The REAL Gospel – Expanded – ASSURED CHRISTIAN

The complete Gospel, including the dimension missing from most presentations of the Traditional Gospel

INTRODUCTION

In a letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul warned Christians to beware of other gospels. One implication of that warning is that there were at least two gospels, but, more than likely, several more. Obviously, if there were more than one gospel, then both (or all) of them could not be real? There can only be one real gospel.

So what is that REAL Gospel? Is it the traditional gospel we’ve always heard? Or is it different? And if it is different, how is it different?

In order for us to understand what the REAL Gospel is, or the traditional gospel, for that matter, we should understand, first, that the word “gospel” means “good news”. So when we talk about the Gospel, we should be talking about good news.

So why is the Gospel regarded as “good news” … and just what is “good” news of the Gospel?

Simply put, the Gospel is referred to as good news because the news prior to it was bad. The bad news was that Adam had sinned and earned the death penalty for himself and all his descendants, including us. Just how bad the news was is made clearer when we realize that there was nothing that Man could do to avoid the death penalty and save himself.

Clearly, Man had a problem, so the Gospel was “good” news because it revealed that God had provided a solution for Man’s problem (which had given rise to the bad news). For many, the good news of the Gospel is that God, through Jesus Christ, has solved Man’s problem and Man can be saved because of what Jesus Christ did on Man’s behalf.

For those of us who understand who Jesus Christ was, the news is good because we realize that He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. As some have said, Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. The Gospel is the good news that we do not have to die because Jesus Christ died for us.

However, for those of us who understand, not only who Jesus was, but what He accomplished, the news gets better. It is that understanding of what He accomplished by His death AND resurrection that makes the Gospel not just “good” news, but “really good” news. It is that understanding that is at the heart of the REAL Gospel. It is that understanding that distinguishes the real Gospel from the traditional gospel. This booklet was written to highlight that understanding.

One important point must be made before moving on and it is this: This booklet is written with the assumption that anyone who reads it believes 1) that there is a God and 2) that God inspired the message of the Bible as a way of revealing His plan of reconciliation and redemption. The significance of the two beliefs (in God and in the Bible) is highlighted by the fact that …

it is the Bible that tells us “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” (Romans 1:18).
it is the Bible that tells us God “desires all men to be saved”(1 Timothy 2:4).
it is the Bible that tells us that God “has reconciled us to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
it is the Bible that tells us that we can “have peace with God…” (Romans 5:1).

THE BAD NEWS

As mentioned previously, the Gospel is “good” news because the news before it came was “bad” news. To really appreciate the good news of the Gospel, we need to understand what the bad news was. So, in this section, we begin our look at what the REAL Gospel is by looking, first, at the bad news.

1. ALL 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 —

The word “all” is used in reference to all people who have ever lived. So, clearly, ALL people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

2. ALL DESERVED TO DIE

Romans 5:12-13, 18a Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — 13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 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 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1 Corinthians 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Because ALL people were in Adam, when Adam sinned, all sinned … and, because the wages of sin is death, death spread to all people.

Also, because all people were in Adam, all people have shared in the same sin nature – the same natural tendency to sin – that Adam had (Romans 8:7). As a result, all people have sinned (in one way or other) and earned the death penalty … and deserved to die.

3. 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.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

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.

Many people believe the Law was given to show us what we could do to save ourselves, but that was never the purpose of the Law. God knew Man would never be able to justify himself by keeping the Law perfectly … so the purpose of the Law was to define sin, so that we could see ourselves as sinners.

The Law also showed, however, Man had found himself in a helpless, and hopeless, situation – he was “without strength” (Romans 5:6) and “dead” (Ephesians 2:1). There was nothing anyone could do to save himself.

That is the BAD news – ALL people have sinned and deserve to die … but NO ONE could do anything to save himself or herself. So what’s the GOOD news?

THE GOOD NEWS

As seen in the previous section, the BAD news was that ALL people have sinned and deserve to die, as a result … but NO ONE could do anything to save himself. So what’s the GOOD News?

Simply put, the GOOD news is that NO ONE has to save himself. Put another way, the GOOD news is that JESUS died for ALL and, by so doing, paid for ALL the sins of ALL people. As a result, ALL people have been reconciled to God and ALL people can be saved.

4. JESUS PAID FOR ALL SIN … by His Death.

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!

John 3:16 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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.

GOD put the iniquity of all of us on Jesus, even before we realized we were sinners. This means that when Christ died, He died for all of us … Christ committed no sin and, therefore, did not deserve to die. So, when He died (thereby paying the penalty for sin), He was not paying for His sins … He was paying for our sins, vicariously. He died on our behalf. The result is that we do not have to pay for our sins … They have already been paid for by the death of Christ.

5. JESUS DEFEATED DEATH FOR ALL … by His Resurrection.

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 5:12-19 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 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. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 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.

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 ….

Many, if not most, people believe that we can have eternal life because Jesus died on our behalf … but that is not entirely true. While it is true that all our sins have been forgiven and we have been reconciled to God, because of His death. It is because of His resurrection – because He lives – that we can have the free gift of eternal life.

6. ALL 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.

Because Jesus died for ALL, He paid the penalty for ALL the sins of ALL people. As a result, ALL people have been reconciled to God … and ALL people can be saved as a result.

This sixth point (that all can be saved) is the essential point of what could be referred to as the Traditional Gospel, which is the good news that we do not have to die because Jesus Christ died for us … We can be saved from eternal death.

That is good news, indeed. However, for those who understand, not only who Jesus was, but also what He accomplished, the news gets even better still … For them, the Gospel is not just “good” news, but “really good” news. So what is that REALLY GOOD news? And how can we share that good news?

There are many ways of sharing the one Gospel, including telling of God’s Purpose, Man’s Problem and God’s Provision.

God’s Purpose was to make Man in the image of God, so that Man could have a special, unique relationship with God and ultimately receive everlasting life.
Man’s Problem, however, which prevented original Man from receiving everlasting life, was Sin and the Death that it caused. Sin separated us from God … and Death rendered us incapable of doing anything to be reconciled to God.
God’s Provision was/is Jesus Christ, who came and did for Man (including us) what Man (including us) could not do for himself, by keeping the Law perfectly, not sinning in any way. Most importantly, however, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin once for all (for all sins -past, present and future – for all time) so that Man (including us) would not have to pay the penalty of the second death … and by His resurrection, Jesus made it possible for Man to live victoriously by having Jesus living His life through him.

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 … whereas, according to the REAL Gospel, ALL people will be saved, ultimately.
According to the “traditional” gospel, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, but He was only able to save some … However, according to the “real” Gospel, He saved ALL … As the Good Shepherd, he was not satisfied with saving only 99 of the 100 sheep … He would not rest until the 100th sheep was saved.
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.

What are the main elements of the REAL Gospel?

All have sinned … Romans 3:19-23; Romans 5:12
All deserved to die … Romans 5:14, 18a; Romans 6:23a
No one could save himself … Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:1-3
Jesus paid for all sin … Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; Hebrews 2:8
Jesus defeated death on behalf of all … Romans 5:10, 18-19
All have been reconciled to God … 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Romans 5:10-11; Colossians 1:19-22
All can be saved … Romans 5:8-11; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23; Romans 11:32, 33
All will be saved … Genesis 12:3, 22:18; Isaiah 45:22-23; John 3:17, 4:42; Romans 11:15, 25, 32, 33; Galatians 3:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:8,9; I John 4:14 … 1 John 2:2; 1 Timothy 4:10

, giving a good news that is for some … whereas the real Gospel is complete, proclaiming a good news that is for all people. the whole world and succeeded. To be clear … there is only one Gospel, as Paul made clear in Galatians 1:9.

However, there are (and have been) many variations of that one Gospel.
By “traditonal Gospel”, we mean the incomplete version of the Gospel that most people may have heard.
The REAL Gospel, therefore, is the more complete and, once understood, the much more reassuring version of the original Gospel that was preached in the first 500 years of the Church’s history.

There are many ways of sharing the one Gospel, including telling of God’s Purpose, Man’s Problem and God’s Provision.

God’s Purpose was to make Man in the image of God, so that Man could have a special, unique relationship with God and ultimately receive everlasting life.
Man’s Problem, however, which prevented original Man from receiving everlasting life, was Sin and the Death that it caused. Sin separated us from God … and Death rendered us incapable of doing anything to be reconciled to God.
God’s Provision was/is Jesus Christ, who came and did for Man (including us) what Man (including us) could not do for himself, by keeping the Law perfectly, not sinning in any way. Most importantly, however, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin once for all (for all sins -past, present and future – for all time) so that Man (including us) would not have to pay the penalty of the second death … and by His resurrection, Jesus made it possible for Man to live victoriously by having Jesus living His life through him.

So what is that REAL Gospel?

The good news of 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.

“We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of ALL men, especially of those who believe.”

What makes the “good news” of the REAL Gospel better news than that of the traditional gospel variation is the fact 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 because we believe, 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 … we just need to believe, as we read in Ephesians 2:8, that we have been saved, in Christ.

That last sentence may come as a surprise to many, but if you’d like to understand the biblical basis for that message, click on Understanding The Gospel.

** The word Man is used, in a generic sense, to represent ALL humans, female, as well as male.