I still vividly remember the moment my husband, David, proposed to me. It was the summer before our final year at Moody Bible Institute. He had planned a special date, strolling through a rose garden and forest preserve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was chattering away about events at the Christian camp where I was working when, suddenly, David climbed a tree and began reading Scripture verses about betrothal.
Then, he climbed down, knelt on one knee, pulled out a beautiful ring, and asked me to marry him. That was 34 years ago—and to this day, my engagement ring remains one of my most treasured earthly possessions. For weeks after his proposal, I would often gaze at the diamond, mesmerized by the way it caught the light. I noticed how each facet reflected a different hue. When light enters a diamond, it bends, splits, and bounces within, producing a brilliant sparkle known as scintillation. The back-and-forth movement of light inside the gem creates a mesmerizing display of color and shine. There’s so much to behold in a diamond.
Yet the Gospel message is infinitely more beautiful and radiant than any diamond. Look closely, and you’ll see its scintillating shades of grace.
The Gospel is the good news that, though God’s created world has been marred and broken by sin, He sent His Son, Jesus, to take on human flesh, live a sinless life, and pay the just penalty for sin through His death and resurrection—for all who believe in Him. One day, Jesus will return to fully redeem and restore His people and all of creation.
The Apostle Paul encapsulates this message, writing:
“…Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”
(1 Corinthians 15:3b–4, ESV).
In essence, Paul is saying this Gospel is what the entire Old Testament pointed to—and it is of first importance. By faith in Christ, believers are justified, are being sanctified, and will one day be glorified.
Those in Christ are not only fully forgiven of all sin; they are also credited with Christ’s own righteousness. Paul writes, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
J.V. Fesko explains it this way:
“God makes Christ [become] sin in the same manner that we become the righteousness of God, namely, through imputation. … Christ bears our sin, and we receive Christ’s righteousness—His perfect law-keeping accredited to us.”
This is the beauty of justification. But the Gospel doesn’t stop there. Behold the ongoing facet. Believers are also being sanctified—made more like Christ. The Gospel continues to shape our thoughts, actions, relationships, and desires. The fruits of the Spirit begin to grow in us: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).
There is also a future facet of the Gospel: glorification. Salvation will be fully realized when Christ returns. Jesus gave this hope to His disciples:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms… I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also”
(John 14:1–3).
This promise is echoed in Revelation 22: “Behold, I am coming soon” (vv. 7, 12, 20).God will dwell with His redeemed people forever in the new creation.
These are just a few of the many beautiful facets of the Gospel. In Christ, believers also receive adoption into God’s family, regeneration (new birth), reconciliation with God and others, forgiveness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, transformed affections, and more. The Gospel is the royal story of King Jesus—victorious over sin and death, now reigning and seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 12:2).
Importantly, the Gospel also has a corporate dimension. Jesus came to reconcile to Himself a people from every tongue, tribe, and nation (Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 14:6). Those once alienated can now be brought near. Christ Himself is our peace, having broken down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:11–16).
Tim Keller captures it well:
“Because the Gospel is endlessly rich, it can handle the burden of being the one ‘main thing’ of a church. First Peter 1:12 and its context indicate that the angels never tire of looking into and exploring the wonders of the Gospel. It can be preached from innumerable stories, themes, and principles from all over the Bible.”
In his book Spiritual Depression, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to preach the Gospel to themselves daily. He writes, “There are certain things which have to be said over and over again, of necessity, and yet this is the marvel and wonder of the cross, that however many times a person may preach about it, he has never finished preaching about it. There is always something fresh to say, always something new. There is a great central message that is always there, but nothing is so wonderful as to see that one thing in different ways.”
So—which Gospel facet stands out to you today? Is there one you need to explore more deeply to mine its riches? I encourage you to spend time in God’s Word, beholding the endlessly rich beauty of the Gospel.
A Gospel Primer for Christians
Gospel. n. Good news of salvation for hell-deserving sinners through the Person and work of Jesus Christ
Primer. n. A book that introduces and explains the basic elements of a subject.
The gospel isn’t just for the unsaved—it’s for believers, too. The Apostle Paul told Christians in Rome that he was eager to preach the gospel to them, even though they already believed. Why? Because we never outgrow our need for the gospel. It’s a gift that keeps on giving everything we need for life and godliness. As one pastor wisely put it, “Preach the gospel to yourself every day.”
A Gospel Primer for Christians is designed to help you do just that. This thoughtfully written resource invites you to savor the wonders of God’s love and discover how the gospel transforms every area of life. This newly expanded edition features 31 “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily,” guiding you through Scripture to deepen your faith, clarify what you believe, and strengthen your heart with the good news of God’s grace.
Whether you’re new to the faith or a seasoned believer, this primer will become a treasured companion in your daily walk with Christ.