gospel

What Is the Gospel?

Elvis Lucas

07 Oct 2025 — 15 min read

Introduction: The Most Important Message in the World

If you asked ten Christians "What is the gospel?" you might get ten different answers:

"Jesus died for your sins"
"Believe in the Trinity"
"Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior"
"God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"
"Jesus is God who became man to save us"

But here's a crucial question: What did Jesus Himself say the gospel was? What did the apostles preach in the book of Acts?

The word "gospel" means "good news." But good news about what, exactly?

When we go back to Scripture itself—to Jesus's own words and the apostles' sermons—we discover a clear, consistent message. And it's simpler than you might think.

Let's examine what the Bible actually says the gospel is.

Part 1: The Gospel in Jesus's Own Words

The best place to start is with Jesus Himself. What did He say the gospel was?

Jesus's First Sermon

"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" (Mark 1:14-15)

Jesus's very first public message identifies the gospel:

"The good news of God" - It's God's good news (the Father's plan)

"The kingdom of God has come near" - The gospel is about God's kingdom

"Repent and believe the good news" - The response is repentance and faith

Notice what's not mentioned:

No mention of the Trinity
No mention of Jesus being God
No complex theological formulas

Just: God's kingdom is coming. Repent and believe.

Jesus's Commission to Preach

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." (Matthew 9:35)

Again: "the good news of the kingdom"

The gospel Jesus preached was about God's kingdom coming to earth.

Jesus's Great Commission

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

Jesus prophesies that "the gospel of the kingdom" will be preached to all nations before the end comes.

What Jesus Meant by "the Kingdom of God"

The kingdom of God is:

God's rule over all creation
God's plan to restore what sin destroyed
The Messiah's reign on earth (with God's authority)
The new creation where God dwells with His people

When Jesus said "the kingdom has come near," He meant: "God's promised plan of salvation through the Messiah is here!"

Part 2: The Gospel According to Paul

Paul gives us the clearest, most concise definition of the gospel:

1 Corinthians 15: The Gospel Paul Preached

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

Paul identifies the gospel "of first importance":

Christ died for our sins (according to Scripture)
He was buried
He was raised on the third day (according to Scripture)
He appeared to witnesses

This is the core gospel message: Jesus the Messiah died for sins, was buried, rose again, and appeared to witnesses.

Notice what's not in Paul's gospel summary:

No Trinity doctrine
No "Jesus is God"
No complex theological systems

Just the historical facts about Jesus: His death, burial, and resurrection.

Romans 1: The Gospel About God's Son

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 1:1-4)

Paul defines the gospel as:

"The gospel of God" - It's God's gospel (the Father's plan)

Promised through the prophets - It's the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy

Regarding his Son - It's about God's Son (not about God becoming man)

A descendant of David - Jesus is human, from David's line

Appointed the Son of God in power - God appointed Jesus, exalted Him through resurrection

The Pattern is Consistent

Throughout Paul's letters:

The gospel is God's good news
It's about God's Son, Jesus the Messiah
Jesus died for sins
God raised Him from the dead
We are saved by faith in Jesus

Part 3: The Gospel in the Book of Acts

How did the apostles actually preach the gospel? Let's look at their sermons in Acts:

Peter's First Sermon (Acts 2)

"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death... Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." (Acts 2:22-24, 36)

Peter's gospel:

Jesus was "a man accredited by God"
God worked through Jesus
Jesus died according to God's plan
God raised Him from the dead
God made Him Lord and Messiah

Notice: Peter calls Jesus "a man" and says God raised Him and God made Him Lord.

The crowd's response: "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)

Peter's Second Sermon (Acts 3)

"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus... You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this... Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus." (Acts 3:13, 15, 19-20)

Key points:

"The God of our fathers has glorified his servant Jesus" - God (the Father) glorified Jesus
"God raised him from the dead" - God raised Jesus
Jesus is the appointed Messiah - God appointed Him

Philip's Preaching (Acts 8)

"Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." (Acts 8:35)

Philip preached "the good news about Jesus" - who Jesus is, what He did, and God's plan through Him.

The Ethiopian's response: "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him." (Acts 8:36, 38)

Paul's Preaching (Acts 13)

"We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus... We tell you the good news: God raised him from the dead." (Acts 13:32-34)

Paul's gospel:

God promised the Messiah to Israel
God fulfilled that promise through Jesus
God raised Jesus from the dead

The Consistent Pattern in Acts

Every sermon in Acts follows the same pattern:

Jesus is the promised Messiah from the prophets
Jesus died (according to God's plan)
God raised Him from the dead
We are witnesses of this
Repent and be baptized in Jesus's name

Not once does any apostle say:

"Jesus is God"
"Believe in the Trinity"
"Jesus is the second person of the Godhead"

They simply proclaimed: Jesus is the Messiah whom God raised from the dead. Repent and believe.

Part 4: What the Gospel Is NOT

To understand the true gospel, we need to clear away some common misconceptions:

Misconception #1: "The Gospel is Believing Jesus is God"

The actual gospel: Believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

John's Gospel was written so we would believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God—not that He is God.

Misconception #2: "The Gospel is the Trinity Doctrine"

The actual gospel: The Trinity isn't mentioned in any gospel presentation in Acts

The apostles never preached:

Three persons in one God
Jesus is fully God and fully man
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity

These doctrines were developed centuries later. The original gospel was much simpler.

Misconception #3: "The Gospel is Going to Heaven When You Die"

The actual gospel: The kingdom of God coming to earth

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

"Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth'... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.'" (Revelation 21:1, 3)

The gospel promise isn't escaping earth to go to heaven—it's God's kingdom coming to earth and dwelling with us.

Misconception #4: "The Gospel is Just Fire Insurance"

The actual gospel: Reconciliation with God and transformation of life

Yes, the gospel saves us from God's judgment. But it also saves us to something:

A restored relationship with God
New life in the Spirit
Participation in God's kingdom
Resurrection and eternal life on the new earth

What the Gospel Actually Is

The gospel is God's good news that:

God sent His promised Messiah (Jesus)
Jesus died for our sins (according to Scripture)
God raised Him from the dead (vindicating Him as Messiah)
Jesus is now Lord (exalted to God's right hand)
Forgiveness is available through repentance and faith in Jesus
God's kingdom is coming to earth through the Messiah
Resurrection and eternal life await those who believe

Part 5: What Must We Do to Be Saved?

This is the crucial question. The gospel tells us what God has done. But what is our response?

The Philippian Jailer's Question

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)

Simple answer: Believe in the Lord Jesus.

But what does that mean exactly? Let's look at the full biblical answer:

Step 1: Believe

"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)

Believe what?

That Jesus is the Messiah
That Jesus is the Son of God
That He died for your sins
That God raised Him from the dead

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Step 2: Repent

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." (Acts 3:19)

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." (Acts 2:38)

Repentance means:

Acknowledging you've sinned against God
Turning away from sin
Turning to God
Committing to follow Jesus

Step 3: Be Baptized

"Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:16)

Baptism is:

An outward sign of inward faith
Identification with Jesus's death and resurrection
The normal response to the gospel in Acts
Commanded by Jesus

Every conversion in Acts includes baptism. It's the public declaration of faith in Jesus.

Step 4: Follow Jesus

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'" (Matthew 16:24)

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46)

Salvation isn't just a one-time decision. It's:

A new relationship with God through Jesus
A new way of life
Ongoing obedience to Jesus's teachings
Growing in faith and love

The Simple Summary

What must you do to be saved?

Believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, who died for sins and whom God raised from the dead
Repent of your sins and turn to God
Be baptized in Jesus's name
Follow Jesus as your Lord

That's it. No complicated theology required. No need to understand the Trinity. Just simple faith in Jesus and commitment to follow Him.

Part 6: The Gospel and the Kingdom of God

Remember, Jesus called it "the gospel of the kingdom." What does that mean?

The Kingdom: God's Rule on Earth

Throughout the Old Testament, God promised:

To send a King from David's line
To establish His kingdom on earth
To restore creation
To dwell with His people

"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... it will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." (Daniel 2:44)

Jesus: The Promised King

Jesus is that promised King:

"He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever." (Isaiah 9:7)

"The angel said to her... 'The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.'" (Luke 1:32-33)

The Kingdom Has Come—and Is Coming

The kingdom is already here (in one sense):

Jesus the King has come
He defeated sin and death
He established God's rule in believers' hearts
The Spirit is poured out

The kingdom is not yet here (in fullness):

Jesus hasn't returned yet
Evil still exists
Creation still groans
We still await resurrection

"We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

The Kingdom's Completion

When Jesus returns:

He will resurrect the dead
He will judge the world
He will establish God's kingdom fully on earth
He will rule as God's appointed King

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

"Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth'... 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.'" (Revelation 21:1, 3)

What This Means for You

The gospel isn't just about personal salvation. It's about:

God's cosmic plan to restore all things
Your participation in God's kingdom
Living now under King Jesus's rule
Awaiting the full establishment of God's kingdom on earth

You're not just "saved to go to heaven someday." You're saved into God's kingdom—now and forever.

Part 7: Common Questions Answered

Q1: "Do I need to believe in the Trinity to be saved?"

Answer: No. The gospel is about believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God—not about believing in the Trinity.

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Notice: No Trinity required. Just faith that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him.

The Trinity doctrine wasn't formulated until 300+ years after Jesus. The original gospel was preached and people were saved long before the Trinity was invented.

Q2: "What about people who never heard of Jesus?"

Answer: God is perfectly just and merciful. We can trust Him to judge righteously.

"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25)

What we know:

God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)
God will judge according to what people knew (Romans 2:12-16)
No one is condemned for not knowing what they couldn't have known

What we're responsible for:

Sharing the gospel with those who haven't heard
Trusting God's justice for those we can't reach

Q3: "What if I've sinned after becoming a Christian?"

Answer: Confess and return to God. He is faithful to forgive.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Salvation isn't based on perfect performance. It's based on:

God's grace
Jesus's sacrifice
Your faith and repentance

When you sin:

Confess to God
Repent (turn away from the sin)
Trust in God's forgiveness through Jesus
Continue following Jesus

Q4: "How can I know I'm really saved?"

Answer: Look for the evidence of salvation in your life:

"We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands." (1 John 2:3)

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other." (1 John 3:14)

Evidence of genuine faith:

You trust in Jesus
You desire to obey Him (even when you fail)
You love other believers
The Spirit is working in you
You're growing (even if slowly)

Salvation isn't about feeling a certain way. It's about:

Trusting Jesus
Following Him
Growing in Him

Q5: "What about infant baptism?"

Answer: The New Testament pattern is believer's baptism—baptism after faith.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:16)

"Those who accepted his message were baptized." (Acts 2:41)

Notice the order:

Hear the gospel
Believe
Be baptized

Infants can't believe yet, so the New Testament pattern is to:

Raise children in the faith
Teach them about Jesus
Baptize them when they personally believe

Part 8: The Gospel Changes Everything

The gospel isn't just information to believe. It's transformative power that changes everything:

It Gives You a New Identity

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You are no longer:

Defined by your past
Enslaved to sin
Under condemnation
Alone

You are now:

A child of God (by adoption through Jesus)
Forgiven and clean
Alive in Christ
Part of God's family

It Gives You a New Purpose

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

You're not saved by good works, but you're saved for good works:

Love others as Jesus loved you
Share the gospel
Serve those in need
Build God's kingdom

It Gives You a New Hope

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." (1 Peter 1:3-4)

You have hope because:

Jesus rose from the dead
You will rise too
God's kingdom is coming
You have an eternal inheritance

It Gives You a New Family

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household." (Ephesians 2:19)

You're part of the family of God:

Brothers and sisters in Christ
Fellow citizens of God's kingdom
One body with many members

Conclusion: The Simple, Powerful Gospel

What is the gospel?

It's the good news that:

✓ God loves you and has a plan to save you
✓ Jesus the Messiah came as God promised
✓ Jesus died for your sins
✓ God raised Him from the dead
✓ Jesus is Lord, exalted to God's right hand
✓ Forgiveness is available through faith in Jesus
✓ Eternal life awaits those who believe
✓ God's kingdom is coming to earth
✓ Resurrection and new creation are certain

What must you do?

✓ Believe in Jesus (the Messiah, the Son of God)
✓ Repent of your sins
✓ Be baptized in Jesus's name
✓ Follow Jesus as your Lord

That's it. It's simple enough for a child to understand, yet profound enough to transform your life completely.

You don't need:

A theology degree
To understand the Trinity
To resolve every biblical question
To be perfect

You just need:

Faith in Jesus
Repentance from sin
Commitment to follow Him
Trust in God's grace

This is the gospel the apostles preached. This is the gospel that saves. This is the gospel that changes everything.

Will you believe it? Will you respond to it?

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Hebrews 3:15)

For Further Study

Jesus's teaching on the gospel:

Mark 1:14-15 (The gospel of the kingdom)
Matthew 4:23 (Jesus preaching the good news)
Luke 4:43 (Sent to preach the kingdom)

The apostles' gospel preaching:

Acts 2:14-41 (Peter's first sermon)
Acts 3:12-26 (Peter's second sermon)
Acts 8:26-40 (Philip and the Ethiopian)
Acts 10:34-43 (Peter to Cornelius)
Acts 13:16-41 (Paul in Antioch)

Paul's gospel teaching:

Romans 1:1-4 (The gospel of God)
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (The gospel of first importance)
Galatians 1:6-9 (The one true gospel)
Ephesians 1:13-14 (The gospel of salvation)

The kingdom of God:

Matthew 6:10 (Your kingdom come)
Luke 17:20-21 (The kingdom within/among you)
Revelation 11:15 (The kingdom of the world becomes the Lord's)
Revelation 21:1-5 (The new heaven and earth)

Questions to Reflect On:

How does the gospel as preached in Acts differ from what you've been taught?
Notice that no apostle ever preached the Trinity. What does that tell you?
What is your response to this gospel? Have you believed, repented, and been baptized?
If the gospel is about God's kingdom coming to earth, how does that change your understanding of salvation?
How can you share this simple, biblical gospel with others?