What’s the Good News? The Gift

Nine evangelical leaders define the gospel.

Intro | Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

The Gift

The good news is that we have been granted positive favor in God’s sight and given eternal life.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news. Holy Scripture teaches that God has revealed himself to us in Christ (John 1:1,14), who has provided salvation for sinners. Salvation is a free gift of God, and it cannot be merited by our good behavior (Romans 3:22-24). The gospel declares that this gift is not the culmination of humanity’s quest for God, but that salvation resides in the loving initiative of God toward men and women (Ephesians 1:4-7).

The gospel maintains that men and women, who have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, can be declared righteous through faith. Experientially we still sin, but God views believers in Christ as totally righteous. Because Christ’s death provided for sinners a sinless substitutionary sacrifice that satisfies divine justice and makes known God’s holy love, God no longer counts our sins against us (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). The good news is that we have received more than pardon; we have been granted positive favor in God’s sight, and given eternal life.

As God’s grace in Christ brings us to God, it also enables believers to continue and complete this spiritual pilgrimage. Grace comes to us while we are still in our sins and brings about a marvelous transformation by God’s Spirit, which is based on the accomplished work of Christ on the cross. Thus the gospel not only involves believing the revealed truth about Christ, but it also includes calling the church to purity, holiness, and faithfulness in this world, granting hope to believers while awaiting the consummation of God’s redemptive plan for his Creation.

David S. Dockery is president of Union University, Jackson, Tennessee.

Next: Wonderful News: Ajith Fernando

Send us email!
Send us email!

Copyright © 2000 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Have We Become Too Busy With Death?' As AIDS kills 4,900 Africans daily, Christians there struggle not only against the killer virus, but against spiritual exhaustion.

Cover Story

What's the Good News?

Cover Story

Have We Become Too Busy With Death?

What's the Good News? A Mystery Revealed

Your World:Psalm 23 and All That

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from February 07, 2000

Popular Culture:Take a Little Time Out

An Elder Statesman’s Plea

First Pages:Dad's New Prayer Hobby

In Summary:Biblical Studies

The Back Page | Philip Yancey:Would Jesus Worship Here?

What's the Good News? Reconciling Love

T.D. Jakes Feels Your Pain

What's the Good News? For Us—and Creation

What's the Good News? Wonderful News

Did Jesus Really Descend to Hell?

What's the Good News? The Truest Story

What's the Good News? Divine Fellowship

What's the Good News? Mighty to Save

What's the Good News? Good News of Jesus

The Gospel Statement Revisited

Apologetics Journal Criticizes Jakes

Walking Where Lewis Walked

A Peacemaker in Provo

Mere Mormonism

Might for Right?

The Back Page | Philip Yancey:Would Jesus Worship Here?

Southern Baptists: Evangelism in Chicago stirs debate

Wire Story

Indonesia:2,000 Die in Muslim-Christian Conflict

Videos of Hate

States Discuss Marriage Laws

Bioethics:New Stem-Cell Research Guidelines Criticized

Updates

Business:Thomas Nelson Buys 60 Percent of New Life Treatment Centers

People:North America

Comics:The End of the Peanuts Parables

House Chaplaincy Stirs Catholic Controversy

Law:Do Computers Cross the Church-State Divide?

Wire Story

Orthodox Leaders Closer to Unity

'Sexual Revolution,' AIDS, and the African Church

Nigeria:Churches Challenge Islamic Law

Arrests of Pastor Signal Religious Freedom Setback

Sweden:Lutheran Church, State Divide

Jubilee 2000:Poor Nations Get Debt Relief

Briefs:The World

20 Copts Die as Village Tensions Flare

Church Leaders Confront AIDS

Letters

God vs. God

View issue

Our Latest

Justices Debate Christian Therapist’s Challenge to ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban

Colorado evangelical Kaley Chiles calls the law a violation of her free speech.

Wire Story

Tony Evans Will No Longer Pastor Dallas Megachurch After Restoration

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship announced that its pastor of 48 years won’t return to leadership. The church expects son Jonathan Evans to succeed him.

You Don’t Have to Be Radical

Most Christians aren’t monks, missionaries, or martyrs. We’re unimpressive and unsatisfactory—yet saved by God’s scandalous grace.

From a Village of Bandits to a Village of the Gospel

Stuartpuram in India’s Andhra Pradesh was once known for its armed robbers. Then the gospel changed them.

Preservation Grants Help Black Churches Hold On to Their History

Over a hundred congregations have received up to a half-million dollars to repair deteriorating buildings and restore their place in their communities.

Four Truths About God for Children Who Can’t Sleep

And for the grownups—that’s all of us—who never outgrow their need for his presence around the clock.

News

Two Years After October 7, Christians See Fruit amid the Suffering

Churches in Israel and Egypt provide food, aid, and a listening ear to those scarred by war.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube