The word “gospel” refers to an announcement of “good news.” In order to understand and comprehend the significance of good news one must grasp the reality of the bad news – our sin not only separates us from God but earns us eternal death. Tragically, Scripture reveals that there is nothing we can do to fix the situation. However, the good news is the gospel of Jesus Christ, that through Jesus Christ alone we can have our sins forgiven and be saved from the inevitable deadly consequences of our sin. Jesus on the cross reconciled us to God and the good news is that we can be saved in Christ, by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus alone. The subsequent facts are vital to understanding the good news of the gospel…
God Created Everything
The theory of evolution is a worldly lie. The Bible demonstrates we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:1, 27). Thus, God has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, and worship.
God is Righteous
God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3), therefore, He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God’s holiness means that in our sin we cannot be in His presence (Romans 9:14). We are separated from Him because God requires perfect holiness of us as well (I Peter 1:16).
We are Born in Sin
Scripture reveals that everyone is guilty of sin, that we are born sinners (1 Kings 8:46; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10, 23; Ephesians 2:1-3). Tragically, nothing in ourselves can remedy this situation and we are utterly incapable of pleasing God on our own (Romans 8:7-8). In our sin we are not capable of loving Him (Luke 10:25-37). Not only does our sin separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:18) but sin makes us enemies of God (Romans 5:10).
Sin Demands a Penalty
God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezekiel 18:4). God in His holiness and righteousness cannot tolerate, ignore, or dismiss sin. In fact, He would be equally righteous and holy if He wiped us out because of sin (Ephesians 2:1-3). Without repentance and complete faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation, our sin earns us death. This death is an eternity in hell, a place of unimaginable suffering, isolation, and continued destruction (Mark 9:43-48). However, God loved us so much he graciously sent His son Jesus Christ as refuge from His wrath.
Jesus is Lord and Savior
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one can get to God except through Him (John 14:6). Scripture is clear regarding salvation from Hell, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Even though God’s righteousness demands death for sin, His love has provided Jesus as a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (John 3:6; Romans 5:6-10). Jesus Christ came to earth as fully God and fully sinless man and He alone is able to reconcile us to God, through His sacrifice on the cross (1 Timothy 2:5; I Peter 3:18). God in His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), is able to forgive our sin because His Son Jesus Christ paid the sin penalty for us on the cross (Romans 3:26). Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ arose after three days in the grave, demonstrating God’s acceptance of His atoning sacrifice as well as His power to conquer sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Hallelujah…!
The Character of Saving Faith
Repentance, by definition, agrees with God that you are dead in your sin, you confess your sins to Him, and you make the mindful choice to turn from sin (Isaiah 55:7; Luke 13:3-5; I Thessalonians 1:9). Faith, by definition, completely trusts in Christ atoning work on the cross, i.e., faith pursues Christ (Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 9:23): faith rests in His substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27; 9:28): and surrenders to Him in obedience (I John 2:3). One cannot be truly saved without real repentance from sin.
Simply believing facts about Jesus cannot save you. Believing Christ was a prophet or a good teacher, or one of many ways to get to heaven, will not save you (James 2:19). True saving faith always responds in grateful obedience and believes all Scripture says about Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10).
If you have any questions about how you can become a Christian, or want help knowing how to live the Christian life, please email bazam44@gmail.com or gltm85@gmail.com or call Calvary Baptist Church, 432-523-3990.
