What is the Gospel?

[GHansen]

20. But what is the Gospel? It is this, that God has sent his Son into the
world to save sinners, John 3:16, and to crush hell, overcome death,
take away sin and satisfy the law. But what must you do? Nothing but
accept this and look up to your Redeemer and firmly believe that he has
done all this for your good and freely gives you all as your own, so that in
the terrors of death, sin and hell you can confidently say and boldly depend
upon it, and say: Although I do not fulfill the law, although sin is still
present and I fear death and hell, nevertheless from the Gospel I know that
Christ has bestowed upon me all his works. I am sure he will not lie, his
promise he will surely fulfill. And as a sign of this I have received baptism.
For he says to his apostles and disciples: “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned,” Mark
16:15-16.

Upon this I anchor my confidence. For I know that my Lord
Christ has overcome death, sin, hell and the devil all for my good. For he
was innocent, as Peter says: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his
mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22. Therefore sin and death were not able to slay
him, hell could not hold him, and he has become their Lord, and has
granted this to all who accept and believe it. All this is effected not by my
works or merits; but by pure grace, goodness and mercy.

Lenker, John Nicholas, translator. Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. 2 pp. 317, 318. By Martin Luther, n.d.

[Sermon delivered in 1522]