What is the Gospel?

The Bad News

Our Reformed tradition teaches us that the place to begin is with our own miserable state. When God’s law speaks, we find out that we’re broken sinners (Rom 3:20). Because God Himself is perfect in righteousness, His law demands that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). But none of us can meet that demand (Rom 3:23). We are so corrupt that we are totally unable to do any good (Rom 3:12). More than that, we’re inclined to do evil (Gen 6:5)! Our natural tendency is to turn our backs on both God and our neighbors (Isa 53:6).

But this isn’t how God created us! God created humans good and in His own image (Gen 1:27), with true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24). God’s intention was for us to know Him deeply, love Him wholeheartedly, and live in eternal happiness with Him, bringing Him praise and glory. So, what went wrong? Our corrupt nature comes from the treasonous disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve (Gen 3:6). Their sin has so deeply affected our nature that all people are now conceived and born in sin (Ps 51:5; Rom 5:12).

Because God is a God of justice (Deut 32:4), He won’t let human rebellion go unpunished (Rom 2:5). He’s deeply grieved (Gen 6:6) and intensely angry (Rom 1:18) about both the sin that we’re born with and the sins we commit. God’s justice requires that sin, which offends His supreme majesty, be met with the ultimate consequence—everlasting punishment of both body and soul in Hell (2 Thess 1:8-9; Rev 20:15). This is a sobering reminder of the gravity of our actions and the depth of our need for God’s grace and forgiveness. And that’s where the gospel comes in.

The Good News

Everything changes when we meet Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came not to judge the world, but to save the world (John 3:17). Christ’s perfect life of obedience (Heb 4:15), sacrificial death on the cross (1 Pet 2:24), and resurrection to new life (1 Cor 15:4) are the only way we can be saved from God’s just wrath (1 Thess 1:10). Even when we feel the weight of our failures and the pull of our shortcomings, God looks at us through the lens of Christ’s perfect obedience (Phil 3:9). All our stains are washed away (Isa 1:18), and we stand before God not in our own rags but in the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

This gift of salvation, this amazing grace, is ours to receive, not because we’ve earned it (Eph 2:8-9), but because Christ has won it for us (Rom 5:19). All we need to do is open our hands in faith and receive every saving blessing. True faith is a deep knowing, a settled assurance in the heart, that God’s grace in Jesus Christ is both real and for us. It’s not just about having the right information. It’s about trusting Christ, believing that what He has done is enough to cover our sins and make us righteous in God’s sight. Jesus has done everything necessary for our salvation. In the vast and gracious story of God, it’s not about anything we've done, it’s about everything He has done (Titus 3:5). Christ—His life, His death, His resurrection—is the beginning and end of our salvation.

Believe!

Dear friend, consider the eternal consequences of unbelief. Continued sin and disobedience only leads to despair and Hell. But the gift of salvation is offered to you today, a gift found in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12). “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is everlasting life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This isn’t a philosophical proposition; it’s a matter of life or death, of everlasting joy or everlasting sorrow (John 3:36). No sin is too great, no heart is too hard, and no life is too broken ((Ezek 36:26; Ps 34:18). God’s grace can reach you and redeem you (Eph 1:7). He has promised to save all who come to Him (John 6:37), and the sureness of His promise is unshakeable (Rom 8:38-39). When you place your faith in Christ, you are not placing it in a fickle human being. You are placing it in the eternal, unchanging God (Mal 3:6). Trust in Jesus today. The door of salvation is open (John 10:9), and the invitation is free (Isa 55:1; Matt 11:28).

Trust also in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Believe that, as you trust in Christ, the Spirit will begin to shape you, to mold you into the image of your Savior (Rom 8:29). You will find yourself growing in love, in holiness, in wisdom, and in every virtue that reflects His character (Col 3:12-14).

Finally, I urge you to find a congregation of Christians and become a member there (Heb 10:25). The Church isn’t merely a social club or a place to go through the motions of religious ritual. It is the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27), a community of believers who are united by the blood of Jesus and the bond of His Spirit (Eph 4:3-6). In the Church, you will find fellowship, encouragement, and the means of grace to sustain you on your journey of faith. You will be surrounded by brothers and sisters who will pray for you, support you, and help you grow in your walk with the Lord. If you need help finding a congregation, feel free to ask us for help. May the Lord open your heart to receive His grace and transform your life by His Spirit!

With earnest hope and love,

Pastor Gavin Poe