The Gospel of Jesus Christ that Saves

The third chapter of Romans contains arguably the most important passage in the entire Bible. Specifically, verses 19 through 26 clearly lay out the gospel of Christ that has the power to save a soul from hell today (Rom 1:16).  

While the gospel is most succinctly found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 3 gives additional depth and details to the gospel not found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In tandem, these two passages are essential evangelism tools and the best places to show anyone how to be saved from the Bible.

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” - Romans 3:19-26

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

As seen in these two passages, salvation is by the grace of God through faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Though God's justice demands our blood and life to atone for our sin, in Christ, he gave his own on the cross for us to die the death we deserved; therefore, being just and the justifier for those that have faith in his finished cross-work. Through his resurrection, he saves us from eternal damnation and gives us the hope of bodily redemption and a present possession of salvation. Faith in what Jesus has done on the cross for us to pay for our sin ensures our salvation today in the dispensation of grace, not any works of righteousness that we do.

Here are some other helpful passages for evangelism that may prove useful in bolstering the truth of the gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 3:21-26: Romans 4:4-5, 4:24-25, 5:1-11, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:12-14, 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9-10, Titus 3:3-7.

The gospel is simple to understand (2Co 11:3-4) but is oftentimes muddied and corrupted with vague “Christianese” language like “asking Jesus into your heart”, “accepting Jesus”, or “becoming a follower of Jesus” which don’t save a single soul from hell. Let us do the important work of clarifying the gospel through the clear testimony of scripture so that people aren’t trusting in the wrong gospel (Gal 1:6-9)!