What is the Gospel?

The Gospel is Good News

  • Increasingly, churchgoers are confused about what the term “gospel” means.
  • As the word “gospel” gets thrown around more and more, we need to bring the discussion back to what the gospel actually is: the good news of salvation in Christ.

A Matter of First Importance

  • Paul details the heart of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.
  • He Paul focuses on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ for sinners.
  • He calls it a “matter of first importance.”

Redemption Accomplished and Applied

  • 1 Corinthians focuses on redemption accomplished or what is sometimes called historia salutis, the history of salvation.
  • The Holy Spirit applies the redemption accomplished by Christ to us.
  • This is redemption applied or ordo salutis, the order of salvation.

The Goal of the Gospel

  • There are different elements of this application (e.g. effectual calling, regeneration, union with Christ by faith, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification).
  • But their purpose is to bring us to that which has been the goal of history even before the fall into sin: consummated union and communion with the Triune God in glory.
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