The word “gospel” means “good news”. What is “the good news?” There is no better news in the past, present or to come than the truth that we as sinful, imperfect, rebellious human beings can be forgiven, cleansed, transformed to live loving selfless lives and enter the Kingdom of Heaven to be with God for all eternity. This is possible because Jesus lived a perfect life, died as the perfect sacrifice, in our place, to pay for our sins, was risen from the dead, was seated at the right hand of the living God and now rules all creation and all people.
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures . . .”
1 Corinthians 15:1–4
“…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
If we repent (turn away) from trusting in ourselves, our wisdom and reasoning, our good works, and instead place our trust in Jesus, we will be saved from death in the conscious torment of Hell, and receive the gift of God, which is eternal life with him.
This is what it means to be “In Christ.” Being in Christ gives us purpose and direction to help establish His Kingdom as we live lives that honor Him through obedience to His Word. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom where Jesus Christ rules for all eternity and it is a reflection of the person of Jesus, who is perfect love.
This Post is also a great explanation of The Gospel.
