When we speak about the Gospel—the “Good News” of Jesus Christ—we are really speaking about forgiveness. Many people imagine Christianity as a set of rules or moral teachings, but at its core, it is a message of mercy. The Gospel begins with God’s love for us and reaches its fullness in the forgiveness offered through Christ’s Cross.
From the very first pages of Scripture, humanity’s story is marked by separation from God through sin. Yet God never turned away from us. Again and again, He sought to heal that separation. The prophets spoke of His desire to forgive, to “remove our sins as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) This longing of God’s heart finds its fulfillment in Jesus—who came “not to condemn the world, but to save it.” (John 3:17)
When Jesus forgave sins, He revealed something that startled His listeners: only God can forgive, and yet here was God in the flesh doing just that. On the Cross, Christ’s final words—“Father, forgive them”—were not only for those who crucified Him, but for all of us. Forgiveness became not just a teaching, but a gift poured out through His blood. This is why St. Paul could write, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)
To receive the Gospel, then, is to accept forgiveness. It is to allow God’s mercy to touch our wounds and transform our hearts. Forgiveness frees us from the power of sin and makes room for grace. It is also what we are called to share: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In living mercy toward others, we reflect the very heart of Christ.
Forgiveness is central to the Gospel because it is the bridge between sin and salvation, between despair and hope. Without it, there can be no reconciliation, no healing, no resurrection of the heart. But when we forgive—and when we allow ourselves to be forgiven—the power of the Gospel becomes alive within us.
May we never forget that the Cross is not a symbol of judgment, but of mercy. In forgiving and being forgiven, we live the very life of Christ—the heart of the Gospel beating within our own.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
