Introduction
The Gospel
What is the Gospel?
The Gospel is the "Good News" about what God has done to save sinners through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
God as Creator: God is the creator of all things. He is perfectly holy and worthy of all our worship and He will punish sin because He is just.
Genesis 1:1 (NASB 1995) "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Revelation 4:8 (NASB 1995) "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come."
Romans 1:18 (NASB 1995) "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness"
Human Sinfulness: All people, though originally created good, have become sinful by nature and by choice. From birth, we are alienated from God, hostile to God, and rebelling against God. Therefore, we are subject to the wrath of God and deserve eternal separation from Him.
Romans 3:23 (NASB 1995) "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 5:12 (NASB 1995) "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
Ephesians 2:1-2 (NASB 1995) "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience."
God's Love and Jesus' Sacrifice: Despite our sinfulness, God loves us. Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human, lived a sinless life. He died on the cross to bear God's wrath in the place of all who would believe in Him, and rose from the grave to grant forgiveness and eternal life to His people
Romans 5:8 (NASB 1995) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 (NASB 1995) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB 1995) "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Matthew 28:6 (NASB 1995)"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying."
Call to Repentance and Faith: God calls everyone everywhere to turn from their sins and trust in Christ in order to be saved. This salvation is a gift that Christ alone has accomplished and can offer to us.
Acts 17:30 (NASB 1995) "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent."
Mark 1:14-15 (NASB 1995) "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'"
Romans 10:9 (NASB 1995) "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."
Grace and Faith: We are not saved because of our good works, but only by God's grace, through faith.
Romans 6:23 (NASB 1995) "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB 1995) "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Titus 3:5 (NASB 1995) "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."