Gospel means “Good News.” It is an announcement of what God has done to save us, a remarkable truth that we could never learn from any other source than God’s saving Word.

What the Gospel announces is the profound truth that God saves sinners by his working, not theirs. He “justifies the ungodly” (Romans 4:5), saving them from their sin even while they yet remain sinners, declaring them as righteous, holy, and pure as his own sinless Son, Jesus, who took their place of punishment. And He does this by faith alone.

The Gospel of justification by faith alone is summarized clearly in our Heidelberg Catechism, question and answers 60 and 61, which discuss the righteousness of faith:

60.   Q. How are you righteous before God

        A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; that is, though my conscience accuse me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of mine, of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me; if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.

61.Q. Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?

        A. Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God, and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.