Why Is It Called the "Gospel"?

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

(1Co 15:1-8)

 

I've been taking a look at my Christianity page and noticed that one aspect of the faith wasn't quite emphasized, the fact that JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE AGAIN.

(Funny how it being the "Easter" season according to the catholic calendar gives us reminders, even when its christmas)

Yet, it's not as if I deny that Christ died and rose again.  I will gladly tell anyone and everyone who asks why Christ's death and resurrection is so important.  It's because of this:  Without Christ's death, we have NOTHING and NO ONE to defend us on the day of Judgment because of our own sins, even the tiniest being enough to throw us into Hell.  Without Christ's resurrection, how can we as sinners ever have life?

Consider these texts:

This is why it is important for Christ to die for our sins:

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

(In other words, without the shedding of blood, NO SIN CAN BE FORGIVEN.)

This is why it is important for Christ to be raised from the dead:

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

(1Co 15:12-18)

(In other words, without Christ being raised from the dead, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR US TO GO TO HEAVEN.)

So, back to my initial question:  Why is called the "gospel"?  In Greek, it literally translates to a "good message".  Many call it "good news".  This is also why the catholics call this day "Good" Friday, for it is GOOD that we have a payment for our sins!

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

According to The Century Dictionary, propitiation is another word for appeasement, that is, appeasing God:

that which furnishes a reason for not executing a punishment justly due for wrong-doing; specifically, in the New Testament, Christ himself, because his life and death furnish a ground for the forgiveness of sins.

We owe a debt because of our sin.  This debt, if paid on our own, is paid by our eternal torture in Hell.  Christ came to pay off our debt in full, thus satisfying God's judicial mandate for eternal life.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

(Rom 5:6-11)

This is why it's good news.  We're let off the hook for an eternal punishment we deserve.

"propitiation".  Wordnik.  https://www.wordnik.com/words/propitiation. Accessed 29 March 2024.