What is "The Gospel"?

Question

When we talk of sharing "The Gospel" with others, what gospel do we share? Where do we point them to in the Bible?

Grace and Peace!
Romans 5:1

Answer 1

1 Corinthians 15
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, {{{{how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: }}}}

Answer 2

"Gospel" means "good news." Christians take this to mean the good news about their messiah. The New Testament consists of only four gospels. These are the only ones that the Roman Catholic Church centuries ago decided would be included out of the dozens of "gospels" existent at the time. The rest of Christianity can thank their Catholic brethren for the contents of the New Testament. (Throw in the Muslims, too. Their religion is cobbled together based on the Old and the New Testaments with a sprinkling of "revelations" from their prophet).

That is the "gospel" that you "share", asker. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But you and other Christians will always be banging heads about the "correct" interpretation of these gospels. You people will just never get it together.

Answer 3

IMPORTANT... before you go out, you may want to learn about the distinction between the popular Pauline gospel, and the Kingdom Gospel that Jesus actually taught.

If you really want to be on track with the Original Gospel you should read this first. http://gospelenigma.com

On the other hand, if you just want to repeat the same gospel you heard when you were growing up... then don't read that book.

It's up to you. The genuine Gospel that Jesus actually taught, or the substitute Pauline gospel that came along after Jesus was gone.

There is a difference. Also find it here..

Answer 4

When I think of "The Gospel" I think of the truth. John 3:16

Answer 5

What Really Is the Gospel?

DURING the Christmas season, people in many lands hear about, and even personally speak about, the Gospel. The term is very common, but does it have more meaning than most imagine? Could the Gospel mean something outstandingly good for you and your loved ones?

“Gospel” means “good news,” and surely, good news is welcome not just at Christmastime but anytime. However, the Gospel is not just any good news. It is a specific good news from a definite source about a particular subject. It is, in fact, a message that God has appointed to be announced to all mankind.

Eugênio Salles, archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, spoke about that good news when he urged: “We should act in harmony with the Gospel and not in the light of ideologies.” The archbishop was correct. To act in harmony with the Gospel, however, requires that we know what the Gospel is. How can we learn that? And how will acting in harmony with the Gospel help us?

What Is the Gospel?
The nature of the Gospel is often misunderstood. In 1918 the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America hailed the now defunct League of Nations as the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth and declared that it was “rooted in the Gospel.” That body failed dismally in its goal to preserve peace. Clearly, the council was wrong. The League of Nations had nothing to do with the Gospel.

In recent years promoters of liberation theology have freely brought up the Gospel when talking about their ideas for political or social reformation. In doing so they have disregarded the real Gospel. The Brazilian magazine Veja commented: “The Catholic Church began to favor the social kingdom, ignoring the spiritual needs of its faithful. Those who sought the word God in a sermon often found only rhetorical arguments against social injustices.”

An improvement in living conditions or a change in political systems may be good news to some. Yet, such is not the good news, the Gospel. Admitting his church’s failure to preach the real Gospel, one bishop said: “We neglected the spiritual teaching of our faithful since the 60’s because of a materialistic interference in our doctrine.”

A report in the U.S. news magazine Time suggests that Protestants too have lost sight of the Gospel. The magazine observes: “Not only are the traditional denominations failing to get their message across; they are increasingly unsure just what that message is.” What should their message be? What is the Gospel?

Identifying the Gospel
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines “Gospel” as “the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.” The word “gospel” is also defined as “an interpretation of the Christian message (the social gospel)”; “the message or teachings of a religious teacher.” Do all these definitions apply? No, not if we are speaking of the Gospel. The real Gospel is based on the Bible; hence, only the first of those three definitions is accurate. The last two merely reflect the way that the word “gospel” has come to be used today.

In harmony with this thought, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says that in the Christian Greek Scriptures (the “New Testament”), the Gospel “denotes the good tidings of the Kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death.” It is important to understand this because a correct understanding of the true good news has much to do with our present well-being and future happiness.

A Distinct Message
As the foregoing reference work shows, the Gospel is closely linked with Jesus Christ—so much so that the four Bible accounts of his life on earth are called the four Gospels. Right from the beginning of his human life, news about Jesus was good news. When announcing his birth, an angel said: “Look! I am declaring to you good news [or, gospel] of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:10, 11.

The newborn Jesus would grow up to be the Christ, the promised Messiah. He would reveal God’s purpose for salvation, give up his perfect human life in behalf of mankind, be resurrected, and then become the chosen King of God’s Kingdom. Good news indeed! That is why the message about him is called the Gospel.

During his short earthly ministry, Jesus was very zealous in preaching the good news. We read in the Gospel of Matthew: “Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom.” (Matthew 9:35) His preaching was not just to make people feel better. Mark records Jesus as saying: “The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Be repentant, you people, and have faith in the good news.” (Mark 1:15) Yes, those who responded and obeyed the good news found that it changed their lives.

After Jesus’ death, his followers continued to preach the Gospel. Not only did they speak about the Kingdom but they added the happy news that Jesus had been resurrected to God’s right hand in the heavens and had offered the value of his perfect human life in behalf of mankind. As the one chosen by God to rule over all the earth as King of God’s Kingdom, he would be God’s Agent in destroying God’s enemies and in restoring the earth to a paradise.—Acts 2:32-36; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 22:1-5.

Today, the good news includes a further element. According to all the evidence of the fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus has now been enthroned, and we are living in the last days of this system of things. (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 12:7-12) The time when the Kingdom will act against God’s enemies is rapidly approaching. What better news could there be?

Answer 6

The Bible is its own divine commentary on this question:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. - Romans 1:16.

Answer 7

"...and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" -Jesus in Luke 10:9
Preach
Jesus taught us that the finish line of all evangelism is to preach. As believers, we must be convinced that there will be none in heaven that have not heard the gospel, and "how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)
I've become convinced that it is absolutely necessary for people to see the reality of their sin (and its consequences) before they will ever call out for Jesus to save them, yet so much preaching today has become what author and evangelist Ray Comfort calls "life enhancement preaching." It's the idea that we try to bring people to Jesus by promising happiness, blessing, and peace, when the reality is that His cross purchased redemption from the condemnation of hell and eternal separation from Him. This fact that man has broken God's law and is deserving of death is where the convicting power of our gospel is manifest. Without unbelievers seeing themselves as lawbreakers, God's grace makes no sense. It's like the old hippy story about the Jesus freak that walked into the room and said, "Jesus is the answer!" To which the unsaved hippy replied, "Dude, what's the question?"
Comfort wrote a book called Hell's Best Kept Secret, where he explains what Satan would want more than anything else is to take out the use of God's Law in our evangelism. This is not fire and brimstone preaching, but surgically using Scripture to show men and women that they've fallen short of God's glory and need a Savior.
Great preachers learned this secret. Consider these quotes:

"It is of great importance that the sinner should be made to feel his guilt, and not left to the impression that he is unfortunate. Do not be afraid, but show him the breadth of the Divine Law, and the exceeding strictness of its precepts. Make him see how it condemns his thoughts and life. By a convicted sinner, I mean one who feels himself condemned by the Law of God, as a guilty sinner." -Charles Finney

"Before I can preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment." -John Wesley

"God, being a perfect God, had to give a perfect Law, and the Law was given not to save men, but to measure them. I want you to understand this clearly, because I believe hundreds and thousands stumble at this point. They try to save themselves by keeping the Law; but it was never meant for men to save themselves by. Ask Paul why it was given. Here is his answer, 'That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God' (Romans 3:19)." -DL Moody
Ray Comfort makes these observations from Scripture:
1. The Law shows us our guilt before God and stops us from justifying ourselves. "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Romans 3:19)
2. The Law brings us to the knowledge of sin. "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20)

3. The Law defines sin. "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet.'" (Romans 7:7)

4. The Law was designed for the very purpose of bringing men and women to Christ. "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24)
By using the Ten Commandments to ask simple questions: "Have you ever told a lie?" "Have you ever stolen?" "Have you ever blasphemed?" "Have you ever looked with lust?" "Have you ever murdered someone with your heart?" I have seen so many realize, though they had insisted at first that they were good people and deserved heaven, that they are sinners that have fallen short of God's glory, and need a Savior. Then I introduce to them the story of the cross as an answer!
There's much more I could say about this, and there are some great materials available to train you. I would recommend you check out the website http://www.livingwaters.com to enlarge your ability to share Christ with others.

Personally, I also love to use stories and "parables" when I share the gospel.

Answer 8

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

The book of Hebrews tells that the gospel was preached to the children of Israel. Because of their lack of faith a generation did not enter into the Promised Land. Through the faith of Joshua and Caleb did the next generation enter in.

The gospel is the Kingdom of God. He promised His people an inheritance, a land where His eyes will be upon and His name and presence would dwell forever. A place where they will be His people and He will be their God. The promise is for the children of Israel and the stranger who takes hold of the covenant of YHVH. - Read Isaiah 56.

The covenant was broken and through The Messiah it will be made "New" or renewed with the children of Israel as promised to Abraham. This time it is an everlasting covenant never again to be broken.

Jer 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

Today without faith we will not enter into His Kingdom outside of His covenant.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Rom 10:8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"-- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

Romans 10:8 is a direct quote from Deuteronomy 30:14 instructing His people to keep the Torah commandments - "the word of faith which we are preaching" - Paul and the disciples.

Deu 30:10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law (Torah), if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
Deu 30:11 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. ...

Deu 30:14 "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

The "law" contrary to faith spoke of by Paul was the traditions and precepts of men. Not the "law" of YHVH given to Moses which the Pharisees and ruling party did not keep.

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

Mat 23:2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;
Mat 23:3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.

Mark 7:8 "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
Mark 7:9 He was also saying to them, "You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.

In the Torah are the Commandments of YHVH given to Moses, anything else is the "law" of men.

Mat 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (Messiah quoting Jeremiah)

Jer 6:16 Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you shall find rest for your souls.

Seek the ancient paths of the Torah.

Today The Messiah is our Passover sacrifice and until His Kingdom returns we must do the best we can to keep the Commandments, our garment of righteousness. Preparing ourselves to be the unspotted bride betrothed to The Bridegroom until His return.

We must point, or encourage people to read the entire Hebrew and New Testaments to understand and have a relationship with our Creator, The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Answer 9

'Gospel' is an old English word meaning 'good news'.

If God loves us, and did something about it, that has to be good news, whether you believe it or not.

Answer 10

"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 10:7