The Gospel is Not a Self-Help Book

What is the gospel? To begin with what it is not, the gospel is not a way to become a better person. It is not a social justice mantra or the secret sauce to success. My go-to in answering this question is 1 Corinthians 3-4. Paul writes, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that 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.” The passage goes on recording to whom Jesus appeared post-resurrection, specific names of eyewitnesses that were still alive in the time of Paul’s writing. We have all heard that the gospel literally is translated as good news. It’s a message first before it is a way of life.