The Gospel Message and Why It’s Good News

Introduction

The word “gospel” comes from the Greek word euangelion, where eu means “good” and angelion means “message.” In ancient times, when a new king or lord was announced, they would say, “Euangelion—Caesar is king!” This was a declaration of good news about the arrival of a new ruler.

In the same way, the gospel is the good news that Jesus is the new King and Lord of our lives. His message brings hope, joy, and freedom. To truly appreciate why this is such good news, let’s explore what the gospel is and how it transforms our lives.

 

1. The Heart of the Gospel

At the center of the gospel is the message of salvation: Jesus came to rescue us from sin and restore our relationship with God.

As Galatians 1:4 says: “Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world.”

• Salvation is not something we can earn by being good or working hard. It is a gift from God, given to us when we put our faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
• Key Point: The gospel isn’t about what we do for God—it’s about what God has already done for us through Jesus.

 

2. Salvation: Received, Not Achieved

The gospel tells us that salvation is received, not achieved. We cannot work our way into heaven by being “good enough.”

Galatians 2:16 says: “A person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.”

While we do put effort into living a godly life, our salvation doesn’t depend on our good works. God is not against effort; He is against earning. We can’t earn God’s love or favor—it is a gift freely given when we trust in Jesus.

• Key Point: We are saved by faith alone. We don’t work to earn salvation; we live in response to the gift we have received.

 

3. Right Order Living

Understanding the gospel means living in the right order:

• Right Order Living: Believe in what Jesus did on the cross = Saved → Life Changes.
  • When we believe in Jesus, we are saved, and then the Holy Spirit begins to transform our lives.
• Wrong Order Living: Believe in Jesus + Your Life Changes = Saved.
  • This is the false belief that we must change ourselves before we can be saved. This puts the focus on our efforts, not on Jesus’ finished work on the cross.

Romans 3:22-24 explains: “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight.”

• Key Point: We are saved by believing in Jesus, and good works naturally follow as a result of that salvation.

 

4. Why the Gospel Is Good News

The gospel is the best news we could ever receive! It’s all about what Jesus has done for us, not about what we have to do for ourselves.

One writer said: “He is treated as if He’s done everything you’ve done, and in the same moment, you are treated as if you did everything He did.” This is what theologians call the great exchange.

• Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and in exchange, we receive His righteousness.
• We are treated as if we lived the perfect life Jesus lived, and He was treated as if He lived the sinful life we have lived.

This is why James 2:24 says: “A person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” True faith leads to good works, but those works are a reflection of our faith—not the source of our salvation.

• Key Point: The gospel is good news because it is about what Jesus has done for us. We receive forgiveness and eternal life by trusting in Him.

 

5. Living Out the Gospel

Once we understand the truth of the gospel, our lives are transformed. We don’t do good works to earn God’s favor—we do them because we already have His favor through Jesus.

Colossians 1:29 reminds us that while we put effort into growing our faith, we rely on God’s power working in us. Living out the gospel means living a life that reflects the grace, love, and power of God.

• Key Point: The gospel changes not just how we are saved, but how we live every day. We live by faith, relying on God’s grace and power to guide us.

 

Conclusion

The gospel is the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s not something we earn or achieve—it’s a gift we receive by trusting in Jesus.

When we truly understand the gospel, it transforms every part of our lives—our relationships, our purpose, and our eternal destiny. We don’t live to earn God’s love; we live in response to the love He has already shown us.

This gospel message is available to everyone, and it truly is good news!