Romans 1:1 – 4 - Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

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It is important to remember that the good seed of the gospel is for men, but it is not about men.  The gospel is about one man, Jesus Christ the righteous.  The gospel concerns the Son of God.  It concerns His eternal divine person, the veiling of His eternal glory in the incarnation as He became flesh and dwelt among us, the sinlessness of His victorious life in the flesh, His obedience to death for the offences of His people, and His resurrection for their justification, as well as His ascension to the right hand of the Father to receive the kingdom of God over which He presides as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, as well as His glorious return in power and judgment to raise His own people to sit in glory with Him and to put all of His enemies under His feet in total subjugation.  1 Peter 3:22 - Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

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When we attempt to summarize the gospel, we must be careful that do not mar its truth or character.  The gospel may sometimes be misrepresented by pithy statements such as “the good news that Jesus died for our sins”, but these summations fall short of the gospel in ways that have serious consequences.  The gospel, when believed, is the power of God unto salvation.  That means when we say the gospel is such and such, whatever statement follows must be able to accomplish in those who believe it, that which God has declared the true gospel accomplishes.  If someone believes Jesus died for their sins, are they guaranteed eternal life?  Faith in that form of the gospel fails to meet the scriptural definition of faith, and thereby fails to bring men to a true and living faith that can justify them.  Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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Peter declares that the gospel he preached met both of these scriptural qualifications.  2 Peter 1:16 - For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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The power of Jesus is His authority over all heaven and earth given by the Father which is yet unseen to us but evidenced by God, and His future coming at His appearing and Kingdom is the substance of things hoped for that are yet future to our own time.  Hebrews 11:6 - 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.

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The best way to summarize the gospel is given by John in the scriptures as the Holy spirit echoes through Him that which we hear of the Father on the mount of transfiguration.  1 John 5:10 - He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

The gospel, simply put, is the record God gave concerning His Son.  Luke 9:35 - And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

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The gospel of Jesus Christ does not ask men to make Jesus Lord of their lives or ask them what they will do with Jesus at all.  It declares the truth of Jesus Christ to men and commands them to receive that announcement in faith.  Acts 2:36 - Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

God has declared to men that Jesus is God in the flesh, that He reigns with power over all creation by the will of the Father, that He is returning in judgment, that all who accept this record and announcement in faith are to receive the promise of eternal life, and that all who reject the truth of this declaration are to be eternally condemned for their disobedience and unbelief.  2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 9 - And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

 

Jesus has conquered death and the grave, He will deliver His people from sin and death, He will put down all creatures and powers that exalt themselves against God, and He has won the victory over Satan, sin, and death.  That announcement of this good message about the Son of God is what is called in Scripture The Gospel.  Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;