As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors, sharing the life-changing message of the gospel with those around us. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” But sometimes, we may feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to effectively communicate this profound truth. In this article, we’ll explore a simple, straightforward gospel message that you can easily remember and present as you share Jesus with others.
The Core of the Gospel Message
1. God’s Love and Purpose
The foundation of the gospel is God’s incredible love for humanity. John 3:16 beautifully encapsulates this truth: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God created us to have a relationship with Him and to experience His love, joy, and purpose in our lives.
2. The Problem of Sin
However, sin has separated us from God. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This separation has consequences, as Romans 6:23 explains: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3. Jesus: The Solution
God, in His great love and mercy, provided the solution to our sin problem through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again, conquering death and offering us new life.
4. Our Response: Faith and Repentance
To receive this gift of salvation, we must respond in faith and repentance. Acts 3:19 urges, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” And Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Presenting the Gospel: A Simple Approach
Now that we’ve outlined the core elements of the gospel, let’s break it down into a simple, memorable format you can use when sharing Jesus with others. Remember the acronym GOSPEL:
G – God’s Love
Start by sharing about God’s love and His desire for a relationship with us. You might say something like, “God loves you deeply and has an amazing plan for your life. He created you to know Him personally and to experience His love and purpose.”
O – Our Sin
Explain how sin has created a barrier between us and God. You could say, “But there’s a problem. We’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard. This sin separates us from God and leads to spiritual death.”
S – Sacrifice of Jesus
Share how Jesus is the solution to our sin problem. For example, “God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to bridge the gap between us and Him. Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.”
P – Power of Resurrection
Emphasise the power of Jesus’ resurrection. You might say, “But the story doesn’t end there! Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. Through His resurrection, He offers us new life and the power to live for God.”
E – Embrace by Faith
Explain how we can receive this gift of salvation. “To receive this new life, we need to embrace Jesus by faith. This means believing in Him, turning from our sins, and inviting Him to be the Lord of our lives.”
L – Life Transformed
Finally, share about the transformed life that comes from following Jesus. “When we put our faith in Jesus, He forgives our sins, gives us His Holy Spirit, and begins to transform our lives from the inside out. We become part of God’s family and begin an exciting journey of growing in His love and purpose.”
The Supernatural Dimension of the Gospel
As we share this simple gospel message, it’s important to remember that we’re not just conveying information—we’re participating in a supernatural encounter. The Holy Spirit is actively working to draw people to Jesus. John 16:8 tells us that the Holy Spirit will “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.”
The Power of the Holy Spirit
When we share the gospel, we can expect the Holy Spirit to move in powerful ways. This might include:
- Divine appointments: God may supernaturally arrange encounters with people who are ready to hear the gospel.
- Supernatural revelation: The Holy Spirit may give you specific insights or words of knowledge about the person you’re speaking with, demonstrating God’s personal love for them.
- Miraculous signs: As Mark 16:17-18 suggests, signs and wonders may accompany the preaching of the gospel, confirming its truth.
- Spiritual warfare: Be aware that sharing the gospel often involves spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Practical Tips for Sharing the Gospel
- Pray for opportunities: Ask God to lead you to people who are open to hearing about Jesus.
- Listen and build relationships: Take time to genuinely listen to people and show them God’s love through your actions.
- Share your testimony: Your personal story of how Jesus has changed your life can be a powerful way to connect the gospel to real-life experiences.
- Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit: Pay attention to the Spirit’s leading as you share. He may guide you to emphasise certain aspects of the gospel or to pray for specific needs.
- Use Scripture: The Word of God is powerful. Memorise key verses to support your presentation of the gospel.
- Be prepared for questions: Study common objections to the gospel and how to address them lovingly and biblically.
- Offer to pray: Ask if you can pray for the person, demonstrating God’s love and power in a tangible way.
The Ongoing Journey of Faith
Remember that sharing the gospel is often just the beginning of a person’s journey with Jesus. As people respond to the gospel message, be prepared to:
- Disciple new believers: Help them grow in their faith through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.
- Introduce them to the church community: Encourage new believers to connect with a local church where they can be nurtured and grow.
- Teach about the baptism in the Holy Spirit: Share about the empowerment available through the Holy Spirit for living the Christian life and ministering to others.
- Encourage the use of spiritual gifts: Help new believers discover and use their God-given spiritual gifts to serve others and build up the body of Christ.
- Model a life of faith and obedience: Show them what it looks like to walk closely with Jesus in everyday life.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The simple gospel message we’ve explored is the power of God for salvation. As you internalise this message and share it with others, remember that you’re not alone. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I encourage you to take the following steps:
- Memorise the GOSPEL acronym and practice sharing it with a fellow believer.
- Pray daily for opportunities to share Jesus with others.
- Step out in faith and share the gospel with at least one person this week.
- Trust the Holy Spirit to work through you and to confirm the message with His power.
As you faithfully share this life-changing message, may you experience the joy of seeing lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Remember the words of Daniel 12:3, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
Let’s go forth boldly, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to share the simple yet profound message of Jesus’ love and salvation with a world in desperate need of hope.
