The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Emily L Wilson
- Jan 8, 2017
- 7 min read
Not only is this the most life changing news that we could ever hear, but the most amazing. The word 'gospel' means good news. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the wonderful news of Jesus' coming to earth, that enabled a way for us to receive forgiveness of sins and a way for us to receive eternal life. The Bible verse John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life". God loves the whole world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins, so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have everlasting life!
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" Colossians 1:14.
"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." Romans 10:9.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
John 14:6 tells us "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Perish? What are we going to perish for? Why would we? At the beginning of creation, when the first man sinned, mankind has been condemned to death. No one can be released us from this penalty except through the blood of Jesus.
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—" Romans 5:12
We have all done things that are against God's perfect law and word, by committing sin. We are all guilty.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins." Romans 3:23-25
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:17-21
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
There is a punishment for the crime of sin and that is physical death, and then spending an eternity in a place full of punishment and torment, an eternity separated from God; this eternal separation from God is the second death. This awful place is called hell.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14-15.
The fact that we are all guilty of sin and are condemned to an eternity of punishment is very bad news, but so fortunately for God's love for you and I, He has made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take and pay the price and the penalty that we deserve! He willingly did this for us through death on a cross.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth." 1 Peter 2:22
"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:23
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24
"You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin." 1 John 3:5
When Jesus went to the cross and bore our sins and our penalty, God ensured us that all who believe in the name of Jesus and in His resurrection on the third day, will be forgiven and set free.
"To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Acts 10:43
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matthew 20:17-19
"And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31
The amazing thing is that God loves us so much that He provided a way for us to be freed from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23). God does not want anyone to perish.
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
Unfortunately, we do not all die and go to Heaven, only those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Saviour will receive eternal life.
"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
God does not want to scare us into following Him and accepting Jesus, the cross was a demonstration of His love for us, for you! When people pass away and are condemned to eternal punishment, it is not because God rejected them, but it is because they rejected God their entire life. God is so loving that He will never force us to follow Him, He has given us a choice and a free will to accept Him or not.
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
This is the best news that anyone of us could ever hear!
"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
It is up to you to decide what you will do with this news and our choice determines our eternity. Sin separates us from God in this life and in our destined eternity if we die a life without the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:1-2
God created you to have a relationship with you, and Jesus died so that you may know God and be freed from darkness and sin.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
Being alive truly starts when you begin living your life for and with Jesus Christ as your Saviour. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Do not let the chains and the bondage of sin continue to hold you captive any longer, let the blood of Jesus set you free. Allow Him to remove your hurt, your scars, your tears, your anger, whatever it is, He understands. He took it all for you on the cross. No matter who you are, no matter what you look like, no matter what religion you came from, no matter what you've done, Jesus is calling you. He wants to set you free and replace your burdens with joy.
"As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
It is amazing how our eyes can be so blind to this truth, but when we repent of our sins and ask Jesus for forgiveness, He will forgive you and your eyes will be opened and it is as if your past has been washed away and you have been given a whole new beginning, you receive true life.
God wants to give you the best things possible in life! God is calling you to choose and receive life today. You are so loved more than you could ever imagine, by someone who died to know you.
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
