The Gospel - the good news about Jesus

        The gospel is God's message to lost humanity. Its content concerns the Kingdom of God. The message states: "The time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel." These words may seem strange to us, but to a Jew living in the first century, they were easily understood.
        The gospel message concerns the coming Kingdom of God. God's covenant (the word refers to an agreement between two parties) with the people of Israel promised that one day he would dwell with those who seek to know him, giving them complete and eternal access into his presence. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, made this a reality for all humanity - to Jews first and then to all of us. Jesus both announced this new agreement (the gospel) and made it real for us. The Kingdom is a now reality; we are even now eternally secure in the arms of our creator God. Our security and his eternal friendship is freely ours for the asking through Jesus, by grace (as a free gift from God) through faith (a reliance on the person and work of Christ).
 
The gospel frames Christian belief
    Biblical theology is best framed by the inherent structure of the gospel:

• Introduction. The present state: God - person and work. Humanity - nature and sin. The creation.
  
• The time is fulfilled. Jesus, through his person and work, prepares for the realization of the Kingdom of God.
  
• The Kingdom of God at hand. The person of the Holy Spirit and his seven-fold work in the here and now - regeneration, mystical union, sanctification, providence, revelation, fellowship and ministry. The realization of all things in Christ's return.
  
• Repent and believe. The necessary human response of repentance and faith, along with our journey of discipleship.

The Basics series - Christian belief