What is the Gospel?

I am more convinced than ever that it is essential for the church to understand the Gospel more fully: what it is, its message, and its power. At its most basic level, the Gospel is the story of Jesus Christ: who he is, what he accomplished, and mankind's relationship to him. Michael Horton has recently been in the habit of trying to clarify many points regarding the Gospel. Here is one such clarification:

By definition, the gospel is not something that we can live. It is only something that we can hear and receive. It is good news, not good advice.

I agree. The gospel is a proclamation; it is a factual account and a historical claim. It is news that must be believed in order for somone to be a Christian. The Gospel is a bold and clear statement about God, mankind, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. If the church is going to make any attempt at recovering the Gospel of Christ, then we must begin with this understanding.