The gospel (the word means 'good news') is the announcement that God, in love, became man in Jesus Christ, died for our sins, was raised for our justification, and freely saves all who repent and believe. It is news to be believed, not a task to be performed.
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What the Scripture says
1
It is good news, not good advice
The gospel is not a list of instructions to improve yourself: it is an announcement of what God has done. Paul delivers what he received: 'that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.' It is something to believe, not something to achieve.
Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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,Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel centers on Jesus, not on our efforts. 'God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.' The good news is who He is and what He did for us.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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,For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
By the gospel we are 'justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' The wages of sin is death, but 'the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' The gospel turns a verdict of death into a gift of life.
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The jailer asked what he must do, and the answer was: 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.' Jesus began His ministry, 'Repent, and believe in the Good News.' It is received, never earned.
brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The gospel is 'the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.' God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. It is good news for all: the worst and the best alike.
For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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,For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.