What Is the
Gos•pel?
Study Guide
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What Is the
Gos •pel?
Study Guide
Greg Gilbert
with Alex Duke
W H E AT O N , I L L I N O I S
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What Is the Gospel? Study Guide
Copyright © 2020 by Gregory D. Gilbert
Published by C rossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.
Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.
Cover design: Dual Identity Design
First printing 2020
Printed in the United States of America
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry
of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.
Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6825-1
Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
BP 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Preface 7
Introduction 9
1 Finding the Gospel in the Bible 13
2 God the Righteous Creator 19
3 Man the Sinner 23
4 Jesus Christ the Savior 27
5 Response—Faith and Repentance 31
6 The Kingdom 37
7 Keeping the Cross at the Center 43
8 The Power of the Gospel 49
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Preface
When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite play-
ground digs was about spelling: “Don’t say words you can’t
spell!” For unathletic kids like me, this was the best we
could do.
Years later, I no longer hurl this command at belittling bul-
lies, but I remain a fan of its ethos. We should know how to
spell the words we say. But, for the purposes of this book, I want
to update the saying a bit: “Don’t say words you can’t define.”
In our era of rejuvenated gospel-centrality, it might sound
surprising to you that “gospel” is precisely one of those
words. We say it a lot, but I wonder if we can define it. We
hear it a lot, but if next Sunday you asked ten church mem-
bers to tell you what it means, I wonder if you wouldn’t get
ten different answers.
For nearly a decade now, Greg Gilbert’s What Is the Gospel?
has helped Christians and non-Christians alike with this prob-
lem. He has helped us to look to God’s Word for our definition
of this all-important word: gospel.
We’ve written this accompanying study guide for one sim-
ple reason: to guide you through that book. The structure is
not complicated; the goals are not lofty. It simply walks chap-
ter by chapter through the book, forcing you as the reader to
slow down and consider what you’ve read. These questions
are less about content and more about contemplation; less
about right answers and more about honest reflection.
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8 Preface
Who’s it for? I suppose any Christian will profit both
from Greg’s book and dwelling on the truths of the gospel.
But, more pointedly, this study guide is probably best suited
for non-Christians or new Christians. Non-Christians will
be pushed to consider their standing before the God who
made them; they’ll be asked to consider what they place their
ultimate trust in, and why no answer except the gospel can
suffice. New Christians will be instructed in the elementals
of their faith; by dwelling on the gospel, they’ll lay kindling
on their growing affections for Christ.
How do you use it? Alone? One-on-one? In small groups?
It doesn’t matter. Hopefully, older church members will use
this to disciple younger church members, and Christians
will use it to evangelize non-Christians. Beyond that, who
knows? The Lord is honored as his people sow the seed of
the gospel.
There’s that word again—gospel. Do you know what it
means? I hope so. That’s an important question. But there’s
a still more crucial question to consider: Do you believe it?
May God grant many eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts
softened to believe.
Alex Duke
September 2019
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Introduction
What Is the Gospel? Summary
There are a lot of definitions of “the gospel.” Because some
definitions are better than others, we must be discerning.
A clear and biblical understanding of the gospel will cause
Christians to swell with praise and joy, to grow in confidence
as they talk about their faith, and to make sure their churches
defend and uphold biblical truth. Similarly, understanding
the gospel rightly will provoke non-Christians to think and
respond in an informed manner.
Key Texts
Ephesians 3:7–12
1. In your own words, what is the good news of Christianity?
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10 Introduction
2. On pages 18–20, the author lists several explanations
of “the gospel.” Do you recognize any of them? Which
descriptions seem clear to you, and which seem unclear?
3. How would preserving the edges of the gospel affect our
daily lives, our witness, and our confidence? Why is this
clarity vital? (See pages 21–22.)
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Introduction 11
4. Are there ways in which you’re tempted to dull the edges
of the gospel in conversations with others? Explain.
5. If you’re not a Christian, what do you think about what
the author says at the end of the introduction: “If there’s
anything in the world you can’t afford to ignore, it is the
voice of God saying, ‘Good news! Here is how you can
be saved from my judgment!’” (p. 22)?
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1
Finding the Gospel
in the Bible
What Is the Gospel? Summary
We find a reliable summary of Christianity’s good news
not through Christian tradition or through our experiences
and well-reasoned arguments. Instead, we find it through
the revealed Word of God, which tells us four things about
ourselves:
1. God rules over us as Creator and King.
2. We have sinned against him and are therefore guilty.
3. The solution is not found through our effort but
through Christ’s sacrifice.
4. We must respond in faith.
Key Texts
Psalm 18:30
Acts 2:14 – 41
Romans 1:16; 3:10–31
1 Corinthians 15:1–5
2 Timothy 3:16–17
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14 Finding the Gospel in the Bible
1. In seeking to define the gospel, where do you turn for
answers? Why is the Bible the reliable source for defin-
ing the gospel truthfully over tradition, human reason, or
human experience? (See pages 25–26.)
2. Pick one verse or Bible story that in your mind most
clearly depicts the gospel, the message of Christianity.
Why did you pick it?
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Finding the Gospel in the Bible 15
3. Because God is Creator, all creation is accountable to
him; all creation (humans included) owe him honor and
praise. Have there been times or ways that you’ve ignored
God’s rightful authority over your life and not honored
or praised him as is his due? Explain. (See page 28.)
4. We need the good news of the gospel because there’s also
bad news about life in this world. Read Romans 3:10–20
again. What is this bad news—and have you seen this
problem play out in your life or the lives of others? (See
page 29.)
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16 Finding the Gospel in the Bible
5. Look at Romans 3:21. Why is Paul’s contrast—“But
now . . .”—so important and so surprising? What has
Christ done to remedy this seemingly unredeemable situ-
ation? (See pages 30–31.)
6. Now look at Romans 3:21–31. Paul repeats the word
“faith” eight times in these eleven verses. Why is this
important? (See pages 30–31.)
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Finding the Gospel in the Bible 17
7. The author summarizes the gospel in four words: “God.
Man. Christ. Response” (p. 32). Using these four words,
could you explain the gospel in less than 60 seconds? (See
page 31.)
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2
God the
Righteous Creator
What Is the Gospel? Summary
God is the Creator of everything. But the Bible tells us more:
he’s a righteous and holy Creator who will not overlook sin.
Though this might sound like bad news for sinful humanity—
and on one level, it is—God’s commitment to dealing with
sin is good news too, because it proves his trustworthiness
and demonstrates his holiness.
Key Texts
Genesis 1
Exodus 34:6–7
Psalm 19
Habakkuk 1:13
1. What adjectives come to your mind when you think about
God? (See page 38.)
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20 God the Righteous Creator
2. What are a few meaningful implications of God being the
Creator of everything? (See page 41.)
3. The author writes, “. . . the fundamental truth of human
existence, the well from which all else flows, is that God
created us, and therefore God owns us” (p. 42). Is the
author overstating the matter? Why or why not?
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God the Righteous Creator 21
4. Exodus 34:6–7 teaches clearly that God does not leave
the guilty unpunished. Does this reality fit your concep-
tion of a God who is also described as loving and merci-
ful? (See page 43.)
5. God is holy and righteous. He’s also loving and merciful.
These attributes aren’t in conflict. But how can this be?
What is God’s response to sin? (See pages 44–45.) What
is his relationship to sinners?
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22 God the Righteous Creator
6. Why is the description of “God as an unscrupulous jani-
tor” (p. 44) so ultimately unfulfilling?
7. If God is determined not to overlook sin (Ex. 34:6–7),
this means he will not overlook the sins we’ve committed.
The author calls this “bad news” (p. 45), which we’ll get
to in the next chapter. But before we do, what do you
think of this truth? Upon reflection, how does it make
you feel?
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3
Man the Sinner
What Is the Gospel? Summary
To sin means more than to simply “miss the mark.” It means
to rebel against God our Creator King and, in doing so, sever
our relationship with him. Because God is good and just, he
will hold us accountable for this sin. This is very bad news.
Key Texts
Genesis 3
Isaiah 59:2
Romans 3:10, 19, 23; 5:12–21
Ephesians 2:1–5
Revelation 6:16–17
1. What is sin? (See page 48.)
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24 Man the Sinner
2. What are some consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin? (See
page 50.)
3. Does it jibe with your experience of others that “human
beings are fundamentally sinful and rebellious” (p. 51)?
Why or why not? What about in your own mind and
heart?
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Man the Sinner 25
4. Why would an understated doctrine of sin diminish our
appreciation for what Jesus Christ accomplished on the
cross? (See page 51.)
5. According to non-Christians you know, what is human-
ity’s fundamental problem? According to the Bible, what
is humanity’s fundamental problem? (See page 51.)
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26 Man the Sinner
6. What’s the difference between being “guilty of sins” and
being “guilty of sin”? (See pages 54 –55.)
7. Why would you want to make hell sound palatable when
sharing the gospel? In what ways have you tried (or been
tempted) to do this?
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4
Jesus Christ the Savior
What Is the Gospel? Summary
Thankfully, the bad news of God’s judgment against sinners
isn’t the end of the story. Why? Because of the good news of
Jesus Christ’s perfect life, sin-atoning death, and victorious
resurrection. Jesus is the only one qualified to save us—and
he did it.
Key Texts
Genesis 3:15
Isaiah 53:4 –5
Mark 10:45
John 1:29
1 Corinthians 15:14, 17
2 Corinthians 5:21
Galatians 3:13–14
Hebrews 4:15
1 Peter 2:24; 3:18
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28 Jesus Christ the Savior
1. How does Genesis 3:15 prove that “the Bible is the story
of God’s counteroffensive against sin” (p. 61)? (See pages
60–61.)
2. Why is it necessary that Jesus is both fully God and fully
man? (See pages 61–62.)
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Jesus Christ the Savior 29
3. In what ways was Jesus an unexpected messiah? (See
page 64.)
4. Explain the biblical idea of penal substitution in the chart
below as it relates both to the Passover and to Jesus him-
self. (See pages 65–68.)
Passover Jesus
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30 Jesus Christ the Savior
5. On the cross, God the Father poured out his wrath against
our sin onto his Son. Some have called this “divine child
abuse.” Why is that accusation simply false? (See pages
68–69.)
6. Why is Jesus’ resurrection a necessary conclusion to the
good news? (See pages 69–70.)
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5
Response—
Faith and Repentance
What Is the Gospel? Summary
What we’ve covered so far are facts of history, wholly accom-
plished by God himself. They’re true, and they’ve happened,
whether people want to acknowledge this or not. And yet,
these facts—these works of God—demand a response from
us, namely, heartfelt repentance of sin and belief in the per-
son and work of Jesus.
Key Texts
Mark 1:15
Acts 2:38; 3:19; 20:21; 26:18–20
Galatians 2:16
Ephesians 2:1–5
1 John 2:1
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32 Response—Faith and Repentance
1. If faith isn’t just believing in something you can’t prove,
then what is it? (See pages 73–74.)
2. What exactly are we relying on Jesus for? (See pages
75–76.)
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Response—Faith and Repentance 33
3. As we seek to understand salvation, an important Chris-
tian doctrine is union with Christ. It simply means that
everything Jesus received by merit, Christians receive
by grace. What role do faith and repentance play in the
Christian’s union with Christ? (See pages 76–77.)
4. Explain the uniqueness of Christianity’s insistence that
we are saved not simply by faith, but by faith alone. (See
page 78.)
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34 Response—Faith and Repentance
5. Repentance and faith are connected and interdepen-
dent; you can’t have one without the other. But if we’re
saved by faith alone, why is repentance necessary? (See
page 79.)
6. Why is it impossible to claim Jesus as Savior yet resist him
as Lord? (See page 80.)
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Response—Faith and Repentance 35
7. Repentance doesn’t mean Christians will be perfect, never
sinning again. So what does a repentant posture toward
sin look like? (See page 81.)
8. Christians will bear spiritual fruit. But how do we guard
against mistaking that fruit—such as good works—for
the root cause of our salvation? How do we maintain our
reliance on Christ? (See pages 82–83.)
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36 Response—Faith and Repentance
9. If you’re reading this book and you’re not a Christian, why
haven’t you yielded yourself to Jesus and put your trust in
him? Do you still think your reasons are good enough? If
you’re reading this book and you are a Christian, is your
profession of faith and repentance just as meaningful to
you today as it was the hour you first believed?
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6
The Kingdom
What Is the Gospel? Summary
The “kingdom of God” is among the most misunderstood
biblical ideas. Here’s what Christians need to know about it:
• Jesus inaugurated it as proof of his own kingship.
• It’s here, but not yet in full.
• It’s only a matter of time before God, and God alone,
finishes what he started.
• Our entrance into the kingdom is determined by
our response to the King.
• Our entrance into the kingdom is expressed here
on earth by our commitment to the church.
Key Texts
Matthew 3:2; 13:41– 43
Ephesians 3:10–11
Revelation 12:10
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38 The Kingdom
1. When the Bible uses the phrase “kingdom of God,” what
is it referring to? (See page 87.)
2. Is the kingdom of God past, present, or future? (See pages
88–90.)
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The Kingdom 39
3. In what sense is the kingdom of God “here”? (See page 88.)
4. If the Christian’s eternal destiny isn’t just a “never-ending
disembodied worship service” (p. 91), then what is it? (See
pages 91–92.)
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40 The Kingdom
5. Why is it important to remember that only God can con-
summate his kingdom? (See pages 92–93.)
6. Upon what is inclusion into God’s kingdom based? (See
page 93.)
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The Kingdom 41
7. A messianic King, a suffering Servant, and a divine Son of
Man—Jews in the Old Testament had hoped for all three
to eventually come, but they never dreamed those three
identities would be wrapped up into a single man. Where
in the New Testament does Jesus appropriate these titles
for himself, and why is each important? (See page 95.)
8. How is the kingdom of God clarified in the Christian’s
relationship to a local church? (See pages 97–98.)
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7
Keeping the Cross
at the Center
What Is the Gospel? Summary
The gospel doesn’t make sense apart from the cross of Christ;
no one can access salvation apart from repentance and faith.
To many people, this sounds exceedingly foolish and narrow,
which is why people regularly try to redefine the gospel by
centering it on something other than the death and resurrec-
tion of Jesus. But any “gospel” that doesn’t tell sinners how
to stand right before a holy God is no gospel at all.
Key Texts
1 Corinthians 1:23, 25; 2:2; 15:3
Galatians 6:14
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44 Keeping the Cross at the Center
1. After what you’ve learned in What Is the Gospel?, are
there any ways you feel pressure in your own mind to
redefine the gospel or to accentuate some aspects while
belittling others? (See page 102.)
2. Why do some say the biblical gospel is too small? And
why is that assessment false? (See page 103.)
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Keeping the Cross at the Center 45
3. Why is the “Jesus is Lord” gospel too small? (See pages
104 –5.)
4. It’s true that “God is redeeming a people and remaking
the world” (p. 107). But is this message the same as the
gospel?
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46 Keeping the Cross at the Center
5. What should we think of our role in God’s work of
“changing the world” for good? What should our expec-
tations be in this regard? (See pages 107–9.)
6. Why is it good news that the gospel sounds like foolish-
ness to the world? (See page 110.)
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Keeping the Cross at the Center 47
7. How does embracing the “foolishness of God” (1 Cor.
1:25) give us confidence in the gospel? (See page 111.)
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8
The Power of the Gospel
What Is the Gospel? Summary
This side of heaven, Christians are still in a fight against sin.
This is why we forget, or sometimes even ignore, the power
and beauty of the gospel. What can we do to recalibrate our
hearts and minds so that we don’t drift toward spiritual lazi-
ness? How can we center our lives around this good news so
that it propels our everyday living?
Key Texts
Matthew 28:18–20
Luke 24:46– 48
Romans 8:31–32; 10:14
Revelation 7:9–10
1. If you’re not a Christian and you’ve finished this book,
how has your view of Christianity been challenged? Are
you ready to trust Jesus for your salvation? (See page 116.)
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50 The Power of the Gospel
2. If you’re a Christian, has this book helped you remember
that your security is based on Christ’s merit and not your
own? Explain. Then consider this. Dwell on it. And then
rest and rejoice. (See pages 116–17.)
3. How does the gospel inform and motivate our obligation
to love Christ’s people? Practically speaking, how does
this compare to your current relationship with a local
church? (See pages 117–18.)
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The Power of the Gospel 51
4. God expects his people to share the gospel with others.
How can that become a spiritual discipline for you? (See
page 120.)
5. In Revelation 7:9–10, John gives us a picture of the end
of the world. We know where all this is headed. In what
ways does this convict you? In what ways does it encour-
age you? (See page 121.)
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Building Healthy Churches
9Marks exists to equip church leaders with a biblical
vision and practical resources for displaying God’s glory
to the nations through healthy churches.
To that end, we want to see churches characterized
by these nine marks of health:
1 Expositional Preaching
2 Biblical Theology
3 A Biblical Understanding of the Gospel
4 A Biblical Understanding of Conversion
5 A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
6 Biblical Church Membership
7 Biblical Church Discipline
8 Biblical Discipleship
9 Biblical Church Leadership
Find all our Crossway titles
and other resources at
www.9Marks.org
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Other 9Marks Books
9Marks Series
Building Healthy Churches
Healthy Church Study Guides
Church Questions
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