The Gospel is Past Tense

By: Michelle Johnson M.Div., Ph.D. | June 11, 2023

If you are a follower of Jesus, you know what I mean when I refer to the Gospel message. The Gospel or the “Good News” is the core of Christianity. The basics of the Gospel is the truth that Jesus died on the cross (in man’s place), was buried, and rose again on the third day. Scripture is clear–what Jesus did is all that is needed for our salvation.

My profession is: I do not believe there is anything (any work/deed/action) anyone can do to help facilitate their own salvation, Jesus has done it all. However, a couple of weeks ago I heard a sermon with a message that was quite simple, but spoke so profoundly to my soul, I would be remiss if I didn’t share it.[1] One of the points made by the pastor settled a long-standing struggle in my own soul and which has affected how I share the Gospel with others. Maybe by reading this, you’ll find you resonate in the same way.

Bad News/Good News

For readers who are not followers of Jesus, I want to back up a few steps and explain why the Gospel is necessary and such good news! First, I’ll share the bad news. The bad news is that each and every one of us is separated from God because of sin. (Romans 3:23)[2] Sin is the failure to meet God’s standard. Why does God get to determine the standard? Because he is the creator, and we are his creation. (Genesis 1-2). The Bible (God’s word) is clear there is a penalty for sin. The penalty due for sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Here is why the Gospel is such good news! Jesus, God’s son, came to earth and died the death that is required for our sins.[3] He served as our substitute and offers us the gift of a restored, right relationship with God. Why would he do this? John 3:16 testifies that it is the love God has for us that motivated him. This good news is a free gift, offered to all mankind.

This bad news/good news is something that was shared with me at an early age, and I have claimed to understand it and trust that Jesus alone is my Savior and way back to God. So, you might be thinking, what is the problem? What new profound thing did you learn from that sermon? The key for me was when the pastor shared a similar experience to mine. Our stories are similar at many crossroads.

Heard the Gospel early in life.
Believed its message.
Received formal theological training. (Bible college, Seminary, or Divinity School)
Served as a leader in a ministry setting (Him – pastor, me – women’s ministry)

The Problem with the Need To Do as Opposed to the Gospel as Past Tense

The other thing we shared was an ongoing feeling there was something we still needed to “do” or “bring to the table” as a part of the process of being made right with God (or being “saved”). His point that so profoundly affected me was to point out that every step of the Gospel is worded in the past tense. While this wasn’t entirely new to me, it motivated me to look at what past tense means and how the Gospel message is communicated in the Bible.

A quick internet search for the definition of past tense consistently yielded the same words. If something is past tense, it is done, complete, and finished. It is a closed event to which nothing more can be added to it. THIS is what allowed my heart and mind to settle on a clear understanding of the Gospel.

My struggle hadn’t been with paying for a part of my salvation. I never believed there was anything I could do because Jesus had died in my place. Although, as I pondered the struggle in my soul, I must admit I wrestled with things like behaving better, reading my Bible a certain amount of time, and generally “cleaning up” how I lived life. A transformed life, how I treated others, what held priority in my schedule, and seeking to follow Jesus’ model for how to live are all things closely tied to being a Christian. However, they are NOT the Gospel! They are the fruit and evidence of sanctification in our life.[4]

A Past Tense Gospel Means that The Gospel is a Finished Act

The Gospel itself, the means by which we can be restored to a right relationship with God, is past tense. It is a finished act, initiated and conducted by God himself through the death, burial, and resurrection of his son in our place. It is done, finished, complete and there is nothing I can add to it. The transformation that takes place once I have chosen to accept this gift, and trust Jesus alone for salvation.

Biblical Support for a Past Tense Gospel

Here are just a few of the places the Bible communicates the essential elements of the Gospel. Note all the verbs are past tense (bold and italics are mine).

Past Tense Passages in the Gospels

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish bet have eternal life.”
Luke 24:46-48 “He also said to them, ‘This is what is written; The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his names to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” The context for this passage is that Jesus had died, was buried, and rose from the dead. (see Luke 23 and earlier in 24) The disciples were the witnesses to these finished, completed, past-tense events.
Acts 2:23-24, 32 (This is from Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost) Jesus was nailed to a cross (dead and buried) v24 “God raised him up, ending the pains of death…”
Acts 13:28-30 “Though they found no ground for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had carried out all that had been written about him they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead.” This is a part of Paul’s testimony in Antioch of Pisidia.

Past Tense Passages in the Epistles

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
1 Peter 1:21 “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead…”
1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…”
1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”
Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle–not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead–” (having died and been buried is implied)
1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10a “…how you turned to the God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
2 Timothy 2:8 “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead…”

Conclusion

The Gospel is past tense, and this is significant, especially for those of us who have blurred the lines between the transformation that should be evident in the life of one who is following Jesus and the actual Gospel message. Understanding the clear difference between the two has settled my soul and vastly improved my ability to communicate the Gospel to others. The Gospel is done, finished, and complete. God provided all that is needed for a restored, right relationship with him through his son Jesus. Nothing more we can add or do.

About the Author

Michelle Johnson earned a Ph.D. in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University. She also earned her M.A. in Theological Studies and her M.Div. in Professional Ministries at Liberty University. Michelle graduated from the University of Minnesota with her undergraduate degrees. She and her husband Steve live in Mankato, Minnesota, where she also serves in women’s ministries. In addition to her love of theology and apologetics, Michelle also has a passion for historical studies, particularly the theology of the Patristics. When she is not spending time reading or writing, Michelle can often be found dreaming of her next travel adventure or enjoying a great cup of coffee. Michelle Johnson serves as the Executive Vice-President and Managing Editor of Bellator Christi Ministries.