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It is hard to glean exactly which things are essential to know from the Bible. There are a few facts which I take to be extremely important in terms of finding salvation. Faith in the basic message of God and Christ is essential. Unfortunately, the basic gospel just isn’t that basic to most people. It reminds me of the saying that common sense isn’t very common.

The basic gospel is more than saying “I believe in Jesus Christ.” This is as generic to me as saying “I believe in the Bible.” You need to know what the Bible is saying. You also need to know the significance of Christ in God’s plan.

Say I said “I believe in Jose.” I know nothing of him but his name only. I don’t know his back story or any details of his life. Do I really believe in anything other than a sound?

Certain questions must be answered.

Questions like:

Which God or Gods do you believe in?

What is God’s basic plan for salvation?

Salvation from what: what will become of the wicked?

What does God promise the righteous?

What is Christ’s significance in this plan?

Who was Christ?

The God I follow is Yahweh. Call him Jehovah if you prefer English style. He was the God of Israel and Abraham. He was the God and father of Jesus. He inspired the writing of the holy Bible.

I don’t want to get caught up in semantics. However, it is good to have a little more than just “God.” There have been all kinds of names and systems to other gods which God doesn’t respond to. Read the Old Testament if you don’t believe me. God never wanted to be called by the names the heathen called their gods by. He never wanted Israel to learn their ways of worship.

He was the sole creator of the universe and everything in it. He is one God. He doesn’t want anyone or anything else worshiped or even called god.

Saving for Christ, all have sinned. Sin results in death. Everyone has to die the first death due to the punishment which was passed down from Adam and Eve. The wicked will then be permanently destroyed in the lake of fire at the end of the thousand year reign. This is the second death.

I hear people say they want to get saved all the time. The second death is what you are saved from. I think this is very important to know. For being saved to mean something, you should know what you are saved from.

Acknowledging your sin is where Christ comes in. He was a man, born of a woman, who never sinned. He died on the cross to the sins of mankind. He died such that those who accept him through baptism and belief in the gospel wouldn’t have to die the second death.

Christ slept the sleep of death for three days after crucifixion. God then resurrected him from the dead. Resurrection is going from death to life. Christ was only immortal once he was raised. If he was immortal before his crucifixion, he couldn’t have died for your sins. This is basic deduction.

The next logical step is to see Christ as the first fruits of this change. The dead in Christ will rise to meet him in the clouds at his return. They will be resurrected and changed into a spiritual and immortal being at this time. The living in Christ will also meet them in the clouds to be changed at this time as well.

This is when the gift of eternal life is first given to God’s elect. Eternal life is not given to everyone. Along with life, God promises that a kingdom will come on earth for those who are his.

There will be a final resurrection and judgment a thousand years after Christ returns. This will be for all who didn’t rise at the return plus all who lived and died in the millennial timeframe. Those who are righteous from this time will again be changed to an immortal being. All the wicked will be thrown in the lake of fire for the purpose of destruction. This is the second death.

I think this story is quite clear as to what I believe. Now I will be more than clear as to what I don’t believe. I really think the doctrines of the immortality of the soul and trinity unravel this basic gospel story. They shred it. They go in the opposite direction. They are a contrary counterfeit.

The idea is to believe what the Bible says. The idea is to know the basic story of Christ. If it is acceptable to just know his name: can you believe he was a space alien or an ape? How about just part chimp or part tree? Is all or part God acceptable if he was really a man?

This is why I put my papers on trinity and immortality of the soul first. These papers also substantiate my story above with any number of scriptures. The gospel has to add up and make sense. There is no double talk or ambiguity in my version of the gospel.

Of course none of this revolves around me. I am no one special. Things aren’t important or true because I say they are. This is also true for others. It is quite possible that God requires that you believe a little more or a little less than the way I told the basic message above.

Given this, you should decide for yourself what is most important in scripture. Obviously the four versions of the gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) all told Christ’s story in detail. Reading these books of the Bible for yourself is a very good idea.

Of course you don’t need to know all the details to be saved. You might not know that Jesus wept. You might not remember all his parables or even miracles. It isn’t essential to know everything he said and did as recorded in the first four books of the NT. Everything in these books is well good and important but this paper is about the basic saving gospel story.

From there, read on in the NT and see for yourself what is repeated and stressed the most. One thing I made clear in my first two papers is the extreme emphasis that Christ died and God raised him from the dead. This is repeated so many times that I take it to be absolutely essential. Beyond repetition, let’s look at some examples of when the apostles preached the gospel and their words were recorded.

(Acts 2:22-38 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning Him, ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance.’ Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne; He seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. But David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, ‘The Lord said unto my lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.)

Many were baptized afterward. To me this was a basic speech involving the saving gospel. Key points are emphasized prior to baptism.

As I said above, you won’t necessarily remember all that Christ did. From 22 you should know that he did miracles and wonders by the power of God. You can get deeper into how the lame and sick were healed physically. This was just the tip of the iceberg compared to the sin Christ could heal everyone of.

When he helped the blind to see it was symbolic of helping to see a new path. This was what God did with Paul as well. When his physical blindness went aside he also saw the error in his ways spiritually.

When Christ resurrected the maid in Matthew 9 and Lazarus in John 11 he showed that God’s power could overcome even death. This will be repeated on a huge and more perfect scale at his return. These things help support the gospel. However, it suffices to say that he did miracles by the power of God.

This shows his authority. It shows he was a part of God’s plan. It is an important fact given the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Matthew 12. Some said that Christ had power of devils. Christ said this was unforgivable.

Verse 23 refers to Christ being killed on the cross. Verse 24 speaks of God raising Christ from the state of death. You can’t believe either of these verses while believing in the immortality of the soul. How can a man die if he is really immortal in essence? How could Christ go from death to life if he was never really dead to begin with?

Verses 26 and 27 are so important and pertinent to this. David’s hope wasn’t to go to heaven while never really dying. He accepted that he would die and be buried. He also knew that God would resurrect Christ. He then used this as proof that he would also be raised in the future. God would not leave his soul in hell or the pit of the grave.

This is the connection that everyone needs to make. The example of God raising Christ from death into a spiritual and immortal body was an example of what he could do for everyone. This is why his death, burial, and resurrection were so important.

Verses 29 and 34 make it more than clear that David is not in heaven. Why is this important? I say we can find inspiration for faith in David just like he found it in Christ.

David knew that Christ would actually die. When he was dead he was not really alive somewhere else. He was buried in a hopeless state in and of himself. God followed his plan and literally raised him from death to eternal life.

David had the hope that the same would happen to him someday. I have the same hope that David did. I want to raise and be changed with David and the rest of God’s elect when Christ returns. If I want to go to heaven right when I die I am going outside the entire point here. I would then be creating my own plan rather than learning from the example of Christ and David. Both their souls went to hell or the grave as it should be translated.

I don’t want to go too deep into rehashing my paper on death, burial, and resurrection here. However, I do see this basic hope as vital in the context of the basic gospel message. I really believe salvation hinges on this understanding of death and God’s true plan to overcome it. This is our only hope. This example of David in a basic speech prior to baptism makes this more than clear.

Verse 30 shows that Christ had a beginning point. This “raise” isn’t talking about resurrection. As 22 points out: Christ was a man. Like all other men after Adam, he was born of a woman. This was when he was raised into existence.

Verse 36 shows that God exalted Christ. If Christ were already God, he wouldn’t have needed this. You should see Christ as your Lord and savior as part of God’s plan. His plan was made into flesh. It was then made an example of his perfection.

Verse 38 then gets into baptism in Christ for remission of sins. You must acknowledge that you have sinned. Christ had no sin.

His perfect sacrifice will cover your sins. Your sins became his punishment. His perfection became your perfection in the eyes of God. This is the importance of the blood of the lamb.

(Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. The word which God dent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all :) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; Whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly; Not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he Which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”)

In 34 and 35 Peter expresses that salvation is available for everyone who follows God’s word. Verses 36 and 37 identify this as the basic gospel word to me. Verse 38 again establishes that Christ did miracles by the power of God.

Verses 39 and 40 reiterate that Christ was killed on the cross and then raised by God three days later. Verses 40 and 41 show that Christ was witnessed by those chosen of God after his resurrection. Verse 42 brings up judgment.

Christ isn’t judging everyone right when they die. He will judge the “quick and the dead” meaning it doesn’t revolve around when an individual dies. Or as it says in 2nd Timothy 4:1 “Who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” There will be two judgments that Christ will oversee.

Verse 43 shows the importance of faith in Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Only through accepting this can you find peace with God. Cornelius accepted this sacrifice in faith. Then, just as importantly, through baptism.

(Acts 17:22-32 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom he hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked---)

Paul was talking here to heathen who believed in many Gods. He went about trying to break down their idolatrous worship in verses 24, 25, and 29. He also established that the one true God created the universe and every living being in it. Where is the trinity in all this?

He never said God came down and died for their sins. He identified only one supreme being here. There was no one in three, three in one, five and dime nonsense here. If all that garbage defines the true God, why isn’t it even hinted at here? He was describing the true God to them.

He describes Christ in 31 only as “that Man Whom He hath ordained.” So I guess God was that man whom God hath ordained then. I think I will stick to the basic message which Paul lays down.

Verse 31 again brings up the importance of a future judgment carried out by Christ. It also again brings up the importance of his resurrection and change. This was an assurance that he could do this for all men.

From verses 31 and 32 I really think understanding resurrection is extremely important to the gospel message. Even if you accept Christ as a man: he couldn’t have been resurrected if he couldn’t die in the first place. If you are really an immortal soul, then you really can’t die or be resurrected.

I believe this is further established in the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians. Paul’s starts with Christ being dead and buried and then raised. He identifies this as saving gospel in the first two verses. This leads right into a discussion of resurrection and change for those who are his.

I didn’t just pick the quotes from Acts out of a hat or something. I chose them because they were the best examples of preaching the basic gospel in the Bible. The apostles had to condense the story of Christ and the gospel down to a short story there. After Acts you have only the letters to churches and Revelation which don’t involve preaching the basic gospel to non believers. I sure want to know exactly what they said to convert people just prior to baptism. I think your eternal life depends on having a basic understanding of what the passages are saying.

I believe they fall in line with what I typed out as being important above. They were a bit more condensed than what I typed out. As I said, it is hard to qualify exactly what facts are absolutely essential.

I might condense it down to:

Belief in the one true God

Christ was a man, without sin, created to die to the sins of the world.

He did this such that those who are his won’t face the second death but will instead receive eternal life. Death is the punishment for sin and all have sinned. Christ is your only escape from this.

God resurrected Christ from the dead after three days.

Chris will raise those who are his to perfection at his return.

The righteous will also be recompensed on earth with a coming Kingdom.