To share the Gospel is to proclaim good news — not advice, not self-help, not a vague spirituality — but the saving work of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is the “good news” of Christ’s life, death and resurrection for the sake of our salvation. This message is sometimes called the kerygma, which simply means “proclamation.” It is the essential message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
And it is meant to be shared.
Though entire books have been written on the depths of the Gospel, it is important that we can express it in a way that is simple, compelling and easy to understand. The message itself is profound — but it is not complicated.
What Is the Gospel?
There are many ways to summarize the Gospel. In FOCUS, one of the most helpful images comes from St. Catherine of Siena, who described Christ as a bridge between God and sinful humanity.
That image captures the heart of the Gospel — the kerygma, the essential proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ. There is a chasm between us and God, and Jesus Himself is the bridge.
We often summarize this saving message using the 5 R’s of the Gospel — a clear and compelling way to proclaim the good news.
Relationship: What We’re Made For
We are made for a relationship with God.
Every human heart longs for lasting happiness, truth and love. That longing is not accidental — it points to the One for whom we were created.
We were made for communion with God.
Rebellion: The Chasm
Our relationship with God was broken by sin.
Sin created a chasm between humanity and the all-holy God. We experience the effects of that separation — restlessness, selfishness, suffering and death. Though we long for God, we cannot repair the relationship on our own. We are finite, and only an infinite love can bridge the infinite gap caused by sin.
Reconciliation: The God-Man Solution
Jesus Christ is that bridge.
Because He is fully human, He represents us. Because He is fully divine, His act of love on the cross is infinite. On the cross, Jesus offered a perfect act of love to the Father on behalf of the entire human family.
Through His death and resurrection, the chasm is bridged. Reconciliation is possible.
Re-Creation: Transformation in Christ
Jesus did not only die to forgive us — He rose to give us new life.
He desires to make us a “new creation” (2 Cor 5:17). This transformation — often called sanctification — unfolds in and through the Church. Everything Christ won for us comes to us through the Church: through her teachings, her sacraments and the fellowship of believers in the communion of saints.
The Gospel is not only about forgiveness. It is about new life.
Response: “Follow Me”
The Gospel always invites a response.
Jesus calls each of us to repent, believe and follow Him. Conversion is not merely an emotional moment — it is a turning of the heart. It is choosing to trust Him, to surrender our lives to Him and to walk with Him as His disciples.
The message of salvation is not complete until it is personally received.
Proclaiming the Gospel: The Scriptures
As we grow in understanding the Gospel, Scripture gives us language to proclaim it clearly.
Consider just a few passages that summarize the saving message of Christ:
- “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” (John 3:16)
- “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Pope Francis once summarized the Gospel in that:
“Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”
This is the message we are called to ponder throughout our lives and share often and explicitly.
A Call to Conversion — For Us and For Others
Sharing the Gospel is not about delivering a speech. It is about inviting someone into a relationship with Christ and renewing our own response.
The more deeply we understand the Gospel, the more naturally we can proclaim it. A deep, foundational understanding of this message is essential if we hope to share it well.
May we never tire of receiving this good news, and never hesitate to share it.
Additional Resources
Want to go through the 5 R’s of the Gospel yourself? Check out The Crux Bible study and its accompanying video series on SEEK Replay. It walks step by step through the kerygma and helps you see how the saving message of Jesus applies personally to your life.
You can go through it on your own or invite your Bible study or small group to join you!
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