The most important thing a Christian can do for their faith is to understand the Gospel’s message. The Gospel, which means “good news,” encapsulates the core teachings of Christianity, particularly the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This message forms the foundation upon which Christian beliefs and practices are built. Christians believe that through Jesus’ sacrifice, humanity is offered redemption and the promise of eternal life. Understanding this message is essential for grasping the concept of grace and forgiveness. The teachings within the Gospel provide moral and ethical guidance. The life and teachings of Jesus serve as a model for how to live a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to others. Understanding the Gospel encourages spiritual growth and deepens our relationship with God. It inspires us to live out our faith in meaningful ways and to spread the message of love, compassion, and justice to others in our world.
The Gospel
The Gospel’s message is the belief that God sent His only Son, Jesus, to Earth out of immense love for His creation. Jesus lived a sinless life, taught about God’s eternal Kingdom, performed miracles, and ultimately sacrificed Himself on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity. By His resurrection from the dead, He conquered sin and death, offering the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him. The Gospel calls us to repentance, faith in Jesus, and a transformed life characterized by love, grace, and the hope of eternal fellowship with God. It is a message of redemption, restoration, and profound hope.
How Did We Get There?
Humanity’s fall from favor with God is described in the book of Genesis, particularly in Genesis 3, often called the story of the Fall. Here’s a summary of how it happened:
God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden. They lived in harmony with God, each other, and the environment. God gave Adam and Eve one command: they could eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 2:16-17, God says, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”1NIV New International Version Translations A serpent, understood to represent Satan, tempted Eve by questioning God’s command and suggesting that eating the forbidden fruit would make her and Adam like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:1-5 details this temptation.
(Genesis 3:6) – “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
After eating the fruit, Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked; feeling shame for the first time, they tried to hide from God. When God confronted them, they tried to shift the blame. As a result of their disobedience, God pronounced curses upon them, the serpent, and the ground. Genesis 3:16-19 outlines these consequences, including pain in childbirth for Eve, toil and hard labor for Adam, and ultimately, death for both. God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever in their sinful state. This is detailed in Genesis 3:22-24.
The Plan of Reconciliation
(Genesis 3:15) – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Many view Genesis 3:15 as the first promise of a savior and the eventual triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and Satan. This verse is foundational to Christian theology and is seen as a beacon of hope amidst the narrative of the fall.
- Enmity Between the Serpent and the Woman: The serpent (seen as Satan) and the woman (Eve, representing humanity) will have ongoing hostility. This hostility symbolizes the spiritual battle between good and evil.
- Offspring of the Woman and the Serpent: The descendants of the woman (representing humanity) and the serpent (representing those who follow Satan) will be in conflict with each other.
- He Will Crush Your Head: This phrase is seen as a prophecy about Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate offspring of the woman (in a spiritual sense). “Crushing the head” implies a fatal blow to Satan’s power and influence.
- You Will Strike His Heel: This phrase indicates that while the serpent (Satan) will cause harm to the offspring (seen as Jesus), it will not be a fatal or permanent victory. The crucifixion of Jesus is often interpreted as this “heel strike,” while His resurrection is seen as the crushing of the serpent’s head.
Wow! At the beginning of Genesis, the start of our world’s history, humanity screwed up its relationship with its creator. But God, the Creator, who loves His world, lays out the plan for complete reconciliation a few verses later. Genesis 3:15, often referred to as the “Protoevangelium” or “First Gospel,” is considered the first hint of the Gospel within the Bible.
Now For the Fine Print
Humanity’s sin, created by free will, led to the separation from God. God responded by showing His concern and provision for humanity, even in a fallen state. God covered Adam and Eve with garments of skin (Genesis 3:7). Using animal skins implies that an animal had to be sacrificed. This is the first instance of death recorded in the Bible, setting a precedent for the concept of sacrifice. The shedding of blood became a central element in the atonement for sin, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:22 states, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
At the core of the Gospel’s message is the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, serving as the ultimate atonement, satisfying the requirements of divine justice. Romans 3:25-26 states, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness… to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
The Gospel’s message begins with God’s love for humanity. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Humanity’s free will creates the divide: Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The heart of the Gospel’s message is Jesus’ resurrection and His victory over sin and death. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “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.” God reached out to humanity with grace, and through faith in Jesus Christ, people can receive forgiveness for their sins and eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes this: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” The Gospel is about God’s love, human sinfulness, Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection, and the promise of eternal life through faith in Him.
The Cross
The cross fulfills numerous Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah’s suffering and sacrificial death. Isaiah 53:5 prophesies, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” By dying on the cross and subsequently rising from the dead, Jesus defeated the power of sin and death. Colossians 2:13-15 explains, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness… And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” The cross is a powerful demonstration of God’s love for humanity. Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This sacrificial act reveals the extent of God’s love and His desire to reconcile with humanity.
Through the cross, Jesus made it possible for people to receive forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to God. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” The cross symbolizes the new life available to those who believe in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!“
Epilogue
“One admires Christ according to aesthetic categories as an aesthetic genius, calls him the greatest ethicist, one admires his going to his death as a heroic sacrifice for his ideas. Only one thing one doesn’t do: one doesn’t take him seriously. That is, one doesn’t bring the center of his or her own life into contact with the claim of Christ to speak the revelation of God and to be that revelation. One maintains a distance between himself or herself and the word of Christ and allows no serious encounter to take place. I can doubtless live with or without Jesus as a religious genius, as an ethicist, as a gentleman—just as, after all, I can live without Plato and Kant.…. Should, however, there be something in Christ that claims my life entirely with full seriousness that here God himself speaks, and if the word of God once became present only in Christ, the Christ has not only relative but absolute, urgent significance for me…..Understanding Christ means taking Christ seriously. Understanding this claim means taking seriously his absolute claim on our commitment. And it is now important for us to clarify the seriousness of this matter and extricate Christ from the secularization process in which he has been incorporated since the Enlightenment.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer2Quote taken from “Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, Pg. 82-83
Contemplations
- What does the concept of sacrifice mean to you in the context of the Gospel message?
- Idea to Explore: Reflect on the different forms of sacrifice in various cultures and religions. Consider how the idea of sacrifice as an act of love and redemption compares across these contexts. How does this shape our understanding of selflessness and altruism in our own lives?
- How does the story of Adam and Eve’s fall shape your understanding of human nature and morality?
- Idea to Explore: Dive into the themes of temptation, free will, and consequences. What insights can you see about human behavior, ethics, and the quest for knowledge?
- In what ways does the Gospel message of good news resonate with people today?
- Idea to Explore: Consider the relevance of the Gospel in contemporary society. How do messages of hope, redemption, and love appeal to individuals facing modern challenges? Reflect on personal experiences or societal issues where the principles of the Gospel you might share with others can provide comfort or guidance to them.
- What role do prophecies play in the Christian understanding of Jesus’ life and mission?
- Idea to Explore: How do prophecies contribute to the credibility and continuity of the Christian faith?
- 1NIV New International Version Translations
- 2Quote taken from “Bonhoeffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, Pg. 82-83