What Is the Gospel?

[soso]

What Is the Gospel?

Know the Good News—and Share It with Power

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/what-is-the-gospel/

듣기/동영상 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PSWeEJ3sK4&list=PLzzMcu25O6Rb11um1hTjwavMdINFaCssk&index=16

When you hear the word “gospel,” you may think /of a genre of music.

Or maybe you think /of an award.

But what is the gospel?

I didn’t understand it /growing up, even though I went /to church /as a kid.

“The gospel” was a nebulous term—God, Jesus, the church.

But as Christians, [the calling on all our lives] is [to share the gospel].

You could say () it’s the main reason () we’re breathing /today.

If we’re going to follow Jesus, we have to know [what the gospel is].

Paul the apostle wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel,

because it is the power of God //that brings salvation to everyone //who believes” (Romans 1:16, NIV).

What is the gospel?

It’s the good news about Jesus Christ.

And Paul said, “I’m not ashamed of it,

because that pure, true gospel message, when spoken /with the help of God in love,

has [the power /to change people’s lives].”

After Jesus rose /from the dead,

[the last thing () He talked about] was [His followers /going into all the world and sharing the gospel]

(see Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).

You’re into Bible study?

Good.

You love praise and worship?

I do, too.

But [the main reason () we’re here] is [to share the gospel]

—and time is running out /before Jesus returns.

Paul warned [us] [that, even back in his day, people were preaching another gospel].

It sounded like the gospel () Paul preached, and it mentioned Jesus, but it wasn’t the truth.

That’s still happening /today.

Over the centuries, people have added to or subtracted from the gospel.

“Come forward /today, join the church, and receive the right hand of fellowship.”

No, that’s not the gospel.

That’s [adding church membership].

Or people subtract [what isn’t popular]: “Repent /of your sins.”

Instead, they say, “Just follow your dream.

God loves you.

You don’t have to become anything or change anything.”

You won’t find that in Scripture.

But you will find [warnings about those //who preach another gospel] (see Galatians 1:6–9).

It cost [God] [His own Son] /to give us the gospel

—don’t you think () we should take time /to find out [what we have added or subtracted]?

The Bible is the acid test, especially today, when we’ve got every kind of gospel.

But study it /for yourself—don’t just believe me.

In fact, that’s a good rule: don’t believe any preacher /except with this one thought /in your mind:

“Where is that in the Bible?”

A lot of times, people are not being converted /to Christ /because we’re not preaching the real gospel.

But [the message of the good news] changes lives.

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16, NIV).

“Repent /of your sins” (see Acts 3:19).

“Believe in [the Lord Jesus Christ], and you’ll be saved” (see Acts 16:31).

If we’re going to share [the gospel], let’s share the one //that has power.

So, you ask, “Why are you telling me? I’m not an evangelist or a pastor.”

That’s the point!

How did the early church grow?

After Stephen, who God used powerfully, was stoned /by the religious leaders,

a great persecution rose against the church in Jerusalem.

So thousands of Christians scattered, and they “preached [the word] /wherever they went” (Acts 8:4, NIV).

They shared the good news of Jesus—God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, the cleansing of sin,

the second return of Christ, the promise of the Holy Spirit—the gospel!

You mean () they got up /in a pulpit?

No, that’s not [what “preached” means].

It means () they shared /in a conversational way.

So, what do we have here?

Sheep /reproducing sheep.

What would happen /to our churches today /if all the sheep started [reproducing sheep]?

Instead, we’ve made [church] [a spectator sport].

“The guys up there on the platform do [the work].

I sit there and watch.

If I like it, I might come back.

If I don’t like it, I don’t know—I’ve got to find [a church with a shorter service].

This thing’s too prolonged.”

Our calling—every Christian’s—is [to share the good news].

We can do it /on the phone.

We can do it /in person.

We can pray that God would lead us and give [us] [open doors] /to share it.

There’s no greater joy.

Listen, the angels don’t rejoice /when we have praise and worship.

They don’t rejoice /when we study the Scriptures, as wonderful as that is.

What does Scripture say?

“There is [rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God /over one sinner //who repents”] (Luke 15:10, NIV).

Let’s ask God to use us /to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

That’s [why we’re here].

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You /for giving [our lives] [purpose].

If the angels rejoice /over one sinner, then help [us] [to make heaven happy /today].

Bring [someone /across our paths //who needs to hear about You],

and give [us] [the courage /to share the gospel with them].

* 4 형식 giving [our lives] [purpose], give [us] [the courage /to share the gospel with them].

* 5 형식 help [us] [to make heaven happy /today], to make [heaven] [happy] /today. 

            ask [God] [to use us /to share the good news of Jesus Christ], 

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post /by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen /to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “Pass It On: Spreading the Gospel”
• Enjoy other resources to help you draw closer to God: “Harvest Time” and “Fresh Power”
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page