What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The word “gospel” comes from the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news.” So often when we hear the message of the gospel in this modern age, is it really good? We are going to examine this word gospel with intention to bring light to it’s truest meaning.

In the ancient world, in the earliest church, it was used to announce a royal proclamation of victory, peace, or the enthronement of a king. In the New Testament, this term takes on its fullest meaning: the declaration of God’s victorious reign through Jesus Christ.

At its core, the gospel is not advice, moral instruction, or a religious system—but it is an announcement. It proclaims that in Christ humanity has been redeemed, reconciled, and restored to divine fellowship. This good news is not about what we must do to reach God in some human transaction but about what God has already done in Christ.

From this Patristic, and New Covenant perspective, the gospel is the unveiling of the eternal purpose of God—the revelation of His love, grace, and restorative justice through the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. The gospel is not merely about individual salvation but the cosmic restoration (Apokatastasis) of all things in Christ (Acts 3:21).

Why Is the Gospel Good News?

The gospel is good news because it is the ultimate revelation of God’s love, grace, and faithfulness toward humanity. It is not just a message of salvation in a specific moment but of total restoration, reconciliation, and participation in the divine life.

It Declares the Finished Work of Christ
The gospel is good news because it proclaims that Jesus has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. His incarnation, death, and resurrection were not contingent plans but the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:4-10). Unlike legalistic systems that demand human effort, the gospel proclaims tetelestai—”It is finished” (John 19:30). Our redemption is not based on our performance but on Christ’s perfect work.

It Reveals Our Inclusion in Christ
The gospel is not an invitation to strive for salvation but the revelation that we have been included in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection (Romans 6:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21). News that is not telling of a forensic or legal transaction but an ontological reality—we have been made new creations, adopted into the life of the Trinity (Galatians 4:4-7).

It Announces the End of the Old Covenant and the Arrival of the New
The gospel is good news because it reveals that the old covenant of law, condemnation, and separation has been abolished (Hebrews 8:6-13). We now live under the new covenant of grace, where God has written His law upon our hearts, and we are led by His Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 8:1-4).

It Proclaims Universal Reconciliation and Apokatastasis
The gospel is the declaration that God’s redemptive plan is not limited to a select few but encompasses all creation (Colossians 1:19-20). The early Church Fathers, such as Gregory of Nyssa and Maximus the Confessor, saw the gospel as the means by which God restores all things in Christ (Apokatastasis). This is why the gospel is truly good news—not just for individuals, but for the entire cosmos (Romans 8:19-21).

It Transforms Lives Now
The modern church convinced us the gospel is about going to heaven after death; however the truth is, it is about experiencing eternal life—knowing God—now (John 17:3). The indwelling Spirit empowers us to live in the freedom, joy, and love of God, manifesting His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The gospel is good news because it declares what is already true: God’s love has triumphed, humanity has been restored in Christ, and the entire cosmos is being reconciled to its Creator.

Why Is the Gospel Important?

The gospel is the most important message in human history because it reveals the truth of who God is, who we are, and what has been accomplished in Christ. It is not another religious doctrine—but a divine proclamation of redemption, restoration, and union with God. Why is it so important to know this? Let’s examine several key reasons:

It Reveals the True Nature of God

The gospel unveils the heart of the Father, showing that He is not a distant judge but a loving, self-giving God (1 John 4:8-10). In Christ, we see the full expression of God’s character—His grace, mercy, and unrelenting love for humanity (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:3). The gospel corrects false perceptions of God as wrathful or transactional and replaces them with the truth: God is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31).

It Frees Us from Sin, Guilt, and Condemnation

The gospel is important because it delivers us from the bondage of sin and the lie of separation from God. In Christ, sin has been dealt with once and for all (Hebrews 9:26), and there is now no condemnation for those in Him (Romans 8:1). The message of radical grace means we no longer live under the burden of religious striving but in the freedom of God’s unearned favor (Galatians 5:1).

It Establishes Our Identity and Purpose

In this world filled with voices trying to establish our identity—the gospel declares this that we are not orphans, sinners, or outcasts—we are sons and daughters of God, included in the divine life (Galatians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This new identity transforms how we see ourselves and others, enabling us to live from a place of love, not fear.

It Brings Healing and Wholeness

Salvation is about a bringing about wholeness and healing now. The gospel is not just about getting people to heaven; it is about bringing heaven to earth. It heals our brokenness, restores relationships, and renews our minds (Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Embracing this truth of the gospel, we experience peace, joy, and the fullness of life Jesus promised, NOW. (John 10:10).

It Promises the Restoration of All Things

The gospel is important not only for individual transformation but for the reconciliation of the entire cosmos (Acts 3:21) . Paul declares that in Christ, God is restoring all creation (Colossians 1:19-20). The doctrine of Apokatastasis assures us that God’s love will ultimately triumph, and every knee will bow in joyful recognition of His goodness (Philippians 2:10-11).

It Empowers Us to Live in the New Covenant Reality

The gospel is the foundation of the New Covenant, where we live not by law but by the Spirit (Romans 7:6, 2 Corinthians 3:6). It assures us that our relationship with God is not based on works but on His finished work. This empowers us to live lives of grace, love, and rest, reflecting the kingdom of God to the world.

The Heart of It All

This “good news” is important because it is the only message that truly sets people free. It reveals the love of the Trinity, the finished work of Christ, and the unstoppable plan of God to restore all things. Without the gospel, humanity remains in darkness, striving for what has already been given. But in Christ, the light has dawned, and we are called to live in its reality.

What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?

The gospel that Jesus preached was not a new religious system, a call to moral reform, or a transactional method of salvation—it was the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan to reconcile and restore all things in Himself.

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Jesus’ central message was the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 4:23, Luke 4:43). He announced that the reign of God had arrived—not as a distant future event but as a present reality. This kingdom was not about political power or earthly rule but about God’s reign of love, grace, and reconciliation breaking into the world through Christ.

• “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15)—Jesus called people to metanoia (change of mind), inviting them to see reality through the lens of God’s grace rather than the legalistic structures of religion.
• “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21)—The gospel Jesus preached was about union with God, not external rituals.

The Fulfillment of the Old and the Establishment of the New

Jesus preached the end of the Old Covenant and the arrival of the New. In His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He exposed the insufficiency of legalism and pointed to a deeper reality: righteousness based not on law-keeping but on relationship with the Father.

• “I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it” (Matthew 5:17)—Jesus’ gospel was not about keeping the law but about Himself as the fulfillment of the law.
• “It is finished” (John 19:30)—On the cross, He declared the completion of His mission, ushering in the New Covenant of grace.

The Good News of Inclusion and Reconciliation

Jesus’ gospel was radically inclusive. He shattered religious boundaries by embracing sinners, tax collectors, Samaritans, and Gentiles—declaring that all were included in God’s redemptive plan. His parables (e.g., the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep) illustrated God’s relentless love and the reality that humanity was never truly separated from Him (Luke 15:11-32).

• “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10)—Jesus’ gospel was about restoration, not exclusion.
• “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32)—His death and resurrection were for all, not just a select few.

The Gospel of Union with the Trinity

Jesus preached the gospel of our inclusion in the life of the Father, Son, and Spirit. His prayer in John 17 reveals His ultimate mission:

• “That they may be one as we are one” (John 17:21)—Jesus preached union, not separation.
• “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15:5)—Our life is found in Him, not in religious striving.

The Cosmic Scope of the Gospel – Apokatastasis

Jesus’ gospel was not just about individual salvation but the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). His resurrection was the first fruits of a new creation, where heaven and earth are reconciled (Colossians 1:19-20).

• “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5)—Jesus’ gospel was the renewal of all creation.
• “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)—The gospel is about heaven invading earth now, not just a future hope.

The Gospel Jesus Preached vs. The Gospel of Religion

Many have reduced the gospel to a transaction: “Believe in Jesus so you can go to heaven when you die.” But Jesus never preached a message of escaping earth—He preached the transformation of the world through His reign. The gospel is not about avoiding hell; it’s about participating in divine life now and forever.

The Gospel of Jesus Is the Gospel of Grace

The gospel Jesus preached was the announcement that God’s love, grace, and kingdom have come now in Him. It was the end of religious striving, the end of the Old Covenant and beginning of the New. The gospel was Christ’s Victory on our behalf over sin, death and the devil. The gospel is the GOOD NEWS and assurance that as it is written in Acts 3:21, He must be held until the restoration of all things, being restored in Christ.

—This is the GOOD NEWS that we tell the world!

Recommended GAN TV Host Teachings

• John Crowder’s – The Jesus Trip “Covenant vs. Contract” Watch this message -> HERE 
• Jamie Englehart’s – Grace for All “It is Finished” Watch this message -> HERE  “Are all His Children?” Watch this message -> HERE
• Malcolm Smith’s – Unconditional Love Ministries “Reality or Religion” Watch this message -> HERE
• Bill Vanderbush’s Unveiled Horizon “The Last Adam’s Family – It is Finished” Watch this message -> HERE 

Sources for this article – 

1. Irenaeus, Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 18-20) – The concept of recapitulation (Christ summing up all things in Himself) directly supports the gospel as the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan (Ephesians 1:10).
2. Athanasius, On the Incarnation – His work underscores Christ’s role in defeating death and restoring humanity, a core aspect of the gospel message.
3. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Soul and Resurrection – Expounds on universal reconciliation (Apokatastasis) and the ultimate restoration of creation, which ties into the cosmic scope of the gospel.
4. Maximus the Confessor, Ambigua – Discusses humanity’s union with God through Christ, reinforcing the gospel of inclusion and participation in divine life.
5. Origen, On First Principles (Book I, Chapter 6) – One of the earliest theological discussions of the reconciliation of all things, supporting the concept of the gospel as God’s redemptive plan for all creation.

Scripture References Used in the Article

1. Mark 1:14-15 – Jesus’ proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom.
2. Luke 4:18-21 – Jesus’ mission statement, affirming the good news as liberation and restoration.
3. John 19:30 – “It is finished”, the declaration of the completed work of Christ.
4. Acts 3:21 – The restoration of all things (Apokatastasis).
5. Colossians 1:19-20 – The reconciliation of all creation in Christ.
6. Romans 8:1-4 – The New Covenant reality of no condemnation in Christ.
7. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 – The inclusion of all humanity in Christ’s work.
8. Galatians 4:4-7 – Sonship and inclusion in the divine life.
9. John 17:21-23 – Jesus’ prayer for humanity’s union with the Trinity.

Theological Works Supporting the Article

1. T.F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ – A Trinitarian and Patristic understanding of the gospel as God’s self-revelation and reconciliation.
2. C. Baxter Kruger, Jesus and the Undoing of Adam – Discusses the gospel as inclusion in Christ’s finished work and the undoing of the Adamic condition. Available on Amazon -> HERE
3. Brad Jersak, A More Christlike God – Addresses misconceptions about the gospel and emphasizes the radical grace and inclusion of God’s love.
4. Baxter Kruger, The Great Dance – Explores the gospel as participation in the perichoretic life of the Trinity. Available on Amazon -> HERE
5. Jürgen Moltmann, The Coming of God – A theological reflection on universal restoration and the eschatological fulfillment of the gospel.