“I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (Luke 1:19).
Understanding the Heart of Christian Faith
The gospel is often called the “good news.” It delivers the exceedingly wonderful message of God’s plan to redeem sinful humanity. This redemption comes through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is at the heart of Christian preaching. It embodies the life-changing power of faith and eternal hope.
Origins and Meaning of the Gospel
The English noun “gospel” originates from the Anglo-Saxon term “godspell,” meaning “glad tidings.” This word itself is derived from the Greek term “evangelion,” which translates to “good message.” Historically, the term was used to announce military triumphs. However, the writers of the New Testament redefined it. They used it as the proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In Christianity, the gospel encompasses the entire communication of redemption and salvation for humanity. It was preached by Christ and His followers. The term later came to represent the four historical accounts of Jesus’s life and ministry. These were penned by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These apostles were the original “evangelists,” sharing the divine message of grace and truth with the world.
Proclaiming the Good News
The announcing of the gospel began with angelic proclamations. The angel Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah. He proclaimed, “I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (Luke 1:19). John the Baptist began gospel preaching. He called people to repentance and prepared the way for the Messiah (Mark 1:1–4).
After being baptized by John, Jesus began His ministry. He declared the gospel: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Jesus’s gospel focused on the arrival of God’s kingdom. It emphasized the fulfillment of divine promises. It highlighted the establishment of righteousness and the glorification of God’s people.
Jesus’s Mission and the Gospel
The core of Jesus’s mission included the proclamation of freedom. It also focused on healing. It emphasized restoration. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives. The blind will regain their sight. The oppressed will be set free” (Luke 4:18, NLT). Through His teachings, miracles, and ultimate sacrifice, Jesus embodied the gospel, bringing hope to the world.
The Life-changing Power of the Gospel
The gospel is good news because of its promises. It offers forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the gift of eternal life. John the Baptist testified about Jesus. He called Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). The gospel reveals God’s power to bring salvation to all who believe. Paul wrote about this. He said he is not ashamed of the gospel. This is because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).
Forgiveness and Redemption
Sin separates humanity from God, creating a chasm that no human effort can bridge (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23). Through the gospel, we learn that Jesus’s death on the cross paid the price for sin. It cancels its debt for all who believe in Him. “He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on him” (Isaiah 53:5).
Through faith in Christ, we are reconciled to God and brought into fellowship with Him. This fellowship is marked by peace. It is also marked by righteousness. We have been made right in God’s sight by faith. As a result, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us (Romans 5:1, NLT).
Adoption and New Life
The gospel promises adoption into God’s family for all who believe. To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. This was for those who believed in his name (John 1:12). He granted the right to become children of God. This adoption signifies a spiritual rebirth. Believers are “born of the Spirit” and endowed with the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (John 3:5–8; Acts 2:38).
The Holy Spirit guarantees believers’ heavenly inheritance. It empowers them to live in the righteousness of Christ. “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last” (Romans 1:17).
Spreading the Gospel
After Jesus’s resurrection, His disciples carried the gospel to the world. They shared the good news of salvation with boldness. Their conviction was clear. Acts records their efforts: “Day after day, they taught in the temple courts and went from house to house. They never stopped proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” (Acts 5:42).
Today, the gospel continues to be preached across the globe, transforming lives and bringing hope to countless individuals. Its message remains timeless: “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).
The Greatest Love Story
The gospel is fundamentally a love story—the story of a God who sacrificed His Son to redeem humanity. It is a narrative of grace, mercy, and unending love. Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
As believers, we are called to embrace the gospel, live in its truth, and share its message with others. It is the beacon of hope and the promise of eternal life—a gift to be cherished and celebrated.
The gospel is indeed the “good news.” It reveals the depth of God’s love. It also shows the breadth of His redemption. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, adopted, and empowered to live as His children. We carry forward the message of salvation to a world in need.
May the love of God shine through us, bringing hope, healing, and transformation to those around us. Amen.
Minister A. Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 