If someone asked you how to get to heaven, would you know what to tell them? When I was a young boy, my mom drove me to my friend’s house almost everyday for 5 years. But if someone had asked me how to get to his house, I couldn’t tell them, because I had never driven there myself. A lot of Christians feel that way with the gospel. They generally know what it means to be a Christian, but if someone asked them how to become one, they wouldn’t know what to say. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have." You don’t have to have been a Christian for many years or be a preacher to share the gospel; you just need to be willing. Bill Bright described successful evangelism as "taking the initiative to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God." But what exactly is the gospel?
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
"For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
The Gospel is the Good News
The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ coming to earth to save us from our sins. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. If you can tell someone one thing, tell them about Jesus. Speaking of Him, the Bible says, “You can't be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given us no other name under heaven that will save us” (Acts 4:12). Tell them that Jesus is God, who came to earth as a man, and died for the sins of the world. Tell them that they can be completely forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life with God solely by believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord. The Bible gives everyone this guarantee: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That is the gospel. Anyone can share it and everyone needs to hear it. Pray and ask God for an opportunity this week to share the gospel. Remember: all you need to do is take the initiative to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." John 3:17
Does knowing the definition of "Gospel" make you want to share it more? If so, why? How would you explain to someone how they can become a Christian? Practice explaining to another Christian.
Practice