On this page, you’ll find resources to help you understand what the gospel is. The gospel is the central teaching of the Bible. It is what the Old Testament looks forward to and what the New Testament moves forward from.
The Gospel Message in 7 Parts*
The gospel can be understood by using seven steps. The steps proceed logically from one to the next. When one moves through the seven steps, the whole gospel has been declared.
#1. God is a righteous judge.
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day” (Psalm 7:11). This verse declares that God is righteous and He sits as judge. This Judge, the Psalmist tells us, feels indignation every day. Why should He be indignant?
#2. Everyone has sinned before God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible teaches that all mankind, men, women, boys, and girls, has sinned against God. What is sin? John tells us that sin is violation of God’s law (1 John 3:4). All of us have violated God’s law, in thought, attitude, and deed.
Now, what’s the problem with that? Those who stand guilty before God as lawbreakers are condemned to eternal separation from Him and His eternal wrath. But, there is hope.
#3. God sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). Jesus came into the world, the world He created, on a mission.
#4. The Lord Jesus Christ died for sinners.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Since we all have sinned against God, the Lord Jesus died for all of us.
#5. Jesus rose from the dead, bringing new life and hope to those who believe in him.
“[Jesus] said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead'” (Luke 24:46). Why should Jesus suffer and die? “[Righteousness] will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25). Jesus not only died for our sins, but he was raised from the dead so that we might be declared righteous and have a new life.
#6. The only way to be saved from sin is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household’” (Acts 16:31).
The only way to be saved from the eternal wrath of God is to believe in Christ for salvation. There is no other path, no other person, no other way that leads to salvation.
#7. Those who believe can be certain of eternal 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” (1 John 5:13).
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
If you have trusted Christ for salvation, you can know for certain that you are saved.
More Information
For more information on how to be saved and the gospel, read this article:
Blog posts on the gospel
What is the Gospel? Bad News and Good News
The Gospel of Life
The Gospel
God’s Wrath and Man’s Need
God’s Provision–Jesus
The Results
* Note: We are thankful for the folks at Great Commission Reformed Church in Glendale, AZ, for their excellent work in training people to understand and declare the gospel. Much of the material in this section is adapted from materials provided by GCRC.
The Shepherd's Voice 