WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT
Many people in evangelical churches remain unsaved because of the way the Gospel is presented. Many dedicated Christians present the Gospel in such a way that unsaved, unprepared people do not understand that they deserve only God's judgment, that salvation is completely God's work, and that sinners are unable to contribute anything towards their own salvation.
We distort and confuse the Gospel in people's understanding when we try to present the Gospel using terminology which turns people's attention to what they must DO rather than outward to what God has DONE on their behalf in Christ. We should use terminology which directs repentant sinners to what has been DONE FOR them through Christ rather than directing their attention to what must be done IN Them.
"Accept Jesus into your heart". "Give your heart to Jesus". "Give your life to Jesus". "Open the door of your heart to the Lord". "Ask Jesus to wash away your sins". "Make your decision for Christ". "Ask Jesus to give you eternal life". "Ask God to save you". These modern and commonly-used phrases confuse people's understanding of the Gospel.
In preparing people for the Gospel, they must be brought to the point where they realize they can do nothing. But even when people do understand their inability to do anything, many evangelists, missionaries, and preachers tell inquirers things such as "Now you must give your heart to Jesus". Having told them they are unable to do anything, then they tell them what they must do. The result? Confusion about the Gospel! People's interest and concern is turned inward to their own experience, instead of outward to trust ONLY in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection on their behalf.
Methods and terminology used in evangelism all over the world have so distorted the Gospel that Christians need to be taught afresh the basic fundamentals of God's saving work in Christ, so their presentation of the Gospel will be according to the Word of God. Even though many people have been saved under present evangelistic methods, many others have not clearly understood the Gospel. The message they heard so emphasized man's part in conversion that God's perfect finished work and complete provision for helpless sinners in Christ was not understood and believed.
WHAT THE GOSPEL IS
The Gospel is the good news through which God saves a repentant sinner. Being saved is a simple childlike "by faith" acceptance of;
"that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures" I Corinthians 15:3,4
Romans 1:3 tells us that the Gospel is God's good news concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Gospel is first and foremost about Christ. It is the message of the finished historical work of God in Christ. The Gospel is a work of the Godhead alone. Christ was "smitten of God....It pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief". The Lord made "his soul an offering for sin".
The question is; do you understand the Gospel in its pure form as a finished work of God in Christ on your behalf, and have you acknowledged to God that you understand and accept it?
These notes are from the "Firm Foundations, Creation to Christ" by Trevor McIlwain.