The gospel
Historic orthodoxy
The good news that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and freely forgives and accepts all who turn from sin and trust in Him.
Also called: good news of Jesus Christ
What it means
"Gospel" means good news. It is not advice about how to live, but an announcement of what God has done. The holy God made us for Himself, and we have all sinned against Him and deserve His judgment. But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who lived the perfect life we have not lived, died on the cross bearing the penalty for sin in the place of sinners, and rose bodily from the dead on the third day.
Everyone who repents and believes in Him is forgiven, declared righteous, adopted into God's family, and given the Holy Spirit and eternal life. This is entirely a gift of grace, received by faith alone, and it rests entirely on Christ's work, not ours.
The gospel also has a call. Christ commands all people everywhere to repent and believe. A church that is faithful to the gospel preaches both: what Christ has done, and the call to trust Him. Paul warns that any other gospel, however attractive, is no gospel at all.
In Scripture
Of first importance: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Jesus proclaims: repent and believe the gospel.
He was delivered over for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Anyone who preaches a different gospel is under a curse.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 7.3; WCF 11.1; LBCF 1689 20.1; Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1
Related terms
Justification by faith aloneHistoric orthodoxy
God declares sinners righteous in His sight not because of anything they do, but only because of Christ's righteousness, received through faith alone.
Penal substitutionary atonementHistoric orthodoxy
On the cross, Christ took the place of sinners and bore the penalty their sins deserved, satisfying God's justice so that He could forgive them.
RegenerationHistoric orthodoxy
The work of the Holy Spirit by which a person dead in sin is made spiritually alive, given a new heart that turns to God in faith and repentance.
ImputationHistoric orthodoxy
God counts, or credits, one person's standing to another, so that our sin was counted to Christ and His righteousness is counted to those who believe.