The gospel message – What are the essentials?

from the old testament

• The essentials of the gospel message are not found in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

• Paul preached the essentials of the gospel "which you received, in which you stand" (1 Corinthians 15:1). Those who believe in the gospel have eternal life.
• 1 Corinthians 15 offers an outline of the essentials of the gospel message.
• The first essential is that Christ died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). If He did not die, He could not have provided the necessary blood sacrifice for our sins and He could not resurrect. Yet His death was confirmed in many ways and by multiple eyewitnesses. Jesus was beaten, whipped, and nailed to a cross for public execution. When soldiers came to break his legs so Jesus would hang limp and stop breathing, they realized He had already died. This death was confirmed by piercing His heart with a spear, resulting in a flow of blood and water. All this happened “in accordance with the Scriptures” that foretold of His death for our sins.
• The second essential is that Jesus was buried (1 Corinthians 15:4). After His death, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body. It was wrapped in approximately 75 pounds of spices and wrapped in a burial cloth. His body was placed in a known tomb of a Jewish religious leader. The tomb was sealed by a rock too large for one person to move and was guarded by numerous Roman soldiers.
• The third essential is that Jesus was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:4). Paul noted this fact as being of utmost importance, writing, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. … And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17). If Christ had not been raised from the dead, everything He claimed would have had no validity. There would be no hope for us. Again, he rose from the dead “in accordance with the Scriptures.”
• The fourth essential is that Jesus appeared to many eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5). Listed in this account were the appearances to Peter (Cephas); the disciples; 500 eyewitnesses at one time, most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this letter; James; all the apostles; and to Paul. At least 513 different people saw Jesus alive again and the number was likely much higher. This is ample eyewitness evidence to confirm that Jesus was alive again.
• John 3:16 perhaps best summarizes the truth of the essential gospel message in which Jesus taught, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

implications for today

The essential elements of the gospel message are both simple enough that a child could understand it yet difficult for people to submit to. The message of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is straightforward, but accepting the full weight of what it means—acknowledging our sinfulness, needing a Savior, and placing our trust in Jesus—requires a deep humility. It challenges our pride and self-sufficiency, calling us to rely not on our own works but on the grace of God. In a culture that often elevates personal achievement and independence, it can be hard to fully embrace the simplicity of the gospel. Yet, this is where true freedom lies: in humbling ourselves before God and accepting His sacrifice for our sins. The gospel is not just something we believe in but something that transforms our lives, leading us to live in gratitude and obedience to the One who loved us enough to save us from our sin. All who believe in Him will be saved, and this simple truth holds the power to radically change our hearts and the world around us.