The Gospel is the most important message you will ever hear…
The gospel is a message. It literally means “good news.” It’s the summary message of god’s plan for you, your greatest spiritual need, and why jesus is the most important figure in all of history.
The Gospel
God created the entire universe in perfection, including the first people, Adam and Eve. There was only one prohibition in the Garden of Eden, that Adam and Eve should not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In rebellion to God, Adam ate of the fruit and plunged himself and all of humanity into a condition of sinful brokenness. This first sin brought a curse upon the entire human race; resulting in physical death and an inability to stop sinning. Every person is now born into sin, meaning that they are unable to worship God and love the things of God – unless God reaches out.
While many religions teach that there are different ways to know God and make yourself clean by rituals, works of charity, or adherence to a philosophy, the Bible teaches that there is one exclusive way; faith in Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin and lived a life that perfectly pleased God in every way. Jesus taught and performed amazing miracles, but the main reason that He came to the earth was to die a death in our place, removing our sin. Some 2000 years ago, Jesus was nailed to a cross like a criminal. He died and was placed in a tomb. There was great confusion among His followers. He had claimed to be God. He had claimed to usher in the Kingdom of God. He had claimed to be the long awaited Jewish Messiah.
Three days later on a Sunday morning, the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead; the stone over the entrance to the tomb was rolled away and Jesus walked out, alive, in a physical body. He appeared to several women, His disciples, and then to about five hundred others. Forty days later He ascended into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father. He challenged His disciples to tell everyone what they had seen, first in Jerusalem, then to Judea and Samaria, and then on to the world.
This message is called the gospel, the “good news.” We believe that Jesus came from heaven to be a sin offering to God the Father. God was atoning for the sin of Adam in the garden so long ago, and for the sins that we commit everyday. God was redeeming a people for Himself. Those who turn from their sin and trust in Jesus as the only way of salvation will be saved from eternal judgment. God has accomplished salvation for His people. Those who take refuge in the work of Christ will be saved, the penalty of their sin cancelled. Where Adam failed, Jesus prevailed.
Now we have a wonderful hope and purpose in this life. We share this gospel with all of creation until Jesus returns. We believe that one day Jesus will bodily and visibly return in full glory to execute judgment and inaugurate a new heaven and a new earth where we can enjoy Him forever. He is restoring all things. He is making all things new. What a blessed hope.
What a joy to know the God of all creation and worship Him for eternity! Amen.
The Gospel in Video Format
Not much of a reader? Watch this video that explains the gospel.