The Gospel Simply Explained

“Gospel” means “good news.” In order to understand the good news, we must first understand the bad news, our sinful nature and disconnection from God. This simple explanation is designed to be an introduction and short summary of the good news of God’s great plan of salvation.

1. God’s Purpose: Relationship

God created humanity to live in perfect fellowship and enjoy a loving, eternal relationship with Him.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the seas, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3 (NKJV)

2. The Problem: Sin

Instead of following our Creator’s purpose, we chose to disobey God and pursue our own way. This act, called sin, breaks God’s command and causes a separation between us and God. Sin goes beyond a wrong choice, it reveals a corrupt nature. Because of our corrupt nature, we are unable (by our own effort, good works, or religious practices) to reconnect with God.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins
Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard it’s spots? Then you may also do good who are accustomed to do evil.
Jeremiah 13:23 (NKJV)

3. The Punishment: Hell

Because God is perfectly just, sin against an eternal God requires eternal consequence. The just wage for sin is eternal death, defined as eternal punishment from God in a place of darkness, pain and torment.

For the wages of sin is death,
Romans 6:23a (NKJV)

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Matthew 25:45 (NKJV)

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power 2 Thesselonians 1:9 (NKJV)

4. The Good News: Christ’s Sacrifice

What we could not do, God did. Out of His great love, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us. Jesus willingly suffered the punishment for our sins. He faced hell for us, so that we would not have to go. The innocent took the place of the guilty. He who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might be made right in God’s eyes. Only in and through Jesus can man be reconciled to God.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

5. Our Response: Faith

To receive the free gift of eternal life, we must repent (admit our sin and turn from it) and believe (place our full trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) to receive forgiveness and salvation from eternal punishment.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 3:19 (NKJV)

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to these who believe in His name
John 1:12 (NKJV)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

6. Next Steps: Growth

After responding in faith, a new life of following Jesus begins, marked by public declaration, spiritual growth and serving His purposes.

  • Get Baptized (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4, Matthew 28:19)
  • Join a Local Church (1 Corinthians 12:27, Hebrews 10:24-25)
  • Read the Bible Daily (Matthew 4:4, Psalms 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16)
  • Pray About Everything (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Peter 5:7)
  • Share Your Story (Psalms 107:2, 1 Peter 3:15)
  • Seek God’s Will (Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 2:10)