L = LIGHT and LAW
The gospel is spiritual truth; it is light from God. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (II Cor. 4:3,4). Sadly, many do not want the illuminating truth of God's word as a lamp to their feet or as a light to their pathway (cf. Psa. 119:105).
The gospel contains laws from God to be obeyed (cf. Gal. 6:2). "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (James 1:25).
E = EVERLASTING message of ETERNAL life
The gospel is everlasting; it will never perish or cease to be. Revelation 14:6 reads - "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people."
The gospel is the message of eternal life (cf. Acts 13:46). Jesus declared - "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (John 5:24).
P = POWERFUL, but it must be PREACHED PROPERLY not PERVERTED
The gospel is exceedingly powerful. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). There is no other message that contains this much power!
However, the great power of the gospel is able to be perverted or corrupted, so special care must be taken to preach it properly. Galatians 1:6-8 states - "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed."
S = SAVING SOULS
As noted above in Romans 1:16, the gospel is powerful enough to save the souls of men and women! "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21).
O = OFFERED to all to be OBEYED
The gospel is to be offered freely to all! It is to be preached to all the nations. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). It does not matter if one is male or female, rich or poor, black or white, educated or ignorant--the gospel is for everyone (cf. Gal. 3:27,28)!
The gospel must be obeyed. Those who do not obey the good news will be lost. II Thessalonians 1:7-9 - "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."
G = GLORIOUS GRACE from GOD
We have surely seen that the gospel is "glorious" (I Tim. 1:11); it centers on the grace of God. Paul declared in Acts 20:24 - "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
The gospel is wonderful good news, is it not? The gospel is the powerful, glorious, and everlasting message of light and law that is to be properly preached (not perverted) and offered to all to be obeyed that their souls might be saved by the grace of God for eternal life! Praise God for the G.O.S.P.E.L. of Christ!