The word gospel literally means “good news.” For Christians, the gospel is the good news that God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, made a way for humanity to be reconciled to God. But why is this good news?

God created the heavens and the earth, animals and humans, and it was good. It was perfect. Humanity lived in obedience and fellowship with God (Genesis 1–2).

But humanity was deceived, disobeying and rebelling against God by choosing to eat the fruit God had told them not to eat (Genesis 2:15–17). This severed humanity’s fellowship with God and allowed sin and brokenness to enter the world, leaving humanity spiritually dead and without hope. This is why Ephesians 2:1–10 says that every human is “dead in [their] trespasses and sins” and they are “deserving of judgment” (vv. 1–3). Humanity needed a Savior—someone to remove their sin and bring them back to God.

Being reconciled to God was not something we could accomplish on our own. If we were to be united to God again, it would have to be of his initiation. Thankfully, despite our rebellion, God showed himself to be “rich in mercy” and full of “great love” for all people. Because of this, he sent his Son, Jesus, to die in the place of humanity, taking on his judgment and “[making Christians] alive with Christ” (vv. 4–5).

This is the gospel. Jesus in our place.

But Jesus’ death only begins the story of healing. Christ died, rose again, and will come back to make all things new, restoring completely the perfect fellowship between God and humanity that we can experience, in part, today. Until that day, God has given Christians the Holy Spirit as a helper, his presence within his people.

From beginning to end, our reunion with God is a gift from God. It is, in a word, grace (vv. 6–10).

But this grace must be received.

Faith in God is displayed through repentance and belief. Repentance is a deep sorrow for the sin (ways we’ve disobeyed and rebelled against God) we’ve committed. Belief is proclaiming and trusting that God has saved us through the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. By continued repentance and belief, we walk daily in renewed obedience as the Holy Spirit works within us, making us more like Christ as we await his return.

If you’re ready, the Apostle Paul shows you how to respond.

He writes, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

You can pray now, even if you never have or you don’t know how. If you’re struggling with the words, say something to God like this:

“God, I confess that I am a sinner. I repent of my sin. I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross in my place and that he rose again as a promise of new life. Thank you, Jesus, for living the life I should have lived and dying the death that I deserved. God, I give you my life, knowing that I am now yours to fulfill your plans in me. Thank you for showing your love to me.”