Theology Terms Explained: “Gospel”
In this series on the blog, we’re providing sound doctrine for everyday people by providing you with clear and simple definitions that will strengthen your theological foundation. Each article covers 4 categories including:
The Term – We lay out how it’s pronounced.
The Definition – We provide the Merriam-Webster definition and an everyday version.
The Biblical Connection – We show you where the term connects with Scripture.
Used in an Everyday Conversation – We use it in a basic conversation.
The Term
gos·pel | \ ˈgä-spəl \
The Definition
Merriam-Webster: The message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation; glad tidings.
FTG’s Expanded Explanation: The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not advice, but news—what God has done through His Son to rescue sinners by grace alone through faith alone.
The Biblical Connection
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 3:23–24 — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Galatians 1:6–9 — “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”
From Genesis to Revelation, the gospel is God’s redemptive plan centered on Christ.
Used in an Everyday Conversation
“The gospel isn’t about self-improvement or doing enough good works to earn heaven, it’s about trusting what Jesus has already done.”
“The gospel is essential doctrine because salvation is a matter of heaven and hell, life and death, or truth and lies. Paul is so serious about the gospel in Galatians 1:6-9 that he announces a curse on anyone who pollutes it!
“The bad news is that we are great sinners, but the good news is that Jesus is a greater Savior.”
“If you take away sin or the cross, you don’t just weaken the gospel—you lose it.”
