What is the gospel?

The Christian gospel of salvation

Are you interested in learning about the gospel or what it means to be saved? Common questions include:

• Who is Jesus?
• What did He do for me?
• Why do I need salvation?
• How do I get saved?

The gospel of Christ is a message of good news from God.

“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.” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The gospel message is for salvation from sin and its consequences. The word "gospel" literally means "good news." This good news is that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, was buried and rose from the dead three days later. It also reveals why this news is good: It is a message of the free gift of salvation – the forgiveness of sins – and is available to anyone who simply believes it.

The gospel of Christ offers salvation from everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:15). According to the Bible, this is the destination for all sinners - those who have disobeyed God’s will (Romans 5:12). The punishment Jesus suffered on the cross can be substituted for the debt every sinner owes to God for disobeying Him (Romans 5:19). Any person can be saved from this penalty for sin by trusting the message of the gospel of Christ.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” – Romans 1:16a

Any person who believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world, died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin and rose again on the third day is saved simply by faith. Salvation from the penalty for sin is a gift from God. In other words, it is by faith and cannot be worked for or earned. God is love and desires for everyone to be saved.

Want to learn more? Connect with a local church near you to learn more about Jesus Christ, accepting Him as your personal savior and growing in your faith. Find a Texas Baptists church near you.