What is the Gospel?

In Romans 1:16 the apostle Paul says that the gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."  In other words, people must believe the gospel to be saved.  

If you want to be saved and go to heaven, you must believe the gospel.  If you want to help someone find salvation and eternal life, you must lead them to believe the gospel.  

Therefore it is crucial to know the gospel.  You cannot believe the gospel if you don't know the gospel.  And you can't share the gospel if you don't know it.  You must know the gospel.  

So what is the gospel?  The gospel can be summarized in four words (all beginning with the letter "C"):  Creation, Corruption, Cross, Choice.

Creation:  God created us for a love relationship with Him.  In this relationship with find both abundant and eternal life -- the best life.

Corruption: We sinned against God, creating a rift in our relationship with Him.  Our sin prevents us from experiencing the abundant and eternal life that God wants for us.

Cross: To restore us to a right relationship with Himself, God sent His Son Jesus to be punished for our sins.  He died in our place so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God.

Choice:  To be reconciled to God and receive abundant and eternal life, we must choose to believe in Jesus Christ.  This is as simple as A, B, C.  A -- Admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior.  B -- Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and that He is worthy of your total devotion.  C -- Call on Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.  

Becoming a Christian and leading others to Christ is as simple as that.  It's all about the gospel.  Learn it.  Believe it.  Share it.