The Gospel is the good news about the person and work of Jesus Christ. The best summary is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (The Message)
1-2Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time— this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand and by which your life has been saved. (I’m assuming, now, that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy, that you’re in this for good and holding fast.)
3-4The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says.
As sinners, (Those who build their life’s identity on anything but God) we are prone to pursue a relationship with God in one of two ways. The first is religion/spirituality and the second is the gospel. The two are at odds in every way.
Religion says that if we obey God, he loves us.
The gospel says that it is because God has loved us through Jesus that we can obey.
Religion says that the world is filled with good people and bad people.
The gospel says that the world is filled with bad people who are either repentant (remorseful) or unrepentant (unremorseful).
Religion says that you should trust in what you do as a moral person.
The gospel says that you should trust in the perfectly sinless life of Jesus because he alone is the only good and truly moral person who will ever live.
The goal of religion is to get from God such things as health, wealth, insight, power, and control.
The goal of the gospel is not the gifts God gives, but rather God as a gift given to us by grace.
Religion is about what I have to do. The gospel is about what I get to do.
Religion sees hardship in life as punishment from God.
The gospel sees hardship in life as sanctifying (purifying) affliction that reminds us of Jesus’ sufferings and is used by God in love to make us more like Jesus.
Religion is about me. The gospel is about Jesus.
Religion leads to an uncertainty about my standing before God because I never know if I have done enough to please God.
The gospel leads to a certainty about my standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus on my behalf on the cross.
Religion ends in either pride (because I think I am better than other people) or despair (because I continually fall short of God’s commands).
The gospel ends in humble and confident joy because of the power of Jesus at work for me, in me, through me, and sometimes in spite of me.
Religion/Spirituality is not the gospel ~ may you chose and press hard into your relationship with Jesus Christ Crucified, Buried, Risen, and Ascended as your life’s ambition and purpose.
Join in the journey of planting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prince of Peace Anglican Family 