skip to content

Will the Real Gospel Please Stand Up?

What is the gospel?

What is all the confusion about? Put simply, the gospel means "good news"- which it is! The gospel is good news because it is God-centered not people-centered. Salvation is a gift from God that is freely received purely by faith. If our eternal life was achieved by good works or obeying the Ten Commandments, it wouldn't be good news at all! Why? Because that's like someone offering a gift, then asking you to pay for it. Also, if we tried to get into heaven by our own good deeds, we all would fall short. The gospel is the message of freedom and salvation.

The basis of the gospel.

The basis of the gospel is the cross of Jesus Christ. Without His death there would be no good news! God the Father poured out His wrath for all of mankind's sin on His own Son. When Jesus died, the penalty of death for your sin and mine was paid completely. He died in our place. This fact is the foundation of Christianity. Because He died we will never die! Because He rose from the dead we will live forever! The only requirement for receiving this eternal life is complete faith in Christ.

What the Bible says about the gospel.

  • Luke 19:10
  • John 3:16
  • Acts 13:39
  • I John 5:13
  • John 3:18
  • John 6:47
  • Galatians 3:26
  • Romans 3:10-19
  • II Corinthians 5:21
  • Ephesians 2:4
  • Ephesians 2:6
  • Ephesians 2:8,9
  • I John 5:10-13

Please look up these verses and answer the study questions following this section.

A verse to memorize!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Study Questions

  1. Jesus Christ came to"___________________ what was lost." Luke 19:10
  2. What key root word is common in the following verses? John 3:16; Acts 13:39; I John 5:13 _____________________
  3. According to John 3:18 who is not condemned?__________________________
    1. Who is condemned already?_____________________________
    2. Why is this man condemned?_____________________________________
  4. What kind of life does John 6:47 say that we have?____________________.
    1. Based on the word "has", when does this eternal life begin?________________________________.
  5. You are all ___________________________________ by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26.
  6. Read Romans 3:10-19 and briefly describe the condition of the human race:
  7. II Corinthians 5:21 says that we are made the ____________________________ of God in Him (Christ).
  8. Name two qualities (attributes) of God found in Ephesians 2:4, __________________, _________________________.
  9. The Bible says that God views us as seated with Him in the heavenly realm ________ ______________ ___________________. Ephesians 2:6.
  10. Ephesians 2:8,9 stresses that salvation "is not of yourselves" and "not by works". What reason follows each of these phrases?
    1. _____________________________________________________
    2. _____________________________________________________
  11. According to I John 5:10-13 those who believe on the name of the Son of God can _______________ that they have eternal life. Ponder this thought!!! This is why the Gospel is good news!!!