The New Testament writers frequently refer to the gospel, with the term "gospel of Christ" appearing fourteen times among various modifiers. Romans 1:16 provides a significant insight, stating, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes." This reveals that the gospel of Christ is the means through which God grants salvation to those who live by faith. The power inherent in this gospel, derived from the Greek word dunamis, suggests a dynamic force ready to propel a believer toward eternal life. However, the gospel of Christ is not universally applied, as it requires belief, and only those who truly believe and do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven. Belief, in this context, involves not just agreement with Christ, but also living according to His teachings. The gospel of Christ instructs in righteousness, revealing God's way through faith, so that believers may live faithfully and walk by faith, not by sight.

The gospel of Christ is one name given to the message preached by Jesus Christ. Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The gospel of God, the gospel of Jesus and the gospel of the Kingdom are the same gospel. It originated in God and was proclaimed by His Son. This message tells of the coming rule of God and the part of mankind in it. God's offer of grace and salvation forms part of the gospel of the Kingdom. The gospel of the Kingdom is to be preached before the end comes. It explains how believers and unbelievers may live the way of life defined by the commandments of God.

The gospel of Christ is more than a message about Christ; it is what He taught and lived in His own life, and what He expects His followers to practice. Paul's repeated emphasis on sound doctrine shows that the church's body of teaching is this gospel, the pattern of sound words and the body of truth once for all delivered to the saints. Jesus does not merely teach truth; He declares that He is the truth (John 14:6). True worshippers must worship the Father in spirit and truth, so what a Christian believes in mind and feels in heart must show in action, unlike pagan Roman religion, which required rites without belief. The gospel begins with elementary doctrines: going on to perfection, repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. These are the foundation, and Christians must grow beyond them into maturity, overcoming sin and learning to discern good from evil. Because Christ is the author and finisher of faith, He begins and completes each believer's salvation. The gospel guides us to salvation (Romans 1:16-17), shows how to please God, and instills the fundamental traits of His character. It also equips the church to contend for the faith against false doctrine, as familiarity with the genuine exposes the counterfeit. Only by Christ's doctrine can a person find and remain on the path to the Kingdom of God.