The Gospel
The Christian faith is built around the Gospel, the good news that God has done everything necessary to make us right with him through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus. While this message begins in the darkness of sin, it quickly bursts into the light of grace.
Romans 3:23
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
The reality of sin is both universal and very personal. According to Romans 3:23, all people are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. While we often think of sin as bad choices and acts of disobedience, it is deeper than that. It is a corruption of the soul that pits us against the holiness of God. This corruption reveals itself in our bad choices and acts of disobedience. This sinful nature infects every human soul from the moment of birth, making all people the enemies of God and accountable to his judgment.
The reality of sin is both universal and very personal. According to Romans 3:23, all people are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. While we often think of sin as bad choices and acts of disobedience, it is deeper than that. It is a corruption of the soul that pits us against the holiness of God. This corruption reveals itself in our bad choices and acts of disobedience. This sinful nature infects every human soul from the moment of birth, making all people the enemies of God and accountable to his judgment.
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Sin is a terrible thing. It is defiance against God, the righteous, holy, and sovereign Creator. This sin deserves punishment and the only punishment appropriate is death, both physical and spiritual. Physical death is the dying of one's body and spiritual death is the dying of the soul by being eternally separated from God in the literal place called Hell. Despite our deserving this punishment, God does not desire it for us, his beloved creation. In his love, he has done everything necessary to give us eternal life in his Son, Jesus.
Sin is a terrible thing. It is defiance against God, the righteous, holy, and sovereign Creator. This sin deserves punishment and the only punishment appropriate is death, both physical and spiritual. Physical death is the dying of one's body and spiritual death is the dying of the soul by being eternally separated from God in the literal place called Hell. Despite our deserving this punishment, God does not desire it for us, his beloved creation. In his love, he has done everything necessary to give us eternal life in his Son, Jesus.
Romans 5:8-10
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."
Jesus, the eternal Son of God, showed the love of God for us when he left the glories of Heaven and took on a human nature (Philippians 2:1-11). He entered into our world, lived a sinless life, and died as a sacrifice for our sins. The perfect justice of God cannot ignore our sin and therefore demands that it be punished by death. However, God in his unfailing love desires to give us life, making us right with him, now and forever. On the cross, Jesus received the wrath of God in our place so that the demands of justice would be met. This death was followed by his resurrection from the dead in which he gained victory over death, providing new and eternal life for all who would turn to him in faith.
Jesus, the eternal Son of God, showed the love of God for us when he left the glories of Heaven and took on a human nature (Philippians 2:1-11). He entered into our world, lived a sinless life, and died as a sacrifice for our sins. The perfect justice of God cannot ignore our sin and therefore demands that it be punished by death. However, God in his unfailing love desires to give us life, making us right with him, now and forever. On the cross, Jesus received the wrath of God in our place so that the demands of justice would be met. This death was followed by his resurrection from the dead in which he gained victory over death, providing new and eternal life for all who would turn to him in faith.
Romans 10:9
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Belief is the response of our heart to the grace that God displayed in Jesus. This belief is more than a mental acknowledgement; it is an active faith, trusting in Jesus. It is a total dependence upon Jesus, his sacrifice, and his resurrection from the dead to deliver us from sin and make us right with God. It is this faith in Jesus alone that results in our confessing him (declaring him) to be Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved "by grace", "through faith". Faith is simply the avenue by which the grace of God brings new life to sinners. God, in his grace, provided for our salvation in the sacrifice of Jesus, calls us to salvation, brings us to faith, and gives new life at the moment of faith.
Belief is the response of our heart to the grace that God displayed in Jesus. This belief is more than a mental acknowledgement; it is an active faith, trusting in Jesus. It is a total dependence upon Jesus, his sacrifice, and his resurrection from the dead to deliver us from sin and make us right with God. It is this faith in Jesus alone that results in our confessing him (declaring him) to be Lord and Savior. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved "by grace", "through faith". Faith is simply the avenue by which the grace of God brings new life to sinners. God, in his grace, provided for our salvation in the sacrifice of Jesus, calls us to salvation, brings us to faith, and gives new life at the moment of faith.
Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
In Jesus Christ, sinners are set free from the power of sin over them and the penalty of sin that previously awaited them. Jesus took our place of punishment so that we could enjoy his life, his blessings, and his presence forever. In the moment of faith, we are united to Jesus Christ and adopted into the family of God, being delivered from God's eternal judgment of sin. We can live our lives in freedom, honoring God and serving Christ from a place of gratitude instead of fear. Because we are no longer condemned, we can be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1-2) and can live for something better than anything the world has to offer, the glory of God.
In Jesus Christ, sinners are set free from the power of sin over them and the penalty of sin that previously awaited them. Jesus took our place of punishment so that we could enjoy his life, his blessings, and his presence forever. In the moment of faith, we are united to Jesus Christ and adopted into the family of God, being delivered from God's eternal judgment of sin. We can live our lives in freedom, honoring God and serving Christ from a place of gratitude instead of fear. Because we are no longer condemned, we can be transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1-2) and can live for something better than anything the world has to offer, the glory of God.
If you have read this Gospel message and think that God is calling you to salvation in Jesus, we hope that you will bow your head and call upon Jesus in faith to deliver you from sin and confess him as your Lord. Please reach out to us if you would like to speak with someone.