In a world filled with competing worldviews and spiritual confusion, the question “What is the gospel?” might seem basic to believers. Yet, as we “Defend the Faith,” this is the most critical question of all. Previous discussions on doctrines like creation, the Trinity, and Scripture’s reliability build toward this moment: equipping Christians not just to know what they believe, but to articulate it boldly. The gospel isn’t a vague sentiment or self-help philosophy—it’s the life-giving message of God’s rescue plan for humanity. If we can’t share it clearly, our faith remains private and ineffective.
When asking professing Christians “what is the gospel?” you’ll get a million different answers: “Jesus loves you and wants a relationship,” “God desires the best for you” or “Jesus died for your sins.” While elements of truth exist, in each of these, they often miss the full picture. A 2023 Barna study found that only 17% of U.S. Christians could articulate the gospel biblically. This gap hinders evangelism. This article’s goal is threefold: deepen your understanding of the gospel, stir a deeper cherish for it, and build confidence to share it. We’ll use an easy framework to remember from the book, What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert: GOD, MAN, CHRIST, RESPONSE. These four words encapsulate the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation.
GOD: The Holy Creator
The gospel begins with God, the sovereign architect of all things. Genesis 1:1 declares, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” As the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—He is eternal, perfect, and holy. Genesis 1:26-27 reveals humanity’s unique purpose: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Made in God’s image, we were designed for intimate relationship with Him—to reflect His glory, exercise dominion over creation, and enjoy His presence forever. God’s holiness sets the standard: perfection. He requires nothing less because sin offends His infinite righteousness. Isaiah 6:3 echoes the seraphim’s cry: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” This isn’t arbitrary; it’s foundational. Without acknowledging God’s majesty and moral perfection, the gospel loses its urgency. We weren’t accidents in a cosmic lottery; we were crafted with divine intent, accountable to our Maker.
MAN: The Rebel Sinner
Enter the tragedy of humanity’s fall. Genesis 3 recounts Adam and Eve’s rebellion in Eden—eating the forbidden fruit, choosing self over God. This “original sin” severed our communion with Him, introducing curse, shame, and death into creation. The ripple effects? Universal guilt. Romans 3:10-12 indicts us: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:23 drives it home: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin isn’t just bad actions; it’s a heart condition—idolatry, pride, unbelief—that corrupts every aspect of life. Romans 6:23 warns, “For the wages of sin is death,” encompassing spiritual separation from God, relational brokenness, and eternal judgment. We can’t bridge this chasm through good deeds; our best efforts are “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Humanity’s plight is dire: enslaved to sin, powerless to save ourselves. This diagnosis humbles us, exposing our need for rescue. Yet, it’s not the end—it’s the setup for grace.
CHRIST: The Divine Rescuer
God’s response to our rebellion? Lavish, sacrificial love. John 1:1-14 unveils the miracle: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, entered history to redeem what was lost. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 proclaims Him “the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.”
Romans 3:21-26 details the transaction: “The righteousness of God has been manifested… through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe… They are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Jesus lived the sinless life we couldn’t (Hebrews 4:15), fulfilling the law’s demands. On the cross, He bore God’s wrath in our place—propitiation absorbing divine justice (Isaiah 53:5-6). Three days later, He rose victorious over death (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), proving sin’s defeat. Ascended to heaven, He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25) and will return to renew all things (Revelation 21:1-5).
This isn’t a mere example of love; it’s substitutionary atonement. God didn’t overlook sin—He paid for it Himself. Ephesians 2:8-9 exclaims: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” Christ’s work alone reconciles rebels to the King.
RESPONSE: Repent and Believe
The gospel demands a verdict. Acts 2:38 commands, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 10:9 adds, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Repentance means turning from sin toward God—a 180-degree pivot of the heart. Faith is trusting Christ’s finished work, not our merits.
This is grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. No additives—no rituals, wealth, or social causes—can save. Galatians 1:8 warns against “another gospel,” cursing even angels who pervert it. Beware distortions: the works gospel (salvation by effort), universalism (all saved regardless), prosperity gospel (faith for material gain), or social justice gospel (equity over atonement). These rob the cross of glory.
Living the Gospel: From Cherish to Proclamation
Understanding GOD-MAN-CHRIST-RESPONSE isn’t academic—it’s transformative. It fosters gratitude: we’ve been rescued from wrath to sonship (Ephesians 1:3-14). It builds confidence: this simple outline fits any conversation, from coffee chats to street evangelism. Start with creation’s wonder, pivot to shared brokenness, highlight Jesus’ scandalous grace, and invite response.
Yet, knowledge without action is futile. Romans 10:14-15 pleads: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” A dying world aches for hope amid wars, evil, and personal despair.
Friends, rehearse this daily. Pray for opportunities. Remember Paul’s plea: “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). The stakes? Eternal life or separation. Cherish the gospel as the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46). Then, share it—boldly, lovingly, faithfully. In doing so, you’ll fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), joining heaven’s chorus praising the Lamb who was slain.
The gospel isn’t a message to hoard; it’s dynamite (Greek: dynamis, power) for salvation (Romans 1:16). May GOD-MAN-CHRIST-RESPONSE ignite your heart, sharpening your tongue for the lost. What if your next conversation is a means of grace in someone’s eternal destination? Step out in faith—the world awaits the good news.
Tethered to Truth 