The gospel — the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins — is the foundation of everything GodlyScore exists to serve. It cannot be rated; it is the standard against which everything else is rated.
The apostle Paul gives the clearest summary of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."
Four facts: (1) Christ died. A historical event. Jesus of Nazareth was crucified under Pontius Pilate. This is among the most well-documented events of ancient history. (2) He died for our sins. An interpretation of the event. His death was not an accident or a tragedy but a deliberate substitutionary sacrifice — he bore the penalty that human sin deserves. Isaiah 53:5: "He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities." (3) He was buried. Confirmation that he was genuinely dead. (4) He was raised on the third day. The resurrection. The claim that God vindicated Jesus by raising him from death, and that his resurrection is the guarantee that those who trust him will also be raised.
The gospel is good news because it addresses the fundamental human problem. Romans 3:23: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Every human being has broken God's law — in thought, word, and deed — and faces the consequence. Romans 6:23: "The wages of sin is death." Not merely physical death but separation from God, who is the source of all life and good.
The good news is that God did not leave humanity in this condition. He sent his Son to live the life we should have lived and die the death we deserved — absorbing the penalty of sin in our place. Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
The gospel demands a response. Mark 1:15: "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news." Two actions: repentance (turning away from sin and self-direction) and faith (trusting Christ specifically — not good intentions or religious effort). Acts 16:31: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
This is categorically different from religion. Religion says: do better, be better, and God will accept you. The gospel says: God has already acted in Christ — receive it. Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast."
GodlyScore exists because the gospel matters. If Jesus rose from the dead — and the historical evidence is compelling — then what we fill our minds with, what we normalize for our children, and what stories we tell ourselves about the world has eternal significance. Romans 12:2: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." GodlyScore is a tool for that transformation — helping Christian families make media decisions that protect and strengthen the mind's orientation toward the gospel and the God it reveals.
For a comprehensive statement of the gospel: The Gospel Coalition.
GodlyScore evaluates media and public figures across nine biblical signal categories: profanity (Ephesians 4:29), sexual content (1 Corinthians 6:18), violence (Psalm 11:5), LGBT normalization (Romans 1:26-27), spiritual darkness (Ephesians 5:11), glorification of sin (Romans 1:32), deception mechanics (Proverbs 12:22), virtue strength (Philippians 4:8), and redemption arc. The score reflects not just whether content is present but how it's framed. Score: 100/100 Christ-Centered.
See our Biblical Discernment Guide for the complete methodology. GotQuestions and the Gospel Coalition provide thorough evangelical analysis.
For the practical next step after hearing the gospel, see our guide How to Become a Christian.