The REAL Gospel

What is a gospel?

The word “gospel” means “good news‘ … so a gospel is, essentially, a message of good news.

What is the significance of a gospel?

The fact that there is a gospel (with good news) implies there was some “bad” news prior to the “good” news.

What was the BAD news that THE Christian Gospel was addressing?

That bad news was about the reality that all mankind had sinned against God and brought upon themselves the death penalty.
What made that reality even worse was the fact that there was nothing that anyone, anywhere in mankind, could do to save himself, herself … or anyone else.
The result was that Man** was completely helpless and in a totally hopeless situation.
That was the bad news, so what, you may ask, is the good news?

What is the GOOD news of the Christian Gospel?

Simply put, the good news is the reality that God has already done for Man what Man could NOT do for himself.
As we read in John 3:16, God did that by sending His Son, as Jesus of Nazareth, to die in Man’s stead (Romans 5:6), thereby paying the death penalty for Man and making it possible for Man to be reconciled to God and to have everlasting life (2 Cor.5:18-19).

What is the Gospel message of the Bible?

The Gospel is the one true Gospel.
It is the good news of Man’s salvation by God … or, to put it another way, the real Gospel is the good news of God’s rescue of sinful, helpless, hopeless Man.
Even though there is only one Gospel, however, there have been many versions of the one true Gospel, including the “traditional” gospel, which is really an incomplete version of the real Gospel.

What is the “traditional” gospel?

The “Traditional Gospel” is the news that Jesus Christ died so that Man would not have to die … and rose from the dead so that Man can be saved.
The good news of the “traditional” gospel is that SOME people will be saved, but SOME (possibly most) persons will still go to Hell.

What is the REAL Gospel?

The REAL Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ died … so that Man would not have to die … and rose from the dead so that Man can be saved.
The good news of THE REAL GOSPEL, however, is that ALL people WILL BE SAVED, ultimately.
In other words, Jesus Christ came to save the whole world … and He was successful.

So what is the difference between the “traditional” gospel and the REAL Gospel?

According to the “traditional” gospel, SOME people will be saved … According to the REAL Gospel, ALL people will be saved, ultimately.(1 Corinthians 15:22).
According to the “traditional” gospel, Jesus came to save the lost … but He was only able to save some of them … However, according to the REAL Gospel, Jesus came to save the lost … and He did save ALL of them … Being the Good Shepherd He is … He was not satisfied with saving only “99 of 100 sheep”.
In one sense, the “traditional” gospel limits God, in one way or other … whereas the real Gospel does not.
In another sense, the “traditional” gospel is incomplete … whereas the real Gospel is not.

How could the REAL Gospel be summarized?

Although NO ONE could save himself from the eternal death he deserved … NO ONE HAS TO save himself … because Jesus Christ had already done all that was necessary for him (and all other people) to be saved.

What are the key elements of the REAL Gospel?

ALL have sinned
ALL deserved to die
NO ONE could save himself
Jesus paid for ALL sin
Jesus defeated death on behalf of ALL
ALL have been reconciled to God
ALL can be saved
ALL WILL BE SAVED … ultimately.

Which Bible passages show that ALL people HAVE SINNED?

Romans 3:19-23 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – 22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Which Bible passages show that ALL DESERVED TO DIE?

Romans 5:14, 18a Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come … 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation.
Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death.

Which Bible passages show that NO ONE COULD SAVE HIMSELF?

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
That’s the BAD news – ALL sinned and deserved to die, but NO ONE could save himself. The GOOD news, however, is that NO ONE HAS TO SAVE HIMSELF.

Which Bible passages show that JESUS PAID FOR ALL SIN?

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Romans 5:8 God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
2 Corinthians 5:14,15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Hebrews 2:8 For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him … But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for every one.

Which Bible passages show that JESUS DEFEATED DEATH ON BEHALF OF ALL people ?

Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:18-19 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Which Bible passages show that ALL people HAVE BEEN RECONCILED TO GOD?

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Romans 5:10-11 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Colossians 1:19-22 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

Which Bible passages show that ALL people CAN BE SAVED?

Romans 5:8-11 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
1 Corinthians 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
Romans 11:32,33 For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
NOTE: Because JESUS paid for ALL sin … ALL have been reconciled to God … and ALL can be saved.

Which Bible passages show that ALL people WILL BE SAVED?

Genesis 12:3 And in you [Abraham] all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Genesis 22:18 And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Isaiah 45:22-23 Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
John 3:17 God sent His Son into the world so that the world should be saved through Him.
John 4:42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
Romans 11:15 For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved.
Romans 11:32,33 For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you.”
1 Timothy 2:3-6 (KJV) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
2 Peter 3:8,9 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance.
I John 4:14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

Despite the above scriptures which imply strongly that all will be saved, some will still try to counter by saying they refer to persons in the Church (i.e. persons who believe, a.k.a. the Elect). Note what the following verses say, however …

I John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

The two scriptures above make it clear that God’s plan is to save all, not just those in the Church. Jesus Christ Himself confirmed that when He said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32)

So what is the REAL Gospel?

Here are some CLOSING THOUGHTS …

The good news of the “traditional gospel” — the gospel variation that most people have heard — is that Man can be saved, BUT … he has to do something in order to be saved. In some cases, he is told he has to be baptized or pray the sinner’s prayer or do a “good work” of some kind. In other cases, however, he is simply told that he MUST just believe, BUT that “act of believing” is often presented in such a way that it comes across as nothing more than another “work” (albeit a good work) that a person must DO in order to be saved.

The good news of the REAL Gospel is much better news. The good news of the REAL Gospel is that … by virtue of what Jesus Christ did, there is nothing that Man needs to do in order to be saved … BECAUSE Jesus has already done ALL that was needed to be done — He lived a sinless life, He paid for all sins (past, present and future) so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be reconciled to God and He rose from the dead, conquering death and making it possible for us to have eternal life.

Essentially, the good news of the REAL Gospel is that …

our reconciliation with God took place when Jesus Christ died, as Romans 5:10 tells us … NOT when we believed;
we shall be saved, as Romans 5:10 also tells us, NOT by His death (or because we believe in His death), BUT “by His life” (i.e. because He lives);
our salvation is NOT about what we CAN do to be saved, BUT about what God has already done to save us;
our salvation depends on Jesus, not on us (John 10:28-29).

In the final analysis, however, the really good news of the REAL Gospel is that …

Jesus, who is our Saviour, came to save ALL of us … and He did (1 Timothy 4:10; 1John 2:2) … by virtue of His death and resurrection and …
we do not have to believe in order to be saved … because that would be saying, indirectly, that we need to save ourselves by a “work” of some kind (in this case, the ‘work’ of believing) …
Rather, we just need to believe, as we read in Ephesians 2:8, that we have been saved … by grace.

The traditional gospel is incomplete, giving a good news that is for some people … whereas the real Gospel is complete, proclaiming a good news that is for all people.

The REAL Gospel, therefore, is the more complete version of the one, true Gospel … and, once properly understood, the much more reassuring version of the original Gospel that was preached in the first 500 years of the Church’s history.

* The word Man is used generically and includes women and children, as well … in much the same way that a “man-eating” shark will eat a woman, or a child … as well as a man.