This may seem like an odd question but the truth is that not everyone answers this question the same way. These differences may stem from our varied experiences, the situation in which we are sharing, who we are sharing it with, etc. But despite those differences there are some things that are essential and honestly we sometimes miss some of those essentials.
Let me give you an example. I love Star Wars. I mean, I really love it. I have first editions of the book in both paper and hardcover from 1976 that say “soon to be a motion picture….” But there is one huge thing about Star Wars that drives me nuts. They tell the story out of order and as a result are constantly having to go back and correct misunderstandings and wrong assumptions. And we do this all too often when we share the Gospel. Jesus is the climax of the story, but not its beginning. Yet we too often start with Jesus. Here’s the critical element that gets lost when we do so – why was Jesus necessary? Why does sin even matter? Those are essential parts of the beginning of the story that we then have to go back and explain.
So what is the Gospel? By its own root definition it is good news. I’ll spend time in another post looking at the ways in which good news for one person can differ from good news for another. In this case we’re just focusing on the fact that it is the good news of Jesus the Messiah.
- In the beginning God created all things and He created man and woman in His image. They interacted daily in a relationship based on trust and God’s provisions for all that they needed.
- But the man and woman broke their relationship with God by choosing to trust themselves rather than God’s provision and promises. As a result death entered the world through this rejection of God we now call sin.
- Now God did not give up on the people he created. Throughout history He provided ways for people to temporarily heal this broken relationship. But God had plans for something better, a permanent fix.
- God came and dwelt among us in the form of Jesus of Nazareth. He lived a life without sin, demonstrating a life lived in complete trust of God’s provision and promises.
- He died on the cross taking the punishment we deserve for our sin. And because that sacrifice was enough we can now live in a restored relationship with God through the presence of His spirit in our lives. In this new restored relationship we now live as his representatives to the world demonstrating what God can do through people who follow His ways of living.
That’s it in a nutshell. The good news is Jesus, but it is also why we need him in the first place so that we better understand why Jesus is so important.
This is just the first in a series about the Gospel. So stay tuned for more about how the Gospel impacts our daily lives, some ideas for how to share the Gospel with others, and more.
Till next time, grace and peace to you all.
Mike Sandefur
Climbers for Christ Chaplain
