The Gospel. So simple, so freeing, so beautiful. Have you heard it? Even if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, when was the last time you heard the Gospel, soaked it into your soul, allowed it to transform you? If you’re not a believer, have you ever heard the Gospel and/or understood it? That’s what this post is dedicated to. Keep reading!
The Bible says that you and I are inherently sinful. We’re born with sin, and no amount of good deeds will earn us a place in heaven or give us favor in God’s sight. There is absolutely NOTHING you and I can do to get rid of our sin. Crazy, right? Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Here’s what the prophet Isaiah says about our good works in Isaiah 64:6 “we are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” In essence, because of our pervasive sinfulness, there is no way for you and I to have communion with God on our own- we are deserving of eternal punishment in hell. Romans 6:23 says “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
It all sounds pretty hopeless, until you get to the best news you’ll ever hear…
Jesus Christ was and is the one and only Son of God, who came to earth to live among us, fully man yet fully God (mind-blowing!). God incarnate. John 1:14 says “And the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus lived a perfect life without sin. He experienced everything we do as humans (pain, temptation, joy, anger, etc) yet never sinned. 1 Peter 2:22-23 says “He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted,nor threaten revenge when he suffered.He left his case in the hands of God,who always judges fairly.” Jesus Christ gave himself up to die for our sins, a bloody, painful death on a cross. Romans 5:8 says “but God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Three days after Jesus died and was buried, he rose from the dead, defeating the sin and death, and ascending to heaven! 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 states “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” He is the one and only way to heaven and communion with the Lord, as John 14:6 ” [Jesus speaking] I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Why did Jesus do all of this? Because He LOVES you, and wants you to have a relationship with Him so that you can spend eternity with Him in Heaven. When you put trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, you are able to have a relationship with the Most High God and your sins are taken away and replaced by Christ’s perfection. That doesn’t mean you’ll be a perfect person- in fact, you’re still going to sin every single day. But the beauty of salvation is that when you sin, you are forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross.
What now? How do you access this forgiveness and freedom from sin in Jesus Christ? Confess your sinfulness to Jesus, admit that you need a Savior, and ask Him to come into your life, telling Him you place your trust in Him. Acts 16:31 says “ they replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’”
This is the most important decision you will ever make, as it not only affects the here-and-now, but all of eternity. This is the gospel. Jesus Christ loves you so much that He gave his perfect life for your sins, and rose again on the third day that you may have abundant, satisfying life in Him. He is the ultimate Satisfier, ultimate Peace, Truth, and Creator. If you have any questions about Jesus Christ, who he is, the Bible, salvation – any questions at all, please comment and I will answer them to the best of my ability. I pray that if you’re not a believer, the gospel places burning questions in your heart and mind, and will not let you rest until you get them answered and find rest in Jesus Christ. Pick up a Bible- start reading the in book of John, see for yourself! Find answers!
If you’re a believer, be encouraged in your salvation, that you are His, your eternity is secure, and your identity is found as a child of the Most High King, and we will spend eternity together. May we never tire of preaching the gospel!
– yours truly, a sinner redeemed by the blood of Jesus “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe in Him is condemned already. because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” – John 3:16-18
The Road Less Traveled 