What Is the Gospel–Really?

Ask ten Christians at random this basic question, “What is the gospel?” and most likely they either won’t know or won’t be able to provide a definition.  Most pastors will probably say, “It’s Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection or our salvation and going to heaven when we died.”

The problem with these latter two responses is that neither was the gospel Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming, nor the gospel He preached and taught during the first 3 years of his 3 ½-year earthly ministry.

Hence, some well-known, evangelical authors lament “gospel reductionism” (Darrell L. Guder)  in that “we have settled for a little gospel, a miniaturized version” (Scot McKnight) and “the gospel we proclaim has been shrunk” (Robert Lynn).   They further bemoan that this foundational deficiency is the primary reason “why . . . today’s church [is] so weak” (Dallas Willard in his book appropriately titled, “The Great Omission”).

Biblically, and in a nutshell, the gospel is the “good news” of the arrival of the everlasting form of the kingdom of God and salvation, and in that order.  That’s how Jesus both announced them and accomplished them.  These are the two great works of the Messiah.  That is the most succinct and full definition of the gospel.  But, in essence, we moderns have edited out the kingdom, and to our detriment.

For even more click on: “Our Teachings” and “The Gospel.”