Essentials of the Essential Gospel

Faith and belief in the Gospel is essential to our salvation, justifying us before God for our sins, resulting in eternal life, spending eternity with God and our Savior Jesus Christ. This is the only thing that should matter to every human being who walks the face of the earth. 

It is sad that so many people don't know the Gospel (The Good News). It is also sad that so many church-goers can't articulate the essentials of the Gospel, which raises the question whether or not they are truly saved. I've talked to a lot of people who call themselves Christians but aren't certain if they are saved or can't explain how someone can be saved.

The apostle Paul recognized this very same thing within the church in Corinth. He brought the Gospel to them and preached it in person, but later realized that there was still confusion among those in church. He explained the essentials to the Gospel to them in 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, "For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

There is so much to know about Christian living, but Paul ranks this as most important. As such, we all need to be able to teach it in its most basic form, articulating the essential parts of the Good News. 

The first essential part is that "Christ died for our sins." God created Adam without sin to rule over a good creation. Adam disobeyed God, bringing sin and eternal separation from God to the entire human race. But God, in His great love for us, provided a way to be reconciled back to Himself by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to live a perfect life that we could never live and died a guilty death we don't want to die. Christ's death on the cross atoned for the sins we've committed against God. He absorbed the entire wrath of God on our behalf, paying the debt for all of our sins. He left no debt unpaid. Jesus declared on the cross, "It is finished" John 19:30.

Second, the Gospel says, "He was buried," emphasizing that the sufferings and death of Jesus were real. After they killed Him, Jesus' enemies made sure that everyone would know that He was dead. They placed Him in a tomb and securely sealed the stone and placed guards on it, Matt 27:66.

Third, the Gospel says, "He was raised on the third day." Jesus was "raised for our justification" Rom 4:25. His death on the cross succeeded in atoning for our sins and His resurrection declared that He was the Son of God in power who conquered death. He will forever rule as our triumphant Messiah, Rom 1:4. He is preparing a place for us, a new heaven and earth, where all of His people will live joyously with Him forever.

This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As pastors, teachers, parents, coworkers, or friends, we can never assume that people understand the essentials of this gracious Gospel. At the same time, let's not make it more complicated than it is. Let the Holy Spirit do the saving and the sanctification process that will continue until we are face to face with our Savior and Redeemer.

Pastor Bryan