What is the Gospel?

If we are going to effectively share the good news of the gospel we need to understand what “the message concerning Christ” actually is.  And we need to know what the “kingdom of God” and “salvation” are if we are going to share the full story of the Gospel.

In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul reminds the church in Corinth of the four, core events that make up the message concerning Christ; (1) the death, (2) burial, (3) resurrection, and (4) subsequent appearances of the resurrected Christ.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”, Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

These verses give us the backbone of the gospel.  They also show that the resurrection is a key part of the gospel.  Paul described the resurrection as “of first importance”—this statement stresses the priority of the resurrection. These truths are central to the message of the gospel, the story of Jesus Christ, the son of God, who died for our sins so that by grace, through faith in Him we are saved from an eternity of separation from God, otherwise known as hell.

The big picture view of the kingdom of God is, the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over the entire universe… actually, His eternal rule over everything, even beyond our universe, even space and time! More specifically, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority.  You can also say those of us who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in our hearts are part of the kingdom of God.

Salvation is the key to the door of the kingdom, freedom from the bondage of sin and eternal death which is eternal separation from God.  Salvation is the most precious gift in the world, and it can only be given by God.

Can we lose our salvation?

The Bible says… “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A person that is saved isn’t just an “improved” version of their former self, they are an entirely new creature “in Christ” so to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be destroyed.

Those that are saved have been “redeemed” a price has been paid by God.  They have been purchased by Christ’s death on the cross. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19). God Himself would have to revoke His priceless purchase for an individual to lose their salvation… NOT going to happen!

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

When an individual comes to faith by hearing the gospel, and believing in Jesus, the new Christian is sealed with the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of their heavenly inheritance. God’s glory is praised in the process. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to remove the seal, break His promise, declare the guarantee null and void, ignore the inheritance, not be praised, and He would not be glorified.  A saved person cannot be un-newly created. The redeemed cannot be unpurchased. Eternal life cannot be temporary. Essentially this would require God to lie… scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)