The Gospel​
God Is
The Bible declares that we are created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with. He created mankind (human beings) to have a relationship with Him because He loves us.
There IS God, and He is real, true, holy, righteous, and just. The Almighty Creator of the universe. The New Testament reveals it was Jesus Himself who created everything (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). He owns and rules everything (Psalm 103:19). Therefore, He has authority over our lives and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience, and worship.
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1
"Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him." Deuteronomy 4:35
God Is Holy
God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3); therefore He cannot commit or approve of evil (James 1:13). God requires holiness of us as well. First Peter 1:16 says, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Mankind Is Sinful
However, the Holy Scriptures declare that everyone is guilty of sin: There is no man who does not sin (1 Kings 8:46). We're utterly incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12).
So then, sin is completely missing the mark God set for human beings. A total failure to obey God, and an absolute corruption of the soul which separates you from God.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
God's holiness and justice demands that all sin be punished by eternal death (Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23). That's why simply changing our patterns of behavior cannot solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
How Did We Get Like This?
When God created the first man (Adam), giving him commands to obey, Adam disobeyed and sinned (Genesis 3:6,7), and as a result from then on all mankind was in sin and separated from God (Romans 5:12).
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
And also, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12)
And again, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus is God, the Son, come down to us from the Father to save mankind from sin. He is the savior of our souls come to rescue us from sin and hell, and bring us back to God.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus Is Lord and Savior
Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. Even though God's justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18).
Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice, and Christ's perfect life satisfied the demands of God's holiness (2 Corinthians 5:21), thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans 3:26).
What Is The Gospel?
The gospel means "good news" and it is this, that God sent Jesus to come into the world to save us from sin and hell and bring us back into a right relationship with God. You must believe in your heart and mind that Jesus Christ is real, lived on earth, died, was crucified, buried, and rose from the grave as payment for your sin.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;” (Acts 10:39-40)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
How Do We Become Saved?
It is completely God the Holy Spirit that does the work (John 3:3). It is all by His free gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8,9).
You must accept that God exists, realize and admit you are separated from God, and in total sin. And that you fall short of God’s requirements. Which separates you from God and from obtaining salvation which is eternal life. You must realize the penalty for your sin:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12
“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)
Salvation is believing in Jesus Christ, putting your faith (fully believing with your whole heart and mind) that Jesus Christ paid for your sins. It is not a casual believing but one of change. An example would be something like: "I do not at all believe pigs fly." Then you see them fly and you now believe. You go from not believing to now believing.
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:15-16)
“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
Jesus saves us, forgives our sins, and brings us back to God.
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The Character of Saving Faith
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." That means you are born again and no longer live as you did in the past. You forsake sins, love, serve, and follow Jesus. You are living according to God's ways and obeying Him.
