What is the gospel? There are few more important questions than this. Quite often we use the word, gospel. But do we have the same dictionary while we are using the same vocabulary? Do we mean the same thing from what we’re saying? The gospel, first and foremost, is news.
What Makes Something News?
So, I should say three things about news: 1. It has to be newsworthy. 2. News has results. And 3. It has to have a background.
So, it has to be newsworthy. If I told you I had breakfast today that is true but that’s not newsworthy. Whereas if I told you the result of the election, that’s newsworthy.
If I told you I had breakfast today that is true but that’s not newsworthy.
The second thing is that news always has results, or effects, or consequences. So, if the GDP of Nigeria rose astronomically today, well, it’s going to have an effect which is, hopefully, the prosperity of its citizens.
And the third thing is background. If I said, for instance today, that a female became president of the nation, you need to have the background – that we have never had a female ascend to that office – to make it more meaningful.
A Definition of The Gospel
So, with that having been said, let me give you a definition of the gospel that you can extract from Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 15.
It is the good news that the incarnate, crucified saviour Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and impending judge of the world.
The incarnate, crucified saviour Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and impending judge of the world.
Let me break down some of those words and show why it’s important.
What Makes The Gospel Good News?
“Incarnate” means that God became a human being to come and save. Then “crucified saviour” means that the means through which he saved the world was by dying on a cross. “Risen Lord” means that he rose from the dead into new and immortal life which he promises his people. “Impending judge” means that he hasn’t returned but he will return to deal with evil once and for all and also establish good.
And now, if you believe that message, then the good effects of the gospel then come to us. We become saved and we look forward to life everlasting with Jesus Christ.
