What is the Gospel?

Then He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. – Mark 16:15-16 HCSB

The word “gospel” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “godspell” and literally means "glad tidings" or "good news."

In the Old Testament, good news was proclaimed widely (1 Samuel 31:9; Psalm 96:2-3; Isaiah 40:9; 52:7) and spread rapidly (2 Samuel 18:19-31; 2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 68:11) Both the preacher and those who received the good news reacted joyfully (2 Samuel 1:20; Psalm 96:11-12; Isaiah 52:7-9; Jeremiah 20:15).

With one rare exception (Jeremiah 20:15), when prophets spoke of the gospel, they always spoke of Yahweh Yeshua, God the Savior. For example, David praised God for deliverance from his enemies (2 Samuel 18:19-31). God put His people’s enemies to flight (2 Kings 7:1-9). He broke the yoke of their bondage to foreign oppressors (Nahum 1:13-15). El Gibhor (God our mighty hero) was returning to Zion (Isaiah 40:9-10). Isaiah proclaimed to the afflicted that God had won our peace and salvation by His sovereign power; that the time of the Lord’s favor was at hand (Isaiah 61:1-2); and this salvation was by grace alone (Isaiah 55:1-7).

When John the Baptist preached the gospel (Luke 3:18), he warned sinners of impending doom and urged them to repent before the axe fell (Luke 3:7-9). However, he assured the repentant of forgiveness (Luke 3:3) and membership in Messiah's community (Luke 3:17).

The Messiah's own birth was announced as "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10-11). According to Paul (Romans 1:1-5), the gospel promised in the Old Testament was fulfilled upon Jesus’ incarnation (cp Acts 13:32-33).

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah 61: "the Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus proceeded to declare: "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near" (Mark 1:14-15).

As much as we hate to admit it, the coming of the kingdom is not effected through human effort, but is instead God's answer to the human predicament, the gift of his favor (Luke 12:32). "Repent and believe the good news!" Jesus commanded (Mark 1:15). Proclaiming the gospel involves jolting the self-righteous and the self-sufficient out of their false security and getting them to recognize their need of God (Luke 6:24-26). Only people who recognize their enslavement can fully appreciate an announcement of liberation (Luke 4:18-19).

All, regardless of their social or economic status, are summoned to submit to God's rule, to come to the banquet he has prepared (Luke 14:16-24). Salvation must be received to be experienced (Mark 10:15) and while it is a gift that costs nothing, it is also a priceless treasure for which a wise person will sacrifice all else (Matthew 13:44-46) because it cost the life of God to acquire.

This is the gospel we preach: though humanity is unbearably sinful and powerless to change there is a Savior – Jesus Christ the Lord.