telling the whole story

what is the gospel?

I’ve asked this question in countless member interviews, coffee meetings, discipling contexts, and classroom settings as a pastor. And as I have, a way I’ve tried to help people grow as they answer—as controversial as it may sound—is not to limit the story of the good news to the cross. In other words, we need to be careful to tell the whole story.

You see, I don’t think the scandal of the cross makes sense outside of the larger story of what God is doing to save humanity and all creation. And if we miss recounting that story, we miss the full marvel, wonder, and joy that comes along with hearing, knowing, recounting, and sharing all that God is doing, and will do, for the world.

So, if you were to ask me, “What is the gospel?”, I’d share something along the lines of this:

The Gospel is the good news—the story—of what God has done to rescue and redeem sinners. The story begins with him creating a perfect and unbroken world, and setting a man and a woman in that world to be his representatives and rulers of all that he had created. They were to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth with people, cities, and cultures. As they began, God was an active part of their lives, in beautiful relationship, in a world of peace and wholeness. 

But then that first couple was tempted by a fallen angel named Satan to distrust God, and his design for them and the world. And because of that distrust, seeking to grab for more, they lost everything. And sin, brokenness, and death entered into the world. And since that moment, sin has stained every person, community, city, and culture. Humanity was lost to such a degree they could not save themselves.

But God wasn’t done being a part of the lives of all those he had created. He meant to rescue those who could not do so themselves. So he sent his one and only Son into the world, to be fully God and fully man. His Son’s name is Jesus, and his mission was to save humanity from their sins, and to restore all that had been broken. Jesus did this over 2,000 years ago, being born into this world, and living a perfect, sinless life so that he could be the perfect payment for the sins of all people: past, present, and future. He made that payment by laying down his life, dying on a cross, rising from the dead, and returning to sit at the right hand of the Father. And for anyone who bends their knee in submission to him and declares belief in him, he credits all his righteousness to them, takes all their sin, and removes all God’s wrath, and making them a part of his family!

One day, Jesus will return to finish this work of rescue that he began, so many centuries ago. He will fully restore this world, and fully set up his kingdom. And all of those over the centuries who have believed in him will then live in this restored creation in beautiful relationship with him, and each other, in perfect peace and wholeness. Forever.

A story of good news indeed.