... I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ..." ~Paul the Apostle I Corinthians 15:1-4 NKJV

What is The Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16 KJV). All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23 KJV). The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 KJV). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV). Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31 KJV).

Indeed, the gospel is a mystery hidden for ages but now revealed in Christ. This mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, is now made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith (Romans 16:25-26 KJV). Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27 KJV). And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19 KJV). Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20 KJV).

Paul the Apostle simply explains what the Gospel is that he received and that he preached. He does this in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

"... I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ..." ~Paul the Apostle I Corinthians 15:1-4 NKJV

The Four Power Points of the Gospel

According to biblical teaching, the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be summarized in four key power points, each rooted in Scripture for deeper study. These points form the foundation for proclaiming the message that brings salvation and healing.

1. The Virgin Birth – Emphasizing Jesus' divine origin without human sin.
   (Isaiah 7:14 KJV: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
   Matthew 1:18-20 KJV: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
   Luke 1:30-35 KJV: "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.")
2. Christ’s Miracle Life Showing the Will of God – Demonstrating God's desire for wholeness and healing through Jesus' works.
   (Matthew 4:23-24 KJV: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
   John 10:37-38 KJV: "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him."
   Acts 10:38 KJV: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
   Mark 1:40-42 KJV: "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.")
3. The Shedding of His Innocent Blood for the Remission of Sins – Covering forgiveness of sins and provision for healing via the cross.
   (Matthew 26:28 KJV: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
   Hebrews 9:22 KJV: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
   Isaiah 53:5-6 KJV: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
   1 Peter 2:24 KJV: "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.")
4. The Resurrection/Ascension – Proving victory over death and enabling the indwelling Holy Spirit.
   (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
   Acts 1:9-11 KJV: "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
   Romans 8:11 KJV: "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
   John 20:27-29 KJV: "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.")

For practical tips on preaching these four power points, see this guide: The Wonderful Powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ PDF.

Obedience unto Faith: Now What Must I Do?

Obedience to the Gospel begins with the first step of faith: believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10 KJV).

Following this, the next act of obedience is water baptism for those who believe. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16 KJV). This is illustrated in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch: And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him (Acts 8:36-38 KJV). Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35 KJV). And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39 KJV).

Receiving the Holy Spirit: Ask, Seek, Knock

Through the process of salvation and obedience, believers are invited to ask, seek, and knock for the Holy Spirit, the Helper promised by Jesus, who provides gifts to empower and sustain us throughout life. The Holy Spirit is received by asking God in faith, as Jesus taught: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7-8 KJV). If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:11-13 KJV).

Jesus assures the provision of this Helper: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:16-17 KJV). But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26 KJV).

Scripture shows that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are often bestowed through prayer and the laying on of hands by believers. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17 KJV). When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:5-6 KJV). Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (1 Timothy 4:14 KJV).

Encourage this immediately after water baptism, as seen in the early church where new believers, fresh from baptism, received the Holy Spirit through prayer and laying on of hands to empower their walk. Expect and continue to seek everything that God has for you; He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).

Note: The laying on of hands is powerful, but God is not limited by the acts of men. If God wants you to have it, He will get it to you! Example: Acts 10:44-46. In this instance, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles who heard Peter's message before anyone laid hands on them, demonstrating that the Spirit's arrival is not solely dependent on the physical act of the laying on of hands.

The gifts and calling of the Spirit are given freely to edify the church and aid believers, not earned by works but by God's grace.

Additionally, these gifts and callings, once received, are without repentance (Ref. Romans 11:29) ... They are not taken away.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant... But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:1, 7-11 KJV). These gifts operate through prayer and faith, as seen in Acts: He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ... When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:2, 5-6 KJV).

God is faithful to provide all we need through persistent prayer: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:6 KJV). Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13 KJV).

Continue Unto Death

True discipleship requires continuing in the faith unto death, with Jesus as the ultimate example for all believers. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps (1 Peter 2:21 KJV). Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:22-23 KJV). As Jesus instructed, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23 KJV). This daily self-denial crucifies the flesh, aligns the will with God's, and empowers steadfast obedience amid trials.

To sustain this endurance, Scripture encourages fasting, prayer, and supplication, practices that humble the soul, sharpen spiritual discernment, and unlock divine strength and guidance. Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness, emerging victorious over Satan's temptations through reliance on God's Word (Matthew 4:1-11 KJV), demonstrating how fasting weakens fleshly desires and fortifies resistance to sin. The early church fasted and prayed to seek God's direction, resulting in the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul for ministry, showing these disciplines release heavenly empowerment and clarity for service (Acts 13:2-3 KJV). Through such practices, believers draw near to God, receive breakthroughs in trials, and cultivate a heart attuned to His voice.

Those who persevere to the end will receive the reward: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Matthew 24:13 KJV). Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Revelation 2:10 KJV). To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God (Revelation 2:7 KJV).

However, Scripture warns against falling away from the faith. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame (Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV). For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them (2 Peter 2:20-21 KJV). Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22 KJV).

For those of us who are saved, understand that many people attempt to discourage obedience. This is often the work of the enemy, fighting against the work of the Holy Spirit. People often say things like "it's not possible" through persecution, temptations of money, worldly desires, and more. Biblical examples from the New Testament include those who tried to hinder the apostles: the priests and captain of the temple arresting Peter and John after they preached the resurrection (Acts 4:1-3 KJV); the Jews in Thessalonica forming a mob and dragging Jason before the rulers, accusing Paul of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:5-7 KJV); Demetrius the silversmith inciting a riot in Ephesus over lost trade from idol-making, claiming the apostles' preaching threatened their livelihood (Acts 19:23-27 KJV); Elymas the sorcerer withstanding Paul and Barnabas, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith (Acts 13:8 KJV); and Demas forsaking Paul, having loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10 KJV).

But don't give in to them. He who continues shall receive a crown (Revelation 2:10 KJV). Greater works shall you do (John 14:12 KJV).

Yet, even for those who stumble and fall away, Scripture shows examples of forgiveness and restoration through humble prayer and repentance. Peter, after denying Jesus three times, wept bitterly and was restored through Jesus' intercessory prayer and loving reinstatement (Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-19 KJV). Similarly, Simon the sorcerer, who erred in seeking to purchase the Holy Spirit, was instructed to repent and pray to the Lord for forgiveness, with hope that his heart's intent might be pardoned (Acts 8:20-23 KJV).

If you think you have failed... Stop right there... Don't give in to the discouragement of the enemy... You know that God is Jesus and you know what he did for you on the cross... You know what is good to do... Now do that good thing and keep doing it. God rewards those who do well, bearing fruits of repentance. Zacchaeus, the chief publican, repented by giving half his goods to the poor and restoring fourfold what he had taken by false accusation; Jesus declared, "This day is salvation come to this house" (Luke 19:8-9 KJV). The prodigal son, returning in repentance, was welcomed by his father with the best robe, a ring, shoes, and a fatted calf feast, for "this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:22-24 KJV).

God bless you.

All praise, honor, and glory to God!

Romans 11:36