What is the gospel and how are we saved by the gospel?

 

The first four books of the New Testament are called the gospels. They are called the gospels because each one gives an account of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

We hear the preaching of the gospel, we believe the gospel, we obey the gospel, we are saved by 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:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

How do we obey the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus?

Simply stated,

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

We become dead to sin by crucifying our old sinful nature by repentance.  Our old sinful nature is buried in water baptism in Jesus name.  We are resurrected with a new holy nature when we are filled with the Spirit of Jesus, which is the Holy Ghost.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...

"Knowing this, that our old man [old sinful nature] is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin...

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:1-4, 6, 11

It is not enough that we simply believe the gospel, we must obey the gospel. (2Thessalonians 1:8). We cannot continue in sin and make it to heaven. (Romans 6:1-2).

It is not enough that we repent of our sins, we need to bury our sins in water baptism in Jesus name.  This is our covenant with Jesus. This is where His blood He shed is applied to our life to wash away our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16).

It is not enough that we repent and are baptized, we need to be filled with His Spirit. Then, we are not controlled by our sinful nature, but are controlled by His Spirit. Without His Spirit, we do not belong to Jesus. (Romans 8:9). The Holy Ghost gives us power over sin making us a witness of our new life in Jesus. His Spirit will resurrect us when Jesus returns for His church. 

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8