Bible Teachings: The Gospel

"The gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes."
Romans 1v16

The word 'gospel' is derived from the Old English 'god' - meaning good, and 'spell'- meaning tidings. It occurs in the New Testament more than 70 times and is translated from the Greek word euagellion (pronounced yooangelleeon). The related Greek verb is used in the New Testament over 50 times and is translated 'preach', 'preach the gospel', 'bring good tidings', 'declare glad tidings'. The New Testament word 'evangelist' is a person who declares good news.

• The gospel was preached by Jesus and his message was about God's Kingdom. Matthew 4v23; 9v35; Luke 8v1, 20v1

• It was also preached by his disciples. Luke 9v6

• It was preached by the Apostles after Jesus' death and resurrection. Acts 14v7, 21, 15v7

• The gospel is God's power to bring salvation to all that believe it. Romans 1v16

• The person who truly believes the gospel must be baptised. Mark 16v15-16, Matthew 28v19-20

• Those who do not believe the gospel are condemned. Mark 16v16

• Though 'gospel' is a New Testament word, it has its roots in the Old Testament. The gospel was preached to Abraham as a good-news message relevant to people of all nations. Galatians 3v8; Romans 4v13-16

• The future Kingdom of God on earth is the subject of God's promises made to Abraham, to which all baptised believers can be heirs. Galatians 3v26-29

• The gospel was communicated by God through his Old Testament prophets. Romans 1v1-2

• The message given to Old Testament prophets entails the future time of blessing when Christ returns to the earth. Acts 3v19-21

• The good news, or gospel, declared by the Apostles is that God fulfils His promises and has demonstrated this by raising Jesus from the dead, so that believers in the gospel can be saved from sin and death. Acts 13v32-39

The power to save

The gospel has the power to save us (Romans 1v16). To obtain salvation we must understand the gospel, believe it, and be obedient to its requirements. Our knowledge of the gospel cannot be complete without a proper understanding of its Old Testament foundations.