The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth “I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand” (I Corinthians 15:1; emphasis added). The word “gospel” is mentioned 101 times in the New Testament. Yet for all its repetition and teaching, it has come to take on many meanings in the two thousand years since Christ walked on the earth. We would do well to remind ourselves exactly what Paul meant when he referred to the “gospel”. After all, the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).
Paul reminds his audience of “what I preached unto you” (I Corinthians 15:2) and in so doing unpacks for us exactly what is the gospel. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the gospel according to the scriptures, i.e. Jesus Christ died for our sins; he was buried; and, he rose again the third day. Nothing more, nothing less.
Note that he died for our sins. He did not die as a martyr. His death was not merely a miscarriage of justice. Nor did he give his life as some kind of example of self-sacrifice. Christ died for our sins. He willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice on our behalf to satisfy the wrath of God. The scriptures teach that we have all sinned, “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10-12). What an indictment of humanity! We think so wonderfully of ourselves when we compare ourselves to others, but before a holy God, who can stand?
God is righteous to be offended by our sin and his wrath is just. Before the court of heaven there is but one judgment for each of us – guilty. Sin’s punishment is death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23) and Jesus Christ suffered on the cross to pay that penalty. He died for you and he died for me. In fact, the scriptures tell us that his blood paid the sins for the entire world (I John 2:2). This is the “good news” of the gospel for the word “gospel” means “good news”.
This is the “good news” that we actually celebrate, perhaps many unwittingly, at Christmas. To the shepherds abiding in the field, the angel declared “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings (the “good news”) of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Christ is the Savior! He died in my place to pay sin’s penalty. With sin’s debt paid, God is free to forgive any and all who accept Christ’s payment on their behalf. The opportunity to have my sins forgiven is good news indeed! Have you received God’s good news?
From the Chaplain 