The word "gospel" is derived from old English, which in turn is derived from the Greek work "euangelion". It means simply "good news".
The gospel is a proclamation of good news, namely:
- Sin has destroyed life and creation.
- Sin is mankind turning away from God and refusing to allow God his rightful position as Ruler over creation.
- But God has a solution. Jesus, who is both God and man, entered the world
- To demonstrate God's heart and character.
- To die on a cross.
In that death, he suffered the penalty for sin, for all mankind, past, present, and future. He offers pardon for sin, if we accept it by faith, and restore God to his rightful, and proper place as Lord, in our hearts and practices. Jesus gives this as a gift, by grace. Grace is God's power, love, and generosity given freely.
This sacrifice, and gift of grace, is effective for reconciling God and man, justifying man for sin -- past, present, and future -- and redeems man back to God. It also brings change into people's lives by changing their hearts, their spiritual DNA, so it conforms with God's heart. People begin to keep God's word, to love, to speak graciously, and to have attitudes that yield peace, joy and hope.
As people turn to God by faith, live by grace, in connection with God through the Holy Spirit, according to God's word, they learn to share the gospel in a winning way. So, grace, faith, and renewed lifestyles begin to multiply. And as people who live by love and grace multiply, it should begin to have an effect on society, and culture. Step one of God's plan to heal racism, poverty, violence, chemical dependence, dishonesty, and corruption is the natural effects of grace, faith, and the Holy Spirit in the heart of God's family interacting, and living together as God designed it to be. Step two is God's family moving out toward the ends of the earth, with the gospel, and the love God plants in their hearts, to be expressed with the help of God's Spirit shining through God's children.
