What is the Gospel?
The word gospel means good news. It is the message at the heart of Christianity, and of everything we do at Redeemer: what God has done, through His Son Jesus Christ, to bring people back to Himself.
God made us, for Himself
God made everything there is, and He made it good. He is holy, just and full of love. He made us in His own image, to know Him, to love Him and to live under His loving rule, enjoying Him and His world.
Bible references: Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:27 Acts 17:24–28 Revelation 4:11
We have turned away from Him
But we have all turned away from God and gone our own way. Sin is more than doing wrong things: it is living as though God were not God. It cuts us off from Him, spoils the world He made, and leaves us guilty before a holy God, facing His just judgement and death. We cannot put this right ourselves.
Bible references: Romans 3:23 Isaiah 59:2 Romans 6:23 Hebrews 9:27
God sent His Son
In His great love, God did not leave us there. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God, to become fully man. Jesus lived the life we have not lived: He loved His Father and His neighbour perfectly, and never sinned.
Bible references: John 3:16 John 1:14 Hebrews 4:15
Jesus died in our place, and rose again
On the cross, Jesus took the punishment our sin deserves, in our place, so that God could forgive us and still be just. Three days later He rose from the dead, defeating death and showing that His sacrifice was accepted. He is alive today, and He reigns.
Bible references: 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 3:18 Romans 3:25–26
Turn from sin and trust in Jesus
Forgiveness and new life are God’s free gift. We cannot earn them by being good enough; we receive them by turning from our sin and trusting in Jesus alone. Everyone who does is forgiven, counted righteous in God’s sight because of Christ, given the Holy Spirit, and welcomed into God’s family. Even our turning and trusting are His gift: it is grace from beginning to end.
Bible references: Mark 1:15 Ephesians 2:8–9 Romans 5:1 John 1:12
Saved, and sent
God does not only save us; He sends us. Everyone who belongs to Jesus is given a new life, lived for Him together with His people, the church. He changes us to become more like Him, so that our lives reflect His goodness, and He sends us out to love others as He has loved us and to tell them the good news, calling them to turn and trust in Jesus too.
Bible references: 2 Corinthians 5:17–20 Ephesians 2:10 Matthew 5:16 1 Peter 2:9 Matthew 28:18–20
A sure hope
One day Jesus will return to judge the world and put everything right. All who belong to Him will live with Him for ever, in a new creation with no more death, sorrow or pain.
Bible references: Acts 17:31 Revelation 21:3–4
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. esv.org
What now?
If you are exploring Christianity, or you have questions, we would love to talk with you. Ask us anything, or come along on a Sunday. A good place to start reading is one of the Gospels, the accounts of Jesus’ life: Mark is the shortest.