INTRODUCTION:  I don’t suppose there is any area of Biblical knowledge that Christians claim to be clearer on, more specific, than the GOSPEL. The strange thing is that there is no area in which there is more confusion than on WHAT IS THE GOSPEL.  If someone put a gun to your head  metaphorically, could you give them a clear definition of WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? In this little study, we will define THE GOSPEL and also find out where the word “gospel” is mentioned the most often, so we can spend time in the books that talk about THE GOSPEL.  It is very important that you understand what Biblically the GOSPEL is...for there is no way that you can get to be in His presence without having believed the Gospel. 

Introductory Remarks About The Gospel:  

A. Use of the Word Gospel:

     a. It is used in the Gospel of John ONE TIME.

     b. Peter uses it ONE TIME.

     c. Acts uses it TWO TIMES.

     d. Put the four gospels together and the total use of the word GOSPEL is only TWELVE TIMES.  

     e. Revelation uses it ONE TIME.

     f. Paul the Apostles uses it SIXTY TWO TIMES.  (how about that) If Paul used the word GOSPEL 62 times, then the gospel is really compacted into the writings of Paul.  He would be where I would go for a definition of the Gospel. The strange thing is that even most Christians DO NOT associate the GOSPEL with Paul but with the four Gospels, Matt, Mark, Luke and John. Thus, to be clear on the GOSPEL, go to writings of Paul.   

B. Definition of the word Gospel:

     a. the broad meaning of the word is GOOD NEWS.

     b. the narrow meaning is GOD’S GOOD NEWS TO MAN.  Thus, when you have the gospel in the New Test, it is never Man to Man Good News, but it is always Gods Good News 

to you and to me. 

     a. First, God’s Good News about the KINGDOM:

     b. Matt 4:23

     c. Matt 24:l4

     d. Matt 26:l3 

(thus, we have the gospel in the Gospel of Matthew, but it is not the Gospel of the Grace of God, but it is the Gospel of His Kingdom.) 

B. Second, it is God’s Good News about SALVATION:

     a. Acts l5:7-ll.

     b. Acts 20:24...note that it is the man Paul who monopolizes the word GOSPEL.  By the way, this is the first time Paul mentions the Gospel. 

      a. This is what was being done in the church at Galatia...it was being counterfeited and sold to believers...note l:6,7  Then in Gal l:8,9 Paul says that if you VARY the gospel one little, bit, you are to be dammed.  Thus, we would not be wrong in deducing from Paul that the Gospel is: FIXED, INFLEXIBLE, NEVER CHANGING, CANNOT BE ADDED TO OR EVEN MODIFIED SLIGHTLY.

      b. Paul in Gal:11,l2 will establish that his message of the GOSPEL was straight from God....”but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  (now, do you understand why Paul was so emphatic about the Gospel....He got it STRAIGHT from Jesus Christ Himself, not through anyone else.)

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?:  I Cor 15:1-4 (I will put it all down under three points...and I might mention that if ANY of these three points are OMITTED, then you do not have THE GOSPEL)     

A. You have a SPECIFIC WORK:   “that Christ DIED.” (v. 3)

      a. “delivered unto you....that which I also received.”  (v. 3)  . Thus, God handed to Paul a message and Paul is now going to read it to the Corinthian believers exactly as God gave it to Paul.

      b. “that” (v.3) “Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose, was seen.”

           l. You have 4 verbs in 3-5. How do they relate?   He died is a fact. Well, then prove it....this is proven by fact that He was BURIED.  He Rose is a fact, then prove it.  The fact that He was Seen.  

          2. the middle verbs are underscoring the fact that He Really Died.  (because He was buried and He literally rose  and was seen)

          3. The four verbs then are:  CHRIST DIED, BURIED, ROSE, SEEN is the Specific Work:  

B. You have a a SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENT: (v. 3)  “Christ died for our sins.”

     a. this accomplishment is found in v. 3.  If you do not have this specific accomplishment, you then do NOT have the Gospel.  “Christ died for our Sins.”  Question:  What was accomplished attaches itself to which one of the four verbs?  (died, buried, rose, seen)  Is it accurate to say that “Christ died, was buried, rose and was seen for OUR SINS.?  (is that accurate according to what it says in v. 3?)   Conclusion:  it clearly states, “Christ DIED for our sins.”  Thus, the resurrection is NOT the heart of the Gospel; the burial is NOT saving; His being seen is NOT essential to the Gospel. 

     b. One last clarification.   “Christ died for our sins.”

          l. “for” is a little Greek word, “huper” and means, “on behalf of.”  Thus, Christ died on behalf of our sins. 

          2. Question: where were YOU when He died for your sins?  You were not around, so He died for our sins totally apart from YOU OR ME.  Thus, you and I had no part in salvation. 

          3. By the way, when it says,  “Christ died for our sins,” is that an offer of an EXPERIENCE?  Is it an offer as such to “change your life?” Could it be, that when it says, “Christ died for our sins,” that is an OBJECTIVE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOD ASKS YOU AND ME TO BELIEVE AND ACCEPT?  [Of course, if you believe in your heart...it will erupt into a changed life]

C. You have a SPECIFIC PERSON:   “Christ.”  v. 3

         l. comments:  

            a. Did He deal with ALL or about 99 percent of our sins?  Now, if you fudge on this question in any way, shape or form...and if you try to contribute anything to this statement, “Christ died for our sins,” then you are in trouble.  All of the people who believe that He died for 99 percent of our sins, are in turn the ones who never know if they are saved, lost or what ever.  If 1% percent is left to me, then there is no way I could be sure of my salvation.  You see, I am sure of my salvation, not because of anything in me, but because of what He says He did in behalf of my sins.  He is my assurance. If you should think that the Gospel is 75 percent God and 25 percent YOU, then you will never be sure of your salvation.  The reason I am sure of my salvation is because it had to be 100 PERCENT GOD or I didn’t have a chance.  

           b. Without these THREE FACTORS, you do not have the GOSPEL.  You must have a SPECIFIC WORK, SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENT, A SPECIFIC PERSON. 

Conclusions, Lessons 

on

The Gospel

What about John 3:l6 and The Gospel?  Since, most Christians when telling people about the Gospel, go to John 3:l6, let us go there and see if we have the Gospel.  You would be shattered to know how many good preachers think the gospel is John 3:l6.  First, let me say that every word in John 3:l6 is true, but there is one thing THAT IS NOT THERE.  You guessed it, the GOSPEL is missing.  There is nothing in John 3:l6 that says, “He died for your sins.”  Thus, from this day forward, never be part of the group who says, “all you need to know about the gospel is in John 3:l6.”  John 3:l6 does NOT give us the GOSPEL, but it does tell us HOW....and the HOW is, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” 

Has The Barrier of Sin Been Removed? From I Cor l5:l-3 we learn that the Barrier of Sin has been REMOVED.  Is there anything from I Cor l5:l-3 that would lead you to believe that Christ did not DIE FOR OUR SINS?  Thus, the reason I conclude that He died for ALL of my sins, is not because I “feel” saved, but because the text says so.  I am staking my eternal destiny on I Cor l5:l-3 and the fact that I have done what John 3:l6 says to do....I have believed it.   By the way do you gather anything from I Cor l5:l-3 about HUMAN ASSISTANCE?  Hey, my feelings change from day to day and sometimes, from moment to moment.  I am staking my eternal destiny on HIS WORD, NOT MY INNER FEELINGS, SELF WORTH.

The ISSUE is my Attitude toward that Accomplishment:  Listen, in John 3:l6, BELIEVE is an ATTITUDE TOWARD THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. “Believing on Christ” is the attitude that I take today and forever.  Now, following that attitude, the Holy Spirit indwells you and will begin to work in and through you Sanctification....and as He works in you, the temper will be cared for, the lust, the unforgiving spirit, the greed, the hatred or whatever it might be.  You will begin to be changed.....and that changing process will continue until you take your last breath on earth.....your last breath is when the process of “making you and me into His image” will stop, but not until then.  

What Saves Me....My Faith or Christ or Both?  The Gospel has supernatural power to Save, when believed. The one thing you need to remember is that the OBJECT (Christ) is who saves you, not your faith.   I am sorry to have to tell all of you who have been going around talking about how “your faith saved you”, that your faith did not save you, but the OBJECT of your faith is what saves you.  I am going to heaven, not because of my faith, but because of the Object of my Faith, who is Christ saves me.  This should relax some of you who have been worrying for all these years about whether you had ‘enough’ faith.  Again, I repeat, it is the OBJECT Who saves you, not your FAITH.  When I think of how little faith I had that night I received Christ, I am happy that it is not my faith, for I would have been worrying all these years about whether it was enough or measured up.  He saved me on July l3, l946 when I by faith received Him into my heart as Savior.  Will you today, make Him the OBJECT of your Faith?  If you will, then John 3:l6 will be fulfilled in your heart and soul.  Will you today, by faith believe  that HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS.  The second you believe on Him, you will pass from death unto life.  

P. S. Thank you for reading and following this study with me.  If following the reading of this, you have for the first time found the ASSURANCE OF YOUR SALVATION, by realizing that it is the Object who saves you, not your little or great faith or if you have RECEIVED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, then I wish you would let me know.  God bless.