The early-church word “gospel” simply means good news, yet even Christians sometimes struggle to state it clearly. This message—news about what God has done in Jesus—is the lifeblood of Christian mission, the yard-stick of authentic evangelism, and the anchor of personal assurance. In this overview we follow Paul’s pattern (especially Romans 1–4) to set out the gospel’s four indispensable notes and consider why keeping them straight matters for your own soul and for anyone you hope to reach this week.
God, Man, Christ, Response
Imagine a masterpiece in a gallery:
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The Frame (God). Everything begins with the Creator who owns the universe, sets the standards and will judge every person.
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The Mount (Man). Humanity has rejected that rule; moral darkness is the backdrop against which the picture hangs. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom 3 :10).
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The Painting (Christ). In sheer mercy the Father sent His Son to live the flawless life we never lived, die the wrath-bearing death we deserved, and rise triumphant on the third day.
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The Viewer’s Step (Response). God commands every hearer to turn from self-rule and trust this crucified-and-risen King. Faith—nothing we do—joins us to Jesus and counts His righteousness as ours.
Through that faith:
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We share His new life (1 Pet 1 :3).
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The empty tomb guarantees our justification (Rom 4 :25).
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His resurrection is the first-fruits of our own bodily resurrection, securing an imperishable future (1 Cor 15 :20–23).
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The same power that raised Jesus now empowers daily obedience (Eph 1 :19-20).
Knowing this, we must avoid blurring gospel message and gospel results. Acts of mercy, cultural engagement or social reform all have their place, yet without announcing Christ crucified and risen they are not evangelism. The apostolic priority is to speak the news—then watch God use that news to transform lives and societies from the inside out.
So ask: Have you personally responded? Are you still resting on Christ alone? And as you step into conversations this week, let the four notes keep you on pitch—offering Galway not advice but news that God has already acted in Jesus “of first importance” for sinners like us.
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