THE SIMPLE GOSPEL
The gospel saves, sustains, and sends us. How do we not overcomplicate it for ourselves and others?
“You want me to go tell others the gospel? I don't think I can do that. I don’t know enough yet! Sometimes, I even struggle to understand and believe it myself...” These were the thoughts that ran through my head the first time I was challenged by a campus minister to go out on my college campus and evangelize for the first time. Maybe you can relate.
As believers, we often can overcomplicate the gospel for ourselves and others. The gospel is so crucial to everything, yet it’s so simple. We need it to be saved, grow up into our salvation (1 Peter 2:2), and proclaim salvation to others. The gospel saves, sustains, and sends us. How do we not overcomplicate it for ourselves and others? We need to start with the simple question: what is the gospel?
What is the Gospel?
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Here, Paul says that the gospel is “most important” and that he wants to make its content “clear.” Before we can believe the gospel for ourselves, we need to hear it and hear it clearly. And before we can proclaim it to others, we need to know how to do so clearly. So, what is the gospel? The Greek word for gospel is euangelion, and it simply means “good news.” Before something is news though, events need to happen, be witnessed by some, and then told to others so they can believe. But that whole process starts with the events.
What were the events that started this whole process with the good news of Jesus? In simple terms, he lived, died, and was raised. Those were historical events that happened, were witnessed by some, and those that witnessed started telling them to others so that they could believe. If those are the events that started the whole process with the good news of Jesus, what exactly is the message itself? What’s the content of the gospel?
The Content of the Gospel
Christ perfectly lived, died, and rose to save sinners. That’s the best news in the world and the world needs to hear it and believe. Good news first and foremost is announced, not explained. So, when it comes to the gospel, first announce that Christ perfectly lived, died, and rose to save sinners. Once that is announced, an explanation will need to happen. How do we simply explain this good news? Let’s break down some of the words and phrases that Paul uses:
Christ – Who is he? Jesus Christ, fully-God and fully-man. He wasn’t half-God and half-man. Jesus, without any change in his eternal deity became a man.
Died – What did he do? He lived a perfect, sinless life and then he physically died on a cross.
For our sins – Why did he die? He died for our sins. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of our sin, we all deserve death: an eternal separation from God which is hell; “for the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23). In order for our sins to be forgiven, blood must be shed; “...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). God is just and he must righteously punish sin. Instead of punishing us for our sins, he punished Christ.
He was raised - What did he do after he died? He physically rose from the dead, proving that he truly was God in the flesh, defeated sin and death, and has the power to forgive sinners.
Believe – What am I and others supposed to do about all of this? Believe it, receive it, take your stand on it, hold to it, and not in vain. Believe in him and what he's done, not in yourself and what you’ve done. We don’t need perfect faith; our faith just needs to be in the perfect Savior.
Saved – What will happen to me and others if we believe? We will be saved from God’s righteous judgment against us and our sin. We will be forgiven for our sins. We will have eternal life with God.
The gospel started with events: Christ lived, died, and was raised. The content of the gospel is simple: Christ perfectly lived, died, and rose to save sinners. The appropriate response: believe. The gospel is simple. How can a simple message like this have power?
The Power of the Gospel
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved... For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached (1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 21).
Here, Paul says that the simple gospel was powerful enough to save him and it’s powerful enough to save others. His responsibility is not to trust in his “eloquent wisdom,” knowledge, or skill; rather, in the power of the gospel and the proclamation of its simple content to others. This means that it doesn’t matter how wise or foolish we are; the power is in the gospel message. It doesn’t matter how wise or foolish my listeners are; the power is in the gospel message.
This should give us great confidence! We don’t need to have a seminary degree to be able to tell others the good news. And this is also great news for sinners who need the gospel! They don’t need deep spiritual wisdom in and of themselves to be able to understand and believe this good news. They need to hear it and then they need the power of the Holy Spirit to help them understand it. The gospel is simple in its content and powerful to save those who hear it and believe. Who is it for though?
The Scope of the Gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).
The gospel isn’t only good news for one people group. It isn’t only good news for the Jews. It isn’t only good news for the Greeks. It transcends all human barriers. It’s good news for everyone, regardless of their language, tribe, or nation! But it’s only good news if you’ve heard it and believed. Today, there are 3.28 billion people in the world who have never heard the gospel; therefore, they can’t believe. All people have the same need for the gospel, but not all people have the same access to the gospel. God’s job is to meet their need; our job is to meet their access. Will you fulfill your responsibility in helping proclaim this simple gospel that saved you to those who have never heard it and; therefore, can’t be saved unless they hear (Romans 10:13-15)?
The gospel is simple, that even a child can understand and believe. Yet it’s so complex that a lifetime of study will only scratch the surface of its wonder. Believe, treasure, and preach it to yourself daily. Proclaim, explain, and plead with others—from your neighbors to the nations—to believe. The gospel is simple, powerful, and for all peoples!
By David
David has served The Traveling Team as one of our travelers since Fall 2021. He studied at Florida State University. After graduating, he served with Cru on his campus and then with Jesus Film Project.
