The Christian Gospel

The word "gospel" means good news so the Christian gospel is the good news concerning the Christ - the Jewish Messiah, God's Son and the Saviour of the world.

So what is this good news?
A straight quote from Paul's letter to the Corinthians will provide a concise answer to this question.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
He was entombed
He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
[1 Cor 15 : 3 - 5  NIV]

This is really Good News (Gospel) from God to mankind because of its awesome consequences, both personal and corporate.

Personally, God no longer holds our sins against us

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NIV]

because

(Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 2  NIV]

Corporately, God will remove death and sin from his creation and create a new heaven and earth.

The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil had done.
[1 John 3 : 8b  GNB]
Our dreaded enemy, death, which we inherited from Adam is to be removed from creation.
For he (Jesus) must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
[1 Cor 15 : 25 - 26  NIV]

God will have supreme control.

But when all things have been placed under Christ's rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.
[1 Cor 15: 28  GNB]

Heaven and Earth will be in complete harmony

God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head.
[Eph 1: 9 - 10  GNB]

and squeaky-clean

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
[2 Peter 3 : 13  NIV]

It's amazing how many people, even those belonging to the Christian religion, do not believe this awesome outcome, even though they sing songs that proclaim it most Sundays.

For example, at a funeral I attended last week we sang a well-known hymn whose words included the death of death, the destruction of hell and God's "kingdom stands, and grows for ever, till all your creatures own your sway".
Most of the nearly 300 people present heartily proclaimed these words describing God's promised future for his creation.

Let's truly believe and endorse what the Scriptures teach about our God and his exciting plan for all mankind through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Barry