-year ministry and six chapters to the final week in Jerusalem.
- Foretold Death – Matthew highlights Jesus predicting His death multiple times (Matt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19). His crucifixion becomes the ultimate act of God’s plan for salvation (Matt 27:37).
- Central Significance – The resurrection confirms Jesus’ identity, proving His claims and completing God’s redemptive story.
This climactic focus emphasizes that everything in Scripture points to Jesus’ death and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan.
Feature 4 – Rearrangement of Events
While historical, each Gospel author organizes events to emphasize specific aspects of Jesus’ character:
- Matthew – Highlights Jesus as greater-than-Moses, fulfilling the promises of Scripture and reigning as King of heaven and earth.
- Mark – Shows the mystery of Jesus’ kingdom, emphasizing the paradox of recognizing the exalted Messiah in the humiliated Christ.
- Luke – Demonstrates Jesus bringing the Gospel to all nations, empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s promise of salvation beyond Israel.
- John – Portrays Jesus as God-become-human, performing signs that reveal His divine authority and offering eternal life to believers.
Experiencing the Gospel
Experiencing the gospel goes beyond just knowing its truths. It’s about feeling the presence and power of Jesus Christ in your life. The gospel is life-changing because it transforms your heart, mind, and actions through faith, repentance, and obedience to God’s Word. Through the Holy Spirit, you can experience spiritual growth, forgiveness, and adoption into God’s family.
1. God’s Love Revealed
The gospel shows how much God loves you. 1 John 4:9 tells us that God sent His Son, Jesus, so we might live through Him. This love brings comfort, hope, and a desire to follow Him faithfully.
2. Awareness of Our Problem
Experiencing the gospel helps you see your sin and need for salvation. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned, separating us from God and eternal life.
3. Christ’s Solution
Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection provide the solution. Romans 5:8 shows that God demonstrates His love by giving Christ to die for us.
4. Our Response
Faith and repentance allow you to receive forgiveness, grace, and the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 2:8–9). Accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and begin a life of holy living and spiritual transformation.
God
The gospel begins with God, the Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). Everything stems from Him, including humanity, so He has the right to guide our lives. God is holy, righteous, and cannot overlook sin. Understanding Him is key to grasping the good news of Jesus Christ. God sent His Son, the Messiah, to bring salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. Through His grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, we are invited into His Kingdom of God, transformed by His love, and called to obedience and holy living.
Mankind
God created Adam and Eve to live in fellowship with Him, enjoying perfect joy under His rule. However, their disobedience introduced sin, breaking this relationship (Romans 3:23). All humanity inherits this fallen nature, separated from God, facing spiritual death and the consequences of rebellion (Romans 6:23). The gospel shows that despite our failure, God offers salvation through Jesus Christ. By acknowledging our sin, turning in repentance, and embracing faith, we can receive forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life, entering the Kingdom of God and beginning a life of spiritual transformation.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. He entered history through the Genealogy of Jesus, born in Nazareth, fully human yet fully divine. His ministry revealed the Kingdom of God, teaching through parables and performing miracles. Jesus faced the wilderness testing, was baptized, and ultimately endured crucifixion for our sins. Through His resurrection, He defeated death and offers salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. By placing faith in Him, practicing repentance, and following His Word, we experience spiritual transformation and holy living.
Conclusion
So, what is the gospel? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life through His crucifixion and resurrection. Understanding what is the gospel helps you see God’s love, His plan for mankind, and the path to the Kingdom of God. The gospel meaning is simple yet powerful: Jesus came to save, to teach, and to transform lives.
The gospel definition shows God’s grace, faith, and the call to repentance.The gospel in the Bible reveals His plan through Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. By reading, believing, and living it, you can experience a life-changing message. Knowing what is the gospel is the first step to following Jesus, growing in faith, and sharing His love with others.
