The Gospel
Gospel means "Good News." But this Good News is preceded by bad news, and that bad news is this: We are all born into sin with wicked hearts. We are all sinners by our nature.
Creation & Mankind
Genesis Chapters 1 & 2
God created the heavens and the earth in a perfect state. God also created all creatures of the waters, land, and sky. He also created man (Adam) and woman (Eve). They were sinless. Adam and Eve were naked and did not feel shame because they were sinless. Adam and Eve were in Paradise (Eden). Adam was to take care of paradise. God told them to "be fruitful and multiply." Most scholars believe Eden was in Iraq because the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are listed in the book of Genesis during the creation account. God gave all the creatures green plants to eat from and live. God gave Adam and Eve trees in the garden to eat from and live. They would live forever from the fruit that God gave them to eat. There was no death for man nor beast. Perfect man and perfect woman living in a perfect world, walking with God. But there was one thing God forbade them to do. God told them that they could eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The Bad News-The Rebellion
Genesis Chapter 3
Satan, inhabiting a serpent, tempted Eve to eat the fruit and she did. He told her that by eating it she would be like God. She ate and then gave some to Adam, and he ate. Their eyes were opened and they became aware of their nakedness. They were ashamed. Adam once walked with God, now he hid from Him. God confronted Adam and Eve. That one act of disobedience, of rebellion, brought a curse into the world. Creation was under the curse of sin. We see this in nature. There are earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, famines... Mankind was now under the curse of sin. In the hearts and actions of people there is lying, anger, hatred, war, jealousy, murder, stealing, lust, sexual sin, greed, drunkneness, drug abuse, idol worship and the like. All creatures that would have lived forever would now physically die. Adam and Eve and all who came from them (You and I) would die physically and spiritually, separated from God forever.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned Romans 5:12
Though God could have destroyed the earth and man, he did not. Instead, God's plan of redemption for you and me was put into action.
The Good News
The Redemption of Man
2000 years ago a child was born in Israel, in the city of Bethlehem. His name was Jesus. He was not only human, He was divine. He was the eternal God who stepped down from His throne in Heaven to become the perfect sacrifice. Unlike Adam, He lived a perfect sinless life and when He was around 30 years of age, He travelled throughout Israel healing the sick, raising the dead and preaching the Gospel. He did this for 3 years. He knew what he came for - He came to die for the sins of the world for anyone who would believe in Him. Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. He died and 3 days later arose from death.
Isaiah 53: 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Why did Jesus have to die?
Because God is Holy. God demands justice and payment for sin. Jesus died because God loves us and paid the debt that none of us could pay on our own. Jesus was the only one who could have paid that debt and He did. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, sent by God for you and for me. Jesus carried out God's plan of redemption by His perfect and sinless life, His crucifixion, His death, burial, and resurrection. He was and is the Only one who can reconcile us to God. He is at the right hand of God and will return one day for all who believe, trust, and follow Him.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men (Adam's trespass) , so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men (Jesus' act). For as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (Jesus) the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The words of Jesus
But I'm a good person. Why do I need saved?
You may be a good and ethical person who does all the right things, a model citizen of planet earth, so why do you need to repent and believe? Because none of us are good enough to make it to Heaven on our own.
Romans 3:10 as it is written: THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUS PERSON, NOT EVEN ONE;
God is Holy, perfect, and sinless. We are not. He demands justice and the only way He will accept us is by the imputed righteousness of His son Jesus Christ. That is, God will credit us the righteousness of Christ if we truly believe and put our trust in Him. The justice that God demands for our sins has been served.
The debt has been paid. Paid in full by Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus Christ's invitation to you. Come to Him and be Saved.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11: 28-30
Your Response is Required.
This is personal. If you are reading this, God has placed you here for a reason.
He loves you and has made a way for you - the only way is Jesus Christ.
Will you believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and was raised from the dead?
If you truly believe and have sorrow for your sins, then rejoice! This is the kindness of God that is leading you to repentance.
Repentance is knowing that you need saved and that you can't do it on your own, by your own works. Repentance is having a Godly sorrow for your sin. Repentance means to turn to a different direction - turning from sin and turning toward God. Repentance is a change in heart, a change in your thinking. To give up your life to Christ - to trust and follow Him. To live a life of repentance is to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
And though we can't follow Him in perfection, this must be our direction, our affection, and our love - Jesus Christ.
Reverend Matthew Henry (1662-1714) wrote:
Though nothing can be given as a price for this salvation, yet much must be given up for the sake of it.
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. " Matthew 16:24 The words of Jesus
It won't be easy and you won't be perfect, but God will not turn you away.
You will gain Heaven. You will escape Hell.
There Will Be Joy in Heaven Over You
You will be a child of God - a new creation. You will live under the Grace of God. You will have the Holy Spirit of God within you. In this world you will have trouble but God will never leave you. You will be with Him forever after you die. Call on Him. Cry out to Him. Place your trust in Him. Confess your sins to Him and He will welcome you into His kingdom.
You are important to God.
Jesus said this: ...there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
GOD LOVES YOU!
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
that 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
"Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away."
John 6:37 The words of Jesus
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,
John 11:25