I don’t know who said this first, but “the gospel is simple and it takes theologians to complicate it.”
Recently I gave myself the challenge of presenting a comprehensive and jargon-free gospel in less than 400 words. That exercise got me thinking. What if we limited the gospel to just one word, or two words, or ten? Could it be done? Can you do it?
Throughout the Bible you will find short declarations of the Good News. Below I have listed short gospels from Paul, Peter, James, John and Jesus. I also have one each from Spurgeon and Calvin. But what I would really like to hear is yours. What is your short version of the gospel? Everyone should have one for those small windows of opportunity.
If you want to send in your short gospel (use the comment form below), remember three things: (1) The gospel is news – it’s an announcement, not an appeal. (2) The gospel is good news. There’s no bad news in the good news. Hell and judgment are real, but they’re not good news. (3) For maximum appeal, a good gospel should be simple. One famous theologian once summarized the gospel as adoption through propitiation. It’s a good summary but it has limited appeal. It won’t make much sense to the man in the street.
As we will see in below, the best short gospels use simple language and are self-explanatory:
1 word: Jesus! You cannot improve upon perfection and there’s no other name by which we’re saved (Acts 4:12). Grace and truth are found in Jesus. Jesus saves sinners and keeps Christians. Whatever your need, the answer is Jesus. Are you struggling with sin? Jesus is your victory. Are you suffering with illness? Jesus is your healing. Are you bound up with depression? Jesus is your freedom.
2 words: Christ alone! If we must add one word to the name “Jesus” or His proper title “Christ,” let it be the qualifier “alone.” He alone saves us. He doesn’t need our help, just our trust.
3 words: None but Jesus! If this was good enough for Spurgeon…
4 words: “Mercy triumphs over judgment!” ~ James 2:13. And just so you have no doubt as to where mercy comes from, James tells us: “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Jas 5:11).
5 words: “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That’s all Paul needed to know (1 Cor 2:1-5).
6 words: Saved by Christ; kept by Christ. Many Christians believe only the first part of that statement. They believe that Jesus gave them a fresh start, but not a new life. Instead of confessing their sonship, they are still confessing their sins. Instead of resting in the gift of his righteousness, they are striving to make themselves righteous through their good works, their self-denial, or their observance of traditions, rules and regulations. The good news is better than they think!
7 words: “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” ~ John 1:17. Think of a firefighter smashing through a concrete wall to save trapped orphans. That’s what Jesus did for us. When all hope was lost, He came. Now that’s good news!
8 words: “Christ died, was buried, then rose. He reigns!” ~ Paul (1 Cor 15:3-4,25). Everyone quotes the first 3 bits of Paul’s gospel and misses the punch-line. Read the whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. The good news is not just about what He’s done, but what He’s doing (He’s reigning!) and yet to do (until all His enemies have been put under His feet).
9 words: “I want to come in and be with you.” ~ Jesus (Rev 3:20). Religion offers carrots and sticks, but Jesus offers invitations.
10 words: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” ~ Jesus (Jn 14:6). As the song says, without the way there is no going, without the truth there is no knowing, and without the life, there is no living.
11 words: “When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train.” ~ David (Ps 68:19). Ever seen those movies where the good guy beats the bad guy but then foolishly forgets to check whether the villain’s really been neutralized? Jesus is not like that! He has enslaved slavery, bound bondage, and captured captivity. Where are Jesus’ foes? They’re in His train – shackled and disarmed!
12 words: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ~ Peter (Acts 2:36). The Messiah whom the Jews looked for, has been exalted, made supreme, so that our sins might be forgiven and the Holy Spirit given (see Acts 2:38)
20 words: “The Son of God became the Son of Man that the Sons of Men might become the Sons of God.” John Calvin may or may not have said this – I can’t verify the source – but it’s true and it’s good news.
And that’s it! What do you think? Can you convey the joy of the good news in just a few words? I would love to hear your short gospel.
“Jesus loves you and God is not mad at you!!!” (10 words)
Comment by Phil Bevilacqua — March 22, 2011 @ 3:42 pm |
Hi Paul…yes we do get carried away and removed from the simplicity we have in Christ
One word for me ‘Freedom’…from sin, sickness, curse, death.
Longer ‘Restored to eternal fellowship with God’
Comment by James Goss — March 22, 2011 @ 5:26 pm |
“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (11 Words) 1 John 1:5
Comment by Cornel Marais — March 22, 2011 @ 5:34 pm |
“Come! The sin barrier is down! I love you!” (9 words)
Comment by DK — March 22, 2011 @ 6:41 pm |
‘chillitisdone!!!’ I know, I know … I am cheating. Good one Paul, you are now cutting to the ‘bone’. We need to keep it simple and by limiting to a few words, what is in the heart becomes vivid! My short word(s) actually popped into my head a few weeks ago when I wanted to respond anonymously on a article in the newspaper. PS I just finished ‘Me, myself and Bob’ – excellent stuff! Very relevant in my own life and also very freeing.
Blessings, Muller
Comment by Muller — March 22, 2011 @ 8:24 pm |
What is heaven like? You can have it now because of Jesus.
What is hell like? You can stop experiencing it now because of Jesus.
Comment by jeremypenwarden — March 22, 2011 @ 8:26 pm |
It is finished
Comment by michael stieber — March 22, 2011 @ 10:55 pm |
you are forgiven
Comment by michael stieber — March 22, 2011 @ 11:03 pm |
(Extra Extra) read all about it-GRACE-LOVE-JOY-free today.
(SEE JESUS)
Comment by Michael D — March 23, 2011 @ 12:23 am |
“God, in Christ, has forgiven you!” (6 words)
Comment by Drew — March 23, 2011 @ 4:16 am |
Three words: “It is finished!”
Comment by Asha — March 23, 2011 @ 4:17 am |
“Good LORD, this post just saved my life!” (8 words)
Comment by Roshan — March 23, 2011 @ 9:48 am |
In the Gospel, Jesus is the main character but truly the GOSPEL is about the LOVE of God (John 3:16) and the POWER of God to salvation (Rom 1:16). Its about GOD – simple.
Comment by Eric — March 23, 2011 @ 2:31 pm |
“In Jesus, I am forgiven forever for everything!” (8 words) I know it’s not a verse, but it’s the greatest news for me. ^_^
Comment by irlsgirl — March 24, 2011 @ 1:40 am |
The gospel of the finished and perfect work of Jesus that has taken away the sin of the world, breaks the power and dominion of sin, making us identical to Jesus, purging our conscience from dead works of self-righteousness, so that we may dwell in the secret place of the most High (Christ) and enjoy our union with Father in spirit and truth, being fully blessed, healed, and thoroughly prepared for every good work.
Comment by Jeff Pate — March 24, 2011 @ 10:25 am |
I love the Corrie Ten Boom quote: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”
Comment by Brian — March 24, 2011 @ 2:39 pm |
Jesus loves me/you, this covers everything.
Comment by dee — March 26, 2011 @ 6:03 pm |
Because of the cross, God looks, thinks, feels, perceives, and surprises exactly like you…unceasingly. This is the Good News!
Comment by Roshan Easo — March 27, 2011 @ 3:13 pm |
And He speaks like you too! Because of the cross!
Comment by Roshan Easo — March 27, 2011 @ 4:05 pm |
Receive Christ and you will be as clean as He is, as free as He is as and as close as He is to Father God. And that is clooooooooooooooooose. Right in there.
Comment by Steve Scrim — March 31, 2011 @ 8:24 pm |
If its not grace, its not Jesus!
Comment by Rudy Rodriguez — April 29, 2011 @ 12:37 pm |
Thanks to Jesus its a whole new world! (The happy gospel, by Benjamin Dunn)
Comment by Keisha — June 8, 2011 @ 3:03 am |
“I will love them freely.” (Hosea 14:4)
Comment by Drew Bryden — October 22, 2011 @ 11:37 pm |
In God’s family forever by His work and power.
Comment by Miriam — October 28, 2011 @ 4:18 pm |
Amen! Good one Miriam.
Comment by Paul Ellis — October 29, 2011 @ 8:17 pm |
I proclaim the supremecy of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God for all time and for all peoples in all places over all enemies and all circumstances; being well able to abundantly meet every need!!!
Comment by Gregg Scheibel — November 22, 2011 @ 4:22 pm |
Wouldn’t it be John 3:16? 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.
Comment by Duncan Tee — January 18, 2012 @ 1:45 am |
Paul, I left a comment on this thread but it never got accepted or you rejected it without a response/feedback. Can you please comment on that?
Carl
Comment by Carl Garrett — January 18, 2012 @ 3:41 pm |
Hi Carl. Most of your comments were violating my comment policy (“Keep it ad free”). Since you were new here, I turned a blind eye. But eventually I had to draw the line. WordPress allows you to put your website in your identifier. That should be sufficient.
Comment by Paul Ellis — January 18, 2012 @ 4:30 pm |
Jesus loves All Always…
Comment by Mary Priscilla — January 20, 2012 @ 7:28 pm |
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Karl Barth (1962)
Comment by Jim — January 25, 2012 @ 7:25 am |
“God loves you”
Comment by Brian — January 31, 2012 @ 7:12 am |
GOD looks at you as JESUS.we are given new name JESUS
Comment by RAJESH — January 31, 2012 @ 1:27 pm |
I love this site and here in Michigan 1000′s of Christians were wearing 2word story badges last year. It was amazing how many people asked me what mine meant. Rest? Rest We were supposed to have a short testimony to answer people who asked. My answer was I can rest because God did the rest for me. It lead to some good discussions. It is worth a google to check it out. World wide it would be awsum
Comment by Daja — March 4, 2012 @ 8:27 pm |
Christ in me – the hope of glory .
Comment by Beena Paul — March 12, 2012 @ 11:25 pm |
God is love! He loved us thro Christ while we were yet sinners!
Comment by Joe Ntibi — April 19, 2012 @ 6:08 pm |
“Wholeness and Freedom”
Comment by Mike Vosburg — May 17, 2012 @ 11:00 am |