For insight into a Biblical understanding of the gospel, I recommend to you Greg Gilbert’s new book,
What is the Gospel? It provides a concise presentation of the gospel that will offer hope to non-believers and serve as a reminder and source of encouragement to believers.
Gilbert presents the gospel around four major points: God, man, Christ, and response. He argues that these keys points provide a jumping off place for answers to four crucial questions.
1. Who made us, and to whom are we accountable?
2. What is our problem? In other words, are we in trouble and why?
3. What is God’s solution to that problem? How has he acted to save us from it?
4. How do I—myself, right here, right now—how do I come to be included in that salvation? What makes this good news for me and not just for someone else?
This outline is valuable in two ways. First, it makes for a clear and logical flow to the presentation. Second, it is memorable and thus useful when given the opportunity to share the gospel.
Finally, it is always good to reread and study the gospel. It is encouraging! It is GOOD NEWS!
