The gospel (“good tidings,” or “good news”) is an exclusive message because it heralds Jesus Christ as the only way to God (John 14:6). It is inclusive because, as Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
There are several good definitions of the gospel. They vary, but not in substance. It is a message about how sinners are saved — or it is a message about the good news of salvation, which is offered to mankind in the Word of truth by faith alone in the completed and final work of Christ Jesus on the cross.
James M. Boice wrote, “Christianity is the only faith in the world that is good news. The rest have to do with good works, self-helps, higher consciousness, etc.” Adrian Rogers once preached on the gospel and pointed out that Satan fought it (Galatians 1:6-7), God thought it (Galatians 1:11-12), Jesus bought it (Galatians 1:7), grace wrought it (Galatians 1:6), and Paul taught it (Galatians 1:9-10).
John Piper says that “what makes the gospel ‘good news’ is that it connects a person with the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).
Another definition explains that “the gospel is the good news about what Jesus Christ has done to reconcile sinners to God.”
The apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
God promised the good news from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). Some have referred to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as the gospel in a nutshell: “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you, as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
False gospels typically contain the message that faith in Christ is not enough to be saved, that works must accompany faith. Many years ago, H.A. Ironside referred to an illustration where the trip to heaven could be compared to a boatman with two oars (faith and works). Both were needed to steer the boat on a straight course. He said, “I have heard many preachers use that illustration to prove that we are saved by faith and works. That might do if we were going to heaven in a rowboat, but we are not. We are carried on the shoulders of the Shepherd, who came seeking lost sheep. When He finds them, He carries them home on His shoulders.”
Any “gospel” that does not adhere to Ephesians 2:8 is not good news at all. It is bad news. Works are a result of believing but are not a prerequisite to salvation. In fact, a believer is justified before he or she has done one single righteous work. Believing the gospel leads to the new birth, which begins a journey of faith and sanctification. When we are born again, we become disciples of Christ, which involves obedience to His Word, holiness in our conduct and rightly motivated good works (Ephesians 2:10).
In his book, “The Gospel According to Jesus,” John MacArthur writes in chapter two: “The gospel Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer.”
The gospel is the good news about God’s love (John 3:16). It is the story of Jesus, who died for sinners so that whoever repents and believes in Him will have true, eternal and abundant life. What do we do with this powerful, life-changing gospel? Live it! Tell it! The gospel is a message that should be loved and shared by God’s people. It is exclusive because there is only one Savior, and He is the only way to God. It is inclusive because anyone can come to Him.