What is the core message of the gospel and how does it lead to salvation?
Verse by Verse Ministry International is regularly asked about the Gospel. What is the gospel? And why does it matter? The gospel is the life-changing message of Jesus Christ—a message of hope, love, and redemption. In this article, we’ll break down the essential elements of the gospel, exploring how it addresses the reality of sin, provides a savior, and offers the promise of eternal life. Whether you're new to the faith or seeking to deepen your understanding, this exploration of the gospel will remind you of the incredible grace and love that God extends to each of us through Jesus Christ.
A Sinner
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
These two verses start with the problem of man, the fact that we all sin. None of us are perfect in this aspect. Our sin separates us from God. The solution comes in verse 9 which tells us we must confess our sins to God, admitting we fall short of His righteousness, and acknowledge the blood of Jesus as the only way we can be made right with the Creator. In this, His Word tells us that He is faithful to forgive us our sins.
A Savior
2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This is how God chose to save us. It isn’t done by any effort on our part. He Loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to stand in our place for the penalty due for sin- death. This is Grace. God did all of the work, and Jesus paid for our sin by dying on the cross. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life so that He could stand blameless in our place as the perfect atoning sacrifice. All we must do is receive his complete work on the cross which is our means of redemption with a Holy God.
A Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is key to our salvation. It is where we derive our hope both in this life and more importantly in death. This verse shows us that through one man, sin entered the world [Adam], but Jesus conquered sin/death when He was raised three days after He was crucified and placed in a tomb. Jesus was the first to die and be resurrected into a new glorified body proving He has power over not only sin but death as well. Only God can give dead things life, and Jesus has promised us power over death and a hope for an eternally resurrected body of our own. Just as Adam’s original sin brought sin and death into the world, Jesus Christ’s death atoned for our sin and by His resurrection He has given us hope in eternal life with Him.
Belief
Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Upon believing the gospel, God promises to give us the Holy Spirit. This is our guaranteed entry into Heaven. After first hearing the gospel and heeding to it, we then believe the gospel and accept that Jesus is the Messiah, all done through God’s grace. God then deposits His spirit in us which brings us faith and sets a seal on our lives. This is “God in Us”. This is the saving grace that God offers us through Jesus Christ.
His Infinite Love
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
The Son of God left Heaven and lowered Himself into human form. He is the Creator of all things, He has power over all things, yet He chose to leave all of that behind to come to earth and die a death on a cross among criminals so that our sin would no longer be what separates us from God. He lowered Himself from His throne in Heaven and chose to be born of a virgin in the most humble circumstances. He then lived the perfect life we could never live. Lovingly He chose to die the death we deserve, to deal with the sin we commit that separates us from God. He loved us more than words. He loved us through action. God left Heaven to save us. Through Jesus’ humility we can now receive our inheritance in Heaven.
Salvation
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Salvation is a gift of God revolving solely around faith that Jesus is who He says He is, i.e. the sinless Son of God and Creator of the world. Jesus gives eternal life to those who believe in His blood being poured out for our sin, which then justifies and redeems us to God the Father. He dealt with the sin nature of man bridging the separation our sin caused between us and God the Father. When we hold this message as truth in our hearts, the word of God tells us we have life. Without Jesus there is no life. Only separation from God eternally. Accepting all Jesus has done in His life, death, and resurrection, on our behalf, is the faith that saves eternally. The gospel of Jesus Christ is everything. With it we have life. Without it we are hopeless.
The gospel is the foundation of our faith, offering a clear path from sin to salvation through Jesus Christ. Understanding these core truths is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with God. If you’re eager to dive deeper, we invite you to explore more studies and resources available on our website. Each one is designed to help you grow in your faith and strengthen your walk with Christ.
Check out Where to Start with VBVMI for ideas.
