Is it necessary to fully understand the Gospel to go to heaven?

Answer

In one sense, the gospel message is straightforward: Jesus died and rose again for our salvation. The fundamental aspects of the gospel are relatively easy to comprehend. However, in another sense, the gospel message reveals profound divine truths: Jesus died and rose again for our salvation. The implications of these truths and the theological depth of God are significant enough to engage even the most discerning theologians in lifelong contemplation. When it comes to salvation, how comprehensive must one’s understanding be before faith can genuinely be termed as “faith”?

It is evident that genuine faith requires a certain level of comprehension. This understanding is facilitated through the proclamation of the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20) accompanied by the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”, (Acts 16:14). Paul outlines the progression that leads to a proper comprehension of the gospel: preaching, which leads to hearing, which leads to believing, which leads to calling on the Lord for salvation “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”, (Romans 10:14). The act of “hearing” implies understanding; if the preaching is not understood, then it is not truly “heard.”

The essence of the preached message that must be comprehended is the gospel. Right from the start, the apostles emphasized the death and resurrection ofChrist (Acts 2:23-24). This message is “of first importance: 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, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This passage contains the fundamental elements of the gospel, which focuses on the Person and work of Christ: Jesus died for our sins, and He rose again from the dead. No one is saved without an understanding of this truth—and a reliance on it.

Each aspect of the gospel message is crucial. If we obscure the understanding of any part of the gospel, faith dissolves: if we don’t comprehend that Jesus is the perfect Son of God, then His death is insignificant for our salvation. If we fail to grasp that Jesus died, then we logically won’t understand the resurrection. If we don’t grasp the reason He died (for our sins), then we might see ourselves as blameless and therefore not in need of a Savior. If we don’t realize that Jesus rose again, then we overlook the reality of a living Savior, and our faith is lifeless “and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

The Bible provides examples of those who had acquired a certain level of spiritual knowledge but were still unsaved. It was only after they comprehended the essentials of the gospel that these individuals trusted Christ and were born again. The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), Cornelius (Acts 10), Apollos (Acts 18:24-28), and the twelve men in Ephesus (Acts+19%3A1-7″>(Acts 19:1-7) all had religious backgrounds, but the moment of salvation only came when they put their faith in Christ—and they had to hear and understand the content of the gospel first.

However, in order to be saved, it is not necessary to understand everything the gospel entails. In fact, understanding the fullness of all the gospel entails is impossible this side of glory. We strive, paradoxically, “to know this love that surpasses knowledge” «and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. », (Ephesians 3:19). But we will never fully understand the riches of God’s grace: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! / How unsearchable his judgments, / and his paths beyond tracing out!” «O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! », (Romans 11:33).

For example, we don’t need to understand the hypostatic union to be saved. Quoting the definition of propitiation is not needed for salvation. Neither is a working knowledge of justification, redemption, or progressive sanctification required for entrance into heaven. Knowledge of these things comes with time and study of the Word, but they are not necessary to be grasped at the moment one is saved. It is doubtful that the thief on the cross understood much about soteriology when he turned to the Lord and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” «And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. », (Luke 23:42).

The gospel message is simple enough for a child to understand. Jesus made a point of declaring that salvation is availableTo the young ones: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” «But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. », (Mark 10:14). Praise the Lord, the gospel of Jesus Christ can be understood by children. Also, to those who are mentally incapable of understanding the gospel, we believe God extends His grace.

So, to go to heaven, we must “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” «And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. », (Acts 16:31). That is, we trust in the sacrifice of the Holy One of God who died in our place and rose again the third day. To those who believe in Jesus’ name, God gives “the right to become children of God” «But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: », (John 1:12). The gospel is as simple—and as profound—as that.