The word "gospel", which Jesus used in telling His disciples to go into all the world and share it, could also be translated, GOOD NEWS.  The Gospel IS "good news" and it also MEANS "good news".  Webster says it means "God's story", I like that, or "glad tidings", I like that too.  For the angels announced that as they brought this good news to the shepherds at the birth of our Lord Jesus. 

John 3:16-17 give us the whole picture, let's start with verse 17 first.

The Lord came into the world NOT to condemn the world but to save the world.  There are those who seem to make condemnation their message, this is a misrepresentation of Jesus who came to SAVE, that is "good news".  Save from what you say?  Do I need to be saved?  Who needs to be saved?

The Scripture is plain and clear the issue is sin.  Sin is bad for us, it will destroy us, damage us and take away our life, no matter how enticing it may appear, it is always a minus.  Sadly it may take us a long time and lots of pain before we realize this truth, if we do at all.  Once realized repentance is what is needed next, turning away from sin, changing our minds about it.  When we sin, our conscience tells us we are guilty.  It takes time and damage before that God given conscience becomes hardened.  This is why Jesus said you must become like a little child there conscious is so sensitive.  But basically we know we are guilty.  Jesus never spent a lot of time trying to convince people they were sinners.  He spent His life showing them the way OUT.  And that is the heart of the "good news" there is a way out, we can be free, we do not have to be destroyed.

That takes us to verse 16, God's remedy, His way out, the way to find life, freedom, healing, restoration, redemption and salvation, remember He came to save.  Why, because sin has done a horrible job and is destroying all of us, so yes we all need to be saved.  What we need to be saved from is the power of sin.   Jesus comes on the scene, why "for God so loved the world", the lost, sinful, dirty world, He loves, He loves us so much.  How can I say that?  Because He gave everything to buy us back, to redeem us from the power of sin & satan, He offered up His life on the Cross for you & for me.  That whosoever "believes in Him should NOT perish but have everlasting Life".  Wow, Jesus does not want us to perish, He came to stop that, to save us.  This leaves me with a choice, I must decide, God has given me a free will.

What is required of me, that I BELIEVE.  I must put my faith in His perfect performance on the Cross.  Here is where religion is separated from "true Christianity" or spirituality.  Religion says you have to work your way to heaven through your performance, your rituals, a host of things designed to try to make you righteous.  All this religious stuff is to try to take care of that sin or guilt we carry.  The problem is that God has said we can NEVER do this, we can never make ourselves acceptable.  So true spirituality does not start with us trying to reach up to God but rather God reaching down to us,  God does for us what we can never do and asks us to place our faith in Him.  We are made right by faith. And so right in the beginning we see Abraham made right by faith..  Scripture says he believed God, by faith and He was made righteous.  Abraham's performance could never cut it, for he made mistakes.  But he did not trust in himself but in the Lord.  
 
And so it is for us, if we believe in Jesus, put our faith in the Cross and His perfect performance we shall be saved, we shall receive eternal life.  See the "good news" is that Jesus loved us so much He gave everything to save us, to give us eternal life so we can be with Him in relationship now & forever.  He came to give to us and there is so much He does give us when we come to Him.  Jesus only takes away one thing, that is my sin, my bondage, my garbage that I might have life and as He said that more ABUNDANTLY.  Good news, great news, amazing life changing news, I pray it becomes yours!!!!!