What is The Gospel?
What is the gospel? The word gospel means “good news”. Therefore the gospel is the good news that God is able to save sinners doomed for hell and save them from eternal punishment because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
The gospel is the good news that God is able to reconcile with sinful man and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the debt of sin that mankind could not pay (Mark 10:45).
Man is by nature sinful and therefore spiritually separated from God because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis3:6). Man cannot reconcile with God through his own efforts or his own ability but he can only be reconciled to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Therefore the gospel is the good news about the free gift of salvation that God graciously offers to anyone who would by faith turn to Jesus Christ and recognize Christ as the only way that a person can have an eternal relationship with God (John 14:1-6).
The gospel “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” in Christ Jesus as their personal Lord & Saviour (Romans 1:16).
Therefore, all of mankind needs to hear the gospel. People need to hear the good news that God offers salvation as a free gift and that Jesus Christ died that we may have an everlasting relationship with God.
Without Jesus Christ in our lives, we would be doomed for hell because of sin, however God offers us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
There are many false gospels that exist in the world – for example the “prosperity gospel”. However, such false “gospels” are not Biblical and these false gospels are not “the power of God to salvation” that Paul speaks of in Romans 1:16.
It’s therefore important to note that the TRUE gospel is the good news that God saves sinners through His Son Jesus Christ.
Below are components of understanding the true gospel…
What is sin?
All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17a). God is righteous. Sin is unrighteousness, the opposite of God’s nature. Sin is willful rebellion against God and His revealed will.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Sin is the violation of God’s law.
What is the consequence of sin?
a) Death (Romans 6:23)
b) Separation from God (Isaiah 59:1,2)
Why does man need salvation?
1. We are sinners (Romans 3:23)
2. Man’s righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)
3. Man cannot save himself (Acts 4:12)
4. Man cannot have a relationship with God without Christ (John 1:12)
5. Man will perish without salvation (John 3:16)
6. Man cannot have life without salvation (1 John 5:12,13)
The Bad News
a) We are sinners (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23)
b) The penalty for sin is hell (Romans 6:23)
c) Without Christ we are condemned (John 3:18)
The Good News / The Gospel
a) Whilst we were sinners Christ dies for us (Romans 5:8)
b) Jesus paid for our sins (1 John 2:2) (Mark 10:45)
c) There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1)
d) We have eternal life & relationship with God through Christ (John 14:2-6) (Colossians 1:21-22)
e) Salvation is a free gift; we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)
f) I can become a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus (John 1:12)
Do you now understand the gospel? Would you like to be a Christian & a follower of Jesus Christ as a result of understanding the gospel?
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???
1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.
2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.
3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.
4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God.
Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?
We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.
This prayer is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.
“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”
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