Gospel-centered Resources
Summary of Our Christian Faith: What We Believe
Article (by D.A. Carson): What is the Gospel?
Devotional: Principles of Discipleship
Five Themes about the Gospel
1) The Gospel is a God-glorifying, Theological Narrative
The gospel is the message of how God has revealed and glorified Himself in this lost world by bringing salvation to sinners through Israel’s Messiah Jesus Christ. This message is revealed in the Holy Scriptures, more commonly known as the Bible. The Bible is a theological narrative, a true story written with a theological emphasis and purpose (to reveal God and the way of salvation). God is a righteous God who always does what is just or righteous. He is the faithful, covenant-keeping God, who has and is fulfilling all of His promises through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) The Gospel is a Christ-centered Message
The gospel is the good news about a person, God’s son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and Savior of the world. The eternally existent God the Son, Jesus Christ, became a man about 2000 years ago. He was born of a Jewish virgin named Mary in Bethlehem. He lived the obedient-righteous life that pleased His heavenly Father, the life we have failed to live. He was tempted in every way we are but was without sin. Then Christ died for our sins on the cross, He was buried, He rose from the dead, and Jesus appeared in His resurrected body to over 500 disciples, and then ascended to heaven. The gospel is the revelation of this person Jesus and the salvation of God for a lost world, made available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3) The Gospel is the Life-transforming Power of God through the Spirit
The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ by faith. Those who believe in Jesus are by God's grace a new creation in Christ. This is both an instantaneous and life-long transformation, in which God declares us righteous when we put our faith in Jesus, and in which He makes us more like Christ each day, as we live in the fellowship of the church for His glory, and as His witnesses to this lost world. We do so with the hope of eternal life promised to us by God, a salvation coming to us when Jesus Christ returns.
4) The Gospel is a Royal Proclamation
The gospel is a divine announcement that proclaims the victorious reign of Jesus Christ and His kingdom over sin, death, the devil, and over all of creation (including the angelic-spirit realm and over everyone person in this world). King Jesus reigns now at the right hand of God the Father, and He will come back to judge the living and the dead. Jesus Christ is Israel’s Messiah, the long awaited King who God promised through the Old Testament prophets would come and save His people from their sins, this world, and the evil one, and One who will reign forever. Come Lord Jesus!
5) The Gospel is the Salvific-Call and Command of God
The gospel is God's message to our lost world in which He calls us to Himself and commands that we obey Him by repenting of our sin and putting our faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and living as His people in the power of the Spirit for His eternal glory. Have you obeyed the gospel? Are you ready for King Jesus to return? Do you know the life-transforming power of the Spirit? Have you met the living Christ? Do you know the faithful, covenant-keeping God of the universe, and have you experienced His love for you in Jesus Christ?
Summary of Our Christian Faith: What We Believe
Article (by D.A. Carson): What is the Gospel?
Devotional: Principles of Discipleship
Five Themes about the Gospel
1) The Gospel is a God-glorifying, Theological Narrative
The gospel is the message of how God has revealed and glorified Himself in this lost world by bringing salvation to sinners through Israel’s Messiah Jesus Christ. This message is revealed in the Holy Scriptures, more commonly known as the Bible. The Bible is a theological narrative, a true story written with a theological emphasis and purpose (to reveal God and the way of salvation). God is a righteous God who always does what is just or righteous. He is the faithful, covenant-keeping God, who has and is fulfilling all of His promises through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) The Gospel is a Christ-centered Message
The gospel is the good news about a person, God’s son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and Savior of the world. The eternally existent God the Son, Jesus Christ, became a man about 2000 years ago. He was born of a Jewish virgin named Mary in Bethlehem. He lived the obedient-righteous life that pleased His heavenly Father, the life we have failed to live. He was tempted in every way we are but was without sin. Then Christ died for our sins on the cross, He was buried, He rose from the dead, and Jesus appeared in His resurrected body to over 500 disciples, and then ascended to heaven. The gospel is the revelation of this person Jesus and the salvation of God for a lost world, made available to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3) The Gospel is the Life-transforming Power of God through the Spirit
The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes in Jesus Christ by faith. Those who believe in Jesus are by God's grace a new creation in Christ. This is both an instantaneous and life-long transformation, in which God declares us righteous when we put our faith in Jesus, and in which He makes us more like Christ each day, as we live in the fellowship of the church for His glory, and as His witnesses to this lost world. We do so with the hope of eternal life promised to us by God, a salvation coming to us when Jesus Christ returns.
4) The Gospel is a Royal Proclamation
The gospel is a divine announcement that proclaims the victorious reign of Jesus Christ and His kingdom over sin, death, the devil, and over all of creation (including the angelic-spirit realm and over everyone person in this world). King Jesus reigns now at the right hand of God the Father, and He will come back to judge the living and the dead. Jesus Christ is Israel’s Messiah, the long awaited King who God promised through the Old Testament prophets would come and save His people from their sins, this world, and the evil one, and One who will reign forever. Come Lord Jesus!
5) The Gospel is the Salvific-Call and Command of God
The gospel is God's message to our lost world in which He calls us to Himself and commands that we obey Him by repenting of our sin and putting our faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and living as His people in the power of the Spirit for His eternal glory. Have you obeyed the gospel? Are you ready for King Jesus to return? Do you know the life-transforming power of the Spirit? Have you met the living Christ? Do you know the faithful, covenant-keeping God of the universe, and have you experienced His love for you in Jesus Christ?
