Good News: What Is The Gospel?

August 17th, 2025/Seventh Day Adventist

Introduction: – Building Tension

Good morning church! Today we’re kicking off a brand-new series called “Good News.” That’s literally what the word gospel means. Good News!

Story: We all love good news! Whether a baby announcement… or a promotion at your job.

Why are we doing this series? Why does it matter… and why now?

If I were to stop right now and pass out index cards and ask everyone in this room to write down a definition of the Gospel, I wonder how many different answers we’d get.

Some of you might say, “Well… it’s about Jesus.” True. Others might say, “It’s about forgiveness of sins.” Yes, that’s in there. Someone else might say, “It’s about heaven and eternal life.” Correct again. But if we’re honest, many of us would probably hesitate. We’d get nervous. We’d think, “This is a big question. Isn’t it the pastor’s job to explain this?”

We know the “Gospel” is important. Jesus himself began his public ministry with this line:

Passage: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17)

This was his message. His heartbeat. His mission statement. So let me ask you. If the very first thing Jesus preached was the Gospel, shouldn’t we know what it is?

Question: Here’s the tension. If we can’t define it, how can we respond to it? How can we share it? How can we live it?

Section 1: How the Gospel Has Been Defined

We are not the first people to ask this question. For 2,000 years, followers of Jesus have been wrestling with this: What is the Gospel? Let me take you on a quick journey through history.

1. Jesus Himself — His Gospel was simple but profound: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent and believe.” (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15) For Jesus, the Gospel was about the arrival of God’s reign through His life, death, and resurrection. He was proclaiming that the true King had come, fulfilling the promises of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:7).
2. The Apostles — Paul defines it in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4: “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day.” He also says in Romans 1:16, “The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” For Paul, the Gospel wasn’t just words, it was the very power of God breaking into lives.
3. The Early Church Fathers — Irenaeus (2nd century) taught that the Gospel is the proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It wasn’t advice for better living. It was news of divine rescue.
4. The Reformers — Martin Luther (16th century) said, “The Gospel is nothing else than the preaching of the divine promise of grace and the forgiveness of sins.” Luther emphasized justification by faith alone. Calvin, his contemporary, highlighted union with Christ: that the Gospel is not just pardon, but incorporation into Christ Himself.
5. Modern Voices — R.C. Sproul said, “The Gospel is not about what we do, but about what Christ has done.” John Stott insisted, “The Gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.” Tim Keller summarized: “We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

From Jesus to today, the Gospel has always been about God’s work in Christ for us.

Illustration: Sometimes that’s how we talk about the Gospel. Vague comparisons. Partial truths. What we need is clarity.

Section 2: The Word “Gospel”

The original Greek word is euangelion, meaning “good news.” In the Roman world, this word was used for announcements of victory or the birth of an emperor. For example, Caesar Augustus’ birth was declared the beginning of the “good news” for the world.

So when Jesus comes preaching euangelion, He is saying something radical: the true King has come. Not Caesar. Not Rome. The Gospel is God’s victory announcement.

And there’s an Old Testament backdrop too. The Hebrew word basar means “to bring good news” and is used in Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Jesus is fulfilling that prophecy.

So the Gospel is not advice to achieve. It is news to believe. Not what you must do. What has been done for you.

Illustration: Imagine turning on the news and hearing, “War is over. Peace has been declared.” That’s what the Gospel is. The greatest headline in human history.

Section 3: Three Dimensions of the Gospel in Scripture

The word “gospel” shows up in Scripture in different ways, and each reveals a dimension of the good news. Think of it like seeing the same jewel from different angles.

1. The Gospels (Matthew–John): These four books are the literary account of the good news. They tell the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (Luke 1:1–4)
2. The Person and Work of Jesus: The Gospel is embodied in Jesus Himself. He is the good news. (John 14:6)
3. The Kingdom of God: The Gospel is the announcement of God’s reign breaking into history through Jesus. It is personal, but also cosmic. It is about sins forgiven, but also about a new creation. (Matthew 4:17; Romans 14:17)

Section 4: Definition of the Gospel

Here’s the definition I want you to write down:

The Gospel is the good news that through the life (John 14:6), death (1 Corinthians 15:3), and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9), God saves us from sin by declaring us righteous (Romans 5:1), sanctifies us in His Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13), secures our future with Him in glory (Romans 8:30), and sends us into the world as witnesses of His Kingdom (Matthew 28:18–20), not by our effort, but by His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Shorter version:
The Gospel is the good news that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God saves us, sanctifies us, secures our future, and sends us into the world by His grace.

Memorizable version (say together 3x):
The Gospel is the good news of Jesus: He saves us, He changes us, and He sends us.

Transition to Section 5

Now, I want us to take all of this theology, all of this history, all of this weight, and bring it right into the room with us. Because the Gospel is not just abstract truth. It’s personal good news. It demands a response.

And the way we’re going to respond today is with a prayer. But hear me clearly: the prayer itself does not save. Jesus saves. The prayer simply gives words to the cry of our hearts.

This prayer recognizes the truths of the Gospel in a simple way. That’s why liturgy, creeds, and corporate declarations of faith have always been important in the church. They give us language to express eternal truths together. Today, we are going to respond to the Gospel with a prayer of faith.

Section 5: Walking Through the Gospel in the Prayer of Salvation

1. “Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you.”

Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The Gospel begins here, with our need.

Personal: I’ve tried to muscle my way through temptation, only to fall flat. It’s humbling. Like grabbing a basketball thinking you can dunk, only to realize gravity still applies.

2. “I confess that I have sinned against you.”

Sin is not just mistakes. It’s rebellion. It’s sitting in God’s seat.

Example: Like when your GPS keeps saying, “Recalculating.” Sin is choosing our own road again and again. Confession is admitting we need to let God take the wheel.

3. “I believe that God has raised you from the dead.”

Romans 10:9 says, “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.” The resurrection is the centerpiece.

Example: If someone predicts their own death, burial, and resurrection, and then pulls it off, I’m following that guy.

4. “Jesus is Lord.”

This is more than belief. It’s surrender. Philippians 2:9–11 says every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

Example: It’s like finally trusting the playbook and the coach instead of trying to call your own plays.

5. “Thank you for forgiving me. By your grace I am saved, and by your power I am set free.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 says salvation is by grace through faith. The Gospel saves us, sanctifies us, and secures us.

Illust: Think of a seed planted in soil. It doesn’t just sit there. It sprouts, grows, and eventually multiplies. That’s the Gospel in us.

Section 6: Closing Prayer for Salvation

Would you stand with me? Whether this is your first time praying this prayer or you’ve prayed it many times, let’s feel the weight of it. Not that our prayer saves us, but that Jesus does.

Pray this out loud with me:

"Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you, I confess that I have sinned against you, I believe that God has raised you from the dead, and right now, by faith, I say ‘Jesus is Lord.’ Thank you for forgiving me. By your grace I am saved, and by your power I am set free. Amen.”

And all God’s people said, Amen.

Section 7: Celebration and Invitation

Come on church, let’s celebrate right now! For those who just prayed that prayer for the very first time, welcome to the family of God. Heaven rejoices when even one person comes home, and we rejoice with you today.

If that was you, we want to walk with you. Our prayer team is here at the front to talk with you, give you a Bible, and help you take your next step in following Jesus.

And this invitation is not just for new believers. If you need prayer for anything, this altar is open. Maybe you’re facing a health challenge, a family burden, or a decision you don’t know how to make. Come forward. Let us pray with you.

We come forward not because we are strong, but because the Gospel reminds us we are weak and Jesus is strong.

Section 8: Closing Worship – “None Like You”

And as we close, we are going to sing the words: "There is none like You, You are holy and true. You are matchless in grace and mercy."

Do you hear it? That’s the Gospel in a song. We just declared Jesus is Lord with our prayer, and now we lift Him high with our worship.

So let this room erupt with praise. Not because someone told you to stand, but because the Spirit inside of you compels you to rise and declare: There is none like Jesus!

As we sing, come forward if you need prayer. Come forward if you just gave your life to Christ. Come forward if you want to kneel at the altar in worship. Let’s end this morning with the sound of heaven rejoicing, the church declaring, and lives being changed by the good news of Jesus.