Back to the Basics

Last weekend in my Sunday school class, our teacher walked us through lesson two of Evantell's ACT111 program--an evangelism training for everyday Christians. While lesson one focused on one's perspective in evangelism--who are the players involved (believer, unbeliever, and God)--lesson two discussed the actual message delivered. 

What exactly is the gospel? 

Ironically, during the church service following that class, our pastor has us turn in our Bibles to the same passage we studied in class. This double-whammy has kept me mulling over the topic all week. I think God doesn't do coincidences--He does everything on purpose. So let's talk about the gospel.  What is it? What is it not?

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul gives the most concise and specific message of the Good News of Jesus Christ found anywhere in the New Testament.

Let's focus on the four verbs in bold: 

First, "Christ died for our sins." He died--he didn't swoon, faint, or fake it. He died as the substitute sacrifice on our behalf, taking the punishment for our sins. This aspect of the gospel message requires knowledge of who Jesus is, that He is both God (perfect) and man (qualified to represent us). "According to the Scriptures" lets the readers know that Jesus was the predicted savior, or Messiah, found in the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament). He was THE ONE.

Second, "He was buried." In the first century, burial was proof of death (much like a flat-line EKG might be proof today).

Third, "He was raised on the third day." Sometimes when we share the gospel, we forget to include the resurrection. Yet it is as crucial to the message as the cross is. Jesus is alive now, raised by God to show that His sacrifice had been accepted. Once again we see "according to the Scriptures"--this was predicted. 

Fourth,  "He appeared..." (to many, not just one or two). Some translations say "He was seen..." Again, appearing or being seen by multiple witnesses provided proof that Jesus actually had been raised from the dead. Paul even refers to those several hundred who were still alive at the time of his writing, in essence challenging his readers "Go ask them!"

The core gospel message, then, is "Jesus died for our sins and rose again." It is the unbeliever's task to respond--hopefully in faith, trusting that Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient to forgive his/her sins. If we keep it fairly simple, sticking to the main facts as Paul related them to us, our message remains clear. Sometimes we confuse people with phrases such as, "Give your life to Jesus," "Ask Jesus into your heart," "Pray to receive Christ," or even "Repent." These phrases actually mislead, communicating a need to do something more than trust.  

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

The gospel is profound, but it's also simple. We have no excuse not to share it with others. Our job is to bring Christ to people. He will bring people to Himself.

How are you doing with that?