What is the Gospel?

If someone asked you to explain the gospel in sixty seconds, what would you say?

Christians use the word gospel often. We talk about “sharing the gospel,” “believing the gospel,” and being a “gospel-centered church.” But many of us struggle to clearly express what the gospel actually is.

The word gospel means good news.
But good news about what, exactly? We still have the same question: what is the gospel?

A helpful way to summarize the message of the gospel is with four words:

God – Humanity – Christ – Response

Let’s walk through each of these briefly.

1. GOD — We Were Created to Know Him

The Bible begins with God.
He created the universe and formed humanity in His image to know Him, love Him, and live in relationship with Him.

Because God is our Creator, we are accountable to Him.
He is perfectly holy, righteous, and just.

And so, we were made to love Him with our whole hearts.

2. HUMANITY — We Have Rebelled Against Him

Instead of loving God, we turned away.
The Bible calls this sin—not just breaking rules, but rejecting God’s rightful rule over our lives.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Sin separates us from God, and separation from the Giver of life leads to death.
No amount of effort, self-improvement, or religious activity can fix this.

Trying to earn our way back to God is like trying to jump to the top of a skyscraper.
Some may jump higher than others — but everyone falls short.

3. CHRIST — Jesus Came to Rescue Sinners

Here is the good news:

God did not leave us in our sin. He came down to us.

Jesus Christ — fully God and fully man — lived the perfect life we failed to live. Then He died in our place, bearing the judgment that our sins deserved.

This restored our relationship with God.

“…the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood…” (Romans 3:24–25)

The word propitiation means that Jesus took the penalty for sin so that we could receive mercy.
And He did not remain in the grave — He rose, conquering sin and death.

4. RESPONSE — We Receive This Gift Through Faith

The gospel is a gift — but a gift must be received.

We receive it not by working harder or becoming better, but by faith — by trusting Jesus to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Faith means turning away from sin and turning toward Christ.
It means depending on Him as your Savior, righteousness, and hope.

This is not merely believing that Jesus existed — it is resting your life on Him.

So What Is the Gospel?

The gospel is the good news that God rescues sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and we receive this rescue through trusting in Him.

It reveals that we cannot save ourselves — and that God has done everything necessary to save us.

This is why all glory belongs to God.

A Final Word

If this message is new to you, or if your faith feels distant or uncertain, consider bringing your heart before Christ today. He welcomes all who come to Him.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

Next time someone asks you, “What is the gospel”, you will know what to say.