The preachers quoted here call the gospel good news: the news of what God has done in his Son, who died for sinners and was raised, to rescue them from their sins and reconcile them to a holy God. They describe it as the centre from which every other truth is reached, and as news that calls for a response.
"Gospel" translates the Greek euangelion, a good message.1 The word has an Old Testament background in the herald of Isaiah 52:7 who "bringeth good tidings" and publishes peace. Whatever else is said about the gospel, it is first of all news: a report of something that has happened.
Paul states what the news is. "I declare unto you the gospel ... 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" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). In Romans it is the gospel of God "concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-3), and "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16).
Jesus himself came "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God", saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15). The sermons in Acts follow a common outline: the promised time has come, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; he is exalted as Lord; therefore repent and receive forgiveness.
The Reformers pressed the point that the gospel is an announcement and not a set of instructions. The law tells what we must do; the gospel tells what God has done. It is therefore received by faith and not earned: "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves" (Ephesians 2:8). Luther wrote, "The Gospel is true because it deprives men of all glory, wisdom, and righteousness and turns over all honor to the Creator alone."2
Because it is news about a living Lord, the gospel calls for an answer, and the New Testament names it as repentance and faith (Acts 20:21). Recent writers have discussed how widely the word should be drawn.
Paul warns that the message can be exchanged for "another gospel: which is not another" (Galatians 1:6-7). The test in each case is whether Christ's death and resurrection for sinners remain the centre, and whether salvation is still held out as God's gift.
- Strong's Greek 2098, euangélion: "a good message, i.e. the gospel".
- Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, "CHAPTER I: Verse 1. Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
The gospel is the good news of what God has done in and through his son Jesus to rescue sinners from their sins and from the condemnation of their sins.
Roger Ellsworth
in The Power of the Gospel and the Poison of the Devil
Listen at 18:08
The Gospel is the good news about the great salvation purchased by Jesus Christ, by which He reconciled sinful men to a holy God.
Loraine Boettner
in What Is the Gospel?
Read in context
The gospel is the good news of what Jesus Christ did for me on Calvary, and the proof of it all in that God raised him from the dead the third day.
Alden Gannett
in Studies in the Gospel of John 05 - Work of the Spirit
Listen at 19:12
The gospel is the promise of life in Christ Jesus, with death defeated.
John Stott
in Ii Timothy - Part 3 - Guard the Gospel
Listen at 36:50
The gospel is not the first step in a stairway of truths, rather, it is more like the hub in a wheel of truth.
Voddie Baucham
in What Is the Gospel?
Listen at 7:26
The gospel is not only glad tidings, but glorious glad tidings.
Edward Payson
in The Gospel, Glad Tidings.
Read in context
Where they differ
All of these preachers call the gospel news. They differ in how they speak of the response it requires: some keep the word for what God has done, others include in it the summons to submit to Christ.
And the gospel is that Christ, God's beloved son, died for you.
Charles E. Fuller
in Repent, Believe and the Gospel of God
Listen at 44:58
The Gospel is a call for wicked men to throw down their arms and cease their willful violation of God's holy law and submit their lives to the rule and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.
E.A. Johnston
in Four R's of the Gospel:repentance
Listen at 7:04
What Scripture says
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day
- Romans 1:16 the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes
- Mark 1:15 the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel
- Ephesians 2:8-9 saved by grace through faith, the gift of God, not of works
- Galatians 1:8 Paul's warning against any other gospel
How this page is made: the quotes are taken word for word from sermons on SermonIndex and checked against them by program before the page is published. The transcripts of audio and video sermons are machine-made, so follow the link to hear the words as they were spoken. The answer above the quotes is an overview with its sources listed; it is not a statement of doctrine by SermonIndex.