The Gospel "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ"
The Good News
Rom. 1:16 says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The Apostle Paul relates to us that he isn't ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it is God's power of saving us from sin. The word "gospel" means "good news". What is this good news or gospel of Jesus Christ that saves us?
In I Cor. 15:1-4, the Bible tells us what the gospel is. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." The gospel is the death, burial, and ressurection of Jesus Christ. Paul told the church at Corinth that they were saved by that gospel. What does the gospel save us from?
Rom. 3:23 tell us that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin is simply the transgression of God's law (I Jn. 3:4), and we are all guilty of it. That is a problem for all of us because, as Rom. 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Death, and eternal punishment in hell is the "wages" that awaits the sinner. But that same verse also tells us that we can have eternal life through Christ.
In I Cor. 15:1-4, the Bible tells us what the gospel is. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." The gospel is the death, burial, and ressurection of Jesus Christ. Paul told the church at Corinth that they were saved by that gospel. What does the gospel save us from?
Rom. 3:23 tell us that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Sin is simply the transgression of God's law (I Jn. 3:4), and we are all guilty of it. That is a problem for all of us because, as Rom. 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Death, and eternal punishment in hell is the "wages" that awaits the sinner. But that same verse also tells us that we can have eternal life through Christ.
Hearing the Word
Rom 10:17 says "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The first step in responding to the gospel is to hear it. God has chosen preaching as the means by which we hear the gospel. Once we hear the gospel, we then have the choice of either accepting or rejecting it.
Belief
Belief in God and his son. Heb. 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must believe that God is the one true and living God, and that he rewards those who diligently seek to serve and obey him.
Repentance
Next, we must recognize the fact that we are sinners, and repent of that sin. Acts 17:30 says "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." To repent means simply to turn away from our life of sin. We must leave that old life behind and start a new life of serving God.
Confession
Confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is essential. Rom. 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." An example of this kind of confession can be found it Acts 8:37.
Baptism
Lastly, we must be obedient to the gospel in baptism. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." He tells us that we must be baptized to be saved (I Pet. 3:21). Baptism is no more or less important than the other steps we've talked about, but it is the the point at which the blood of Christ cleanses us from our sins. It is through baptism that we obey a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:3-6, 17-18).
Obedience
How important is it that we obey the Gospel of Christ? That answer is given many times in the scriptures, but never more clearly than in II Thessalonians 1:7-9, when the Word of God says, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" Surely we can see how important it is that we obey the Gospel, and become a child of God.