Importance of the Gospel

Understanding the importance of the Gospel is a key element in living the Christian life and in spreading the message to others. Simply put, the Gospel is the “good news” about salvation made possible by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The foundation of the Gospel is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4, NKJ). This is by no means all that the Gospel involves, but it is the foundation. Much like the Ten Commandments were the foundation of the old law, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of the Gospel. When Paul “withstood [Peter] to his face,” it was because Peter and his companions “were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:11-14). What was Peter’s sin? He refused to eat with the Gentiles, thus withdrawing fellowship from them (Gal. 2:12-13). Peter did not deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, but he still went against the Gospel by refusing fellowship with the Gentiles!

There Is Only One Gospel

Before noting specific ways in which the Gospel is important, it is first necessary for us to realize that there is only one true Gospel! Paul wrote to the Galatians, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7). The Galatians were in the process of leaving the Gospel and, God, the author of it (Gal. 5:7-8). This “different” Gospel influencing the Galatians did not deny the death, burial, and/or resurrection of Christ, but it added to the true Gospel by binding parts of the Law of Moses (cf. Gal. 2:12; 4:10; 5:2-4). Whenever something is added to or taken away from the true Gospel, it ceases being the true Gospel and becomes a different Gospel, which has no power to save! Paul says there is not another Gospel! In fact, he even pronounces a curse upon anyone, whether a fellow apostle or even an “angel from heaven,” that teaches something different than the Gospel once delivered (Gal. 1:8-9)!

The Gospel Is Needed for Salvation

The importance of the Gospel is seen in the fact that it is absolutely necessary for salvation. First, it is God’s power of salvation. Paul wrote, “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:15-16). The word “power” comes from a Greek word (dynamis) from which we get our word “dynamite,” and means power, capability, ability. In other words, the Gospel is God’s way, or ability, to extend salvation to us! Second, because the Gospel is God’s power to save, it must be preached. Again, Paul wrote, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:17-18). This is not saying that baptism is not important (cf. Mk. 16:16; Mt. 28:19), but that Christ did not send Paul just to dunk people in water. Rather, Paul was sent to proclaim the Gospel! Preachers cannot make anyone obey the Gospel—even Jesus could not do that (cf. Jn. 6:66-69)! Preachers can only teach, encourage, and pray for others to obey the Gospel. People must choose for themselves to obey God (cf. Deut. 30:19; Mt. 7:13-14; Eph. 1:13)!

The Gospel Will Be the Standard of Judgment

The importance of the Gospel is also seen in the fact that it will be the standard Christ uses to judge us at the end of time. Paul said that the day would come “when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Rom. 2:16). The “my gospel” to which Paul refers is the one and only true Gospel. It is said to be Paul’s, not because he originated it, but because he has taken it to himself and made it his lifelong vocation (cf. Acts 9:15-16; 1 Tim. 1:12-17). Concerning judgment, Jesus Himself said, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48). Since the Gospel is the only means through which we can receive salvation, to reject that message is to reject salvation and to judge oneself unworthy of salvation (cf. Acts 13:45-46). Let us not reject the Gospel, the power of God to salvation!

The Gospel Must Be Obeyed

Because the Gospel is God’s power to salvation and because it will be our standard of judgment by God, it is imperative that we obey its teachings. However, “they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report?” (Rom. 10:16). Those who do not obey the Gospel will be judged, for “when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 1:8). Peter somberly asked the rhetorical question, “what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17). The good news, however, is that we have opportunity now to obey the Gospel. We must hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17); believe that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6); repent of our sins (Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30-31); confess our faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:19); and be baptized for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38 cf. Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16). Once we are baptized, our conversion does not end. Baptism is the “new birth” (Jn. 3:3-5), and we must continue to walk in “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Do we understand the importance of the Gospel? Let us not delay and make sure that we are in compliance with it. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2)!