The Gospel According to Scripture

We are going to recap how to preach the gospel according to the scriptures. As we look at these examples, I encourage you to ponder if you have heard this gospel that is in scripture.

John the Baptizer: When we look at who John is speaking to in Matthew 3, we see that it was most likely Jewish people, and we know it was the leadership of Israel. He was preaching repentance to people who would have known what that word meant. But apparently, the leadership didn't understand they had to hold fast to it. A takeaway from John's preaching is the importance of continual obedience after baptism. John says,

Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:8-10 NASB

Jesus: Jesus preached the same message: Repent. Along with the message of repentance, He gave His followers a detailed way to live. We concluded that study with John 14, where Jesus tells us if we love Him, we will keep His commandments, the Father will love us, and they will make their home with us. He tells us the Father will give us the Holy Spirit to help us live the life of obedience. Then in Matthew 28, He tells His disciples to do this,

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NASB

We are to go do the same, if we are not, then we are disobedient. Hebrews 3:18-19 tells us disobedience is unbelief.

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:18-19 NASB

Peter: Next is Peter. Once again, we see Peter speaking to Jewish people. Scripture tells us they were devout Jews. Peter used the Word of God from the prophets to preach to these people. It got their attention, and He tells them what to do to take part in the prophecies. When they asked what to do,

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 NASB

The people who believed obeyed and got baptized on the same day.

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousandsouls.
Acts 2:41 NASB

Paul: In Acts 17:30-31, Paul tells us that the times of ignorance are over. He states God is calling everyone to repentance, and he speaks of judgment day coming.

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Acts 17:22-31 NASB

This is what judgment day is going to look like.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15 NASB

We see that we are going to be judged on our deeds.

From Strong’s Lexicon: The word “deeds” is the Greek word ergon (2041); it means works, task, employment, action, that which is wrought or made.
From HELPS Word-studies: 2041 érgon (from ergō, "to work, accomplish"): a work or worker who accomplishes something. 2041/érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intention, purpose).

It doesn't say we will be judged on what we think or what our intentions are; it says we will be judged on what we do, our everyday actions in life. Think about how you spend your time; what do you say out of your mouth; what are you devoting your life to? These are the things we will be judged on. Scripture also says we will be judged on every careless word we speak.

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36-37 NASB

This is the gospel in scripture. If you have not repented, been baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit, but desire to be a disciple of Jesus, you need to do what the scripture says to be obedient.

References:

Strong’s Lexicon: Biblehub.com

1 Heart 1 MindApril 28, 2025