What Is the Gospel?
What Is the Gospel?
God is holy, sovereign, and transcendent. Because of this, He deserves and demands obedience to His commands.
- Isaiah 6:3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
We are sinful, both in nature and in practice. Because of this, we deserve judgment and punishment from God.
- Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
God is gracious, merciful and kind. Because of this, He longs to save those who would believe in Him and glorify Him.
- Ezekiel 18:23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?”
This leads to the biggest problem in terms of salvation: How can a holy God forgive unholy people without becoming unholy Himself?
Jesus is God and became a real human being:
- To live a perfect life.
- Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
- To die a sacrificial death.
- Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- To conquer death by the resurrection from the dead.
- 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- To return in glory to rule and to reign.
This fixes the problem: Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, God can be holy (just) and receive us (justifier) without compromise. Romans 3:24–27
God graciously offers salvation (deliverance from His wrath) to anyone who will turn to Him through Christ, trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice alone for salvation.
- John 1:12–13 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, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
- Romans 10:12–13. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”
We must act on these promises by placing our trust in Christ.
- Reflect on the problem—God calls us to think.
- Recognize your sinfulness—God calls us to humility.
- Repent of your sins—God calls us to turn.
- Receive a free offer of deliverance—God calls us to ask.
Have you ever asked Him? Have you ever come to Him?
- Matthew 11:29-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”