The Gospel (the “Good News”)

What is the “gospel“?

The gospel is the “good news” about what Jesus Christ has done to rescue us from sin and death and restore our broken relationship with God. Sin is anything that goes against God’s perfect commandments, such as lying, lusting, hating, coveting, or worshiping idols (see Exodus 20). Because of our sin, we are separated from God, but through Jesus, God has provided reconciliation, the way to salvation, and eternal life in Heaven.

To help explain this life-changing message, we’ve included colorful and meaningful illustrations below. We pray these will not only help you understand this good news but ultimately to believe it and receive it (i.e., God’s free gift of salvation must be received by faith, Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9)!

The Bible tells us that all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Because God is holy and righteous, He cannot tolerate or associate with sin, which is impure and evil, passed down to humanity through Adam and Eve (e.g., think of sin as a hereditary disease of which Jesus provided the cure). To make matters worse, the penalty for sin is spiritual death—eternal separation from God in a terrible and tormenting place called hell (Romans 6:23).

Many people attempt to earn their way back to God by doing good deeds, striving to be a good person, or practicing religious rituals. While these efforts may seem noble, none of them can cure the disease of sin or reconcile us to God. The problem is that no human effort can erase our sin or meet God’s perfect standard, and all these paths ultimately lead to the same outcome—the spiritual death penalty (eternal separation from God in hell).

The Bible makes it clear that there is only one cure for sin and one way to be reconciled to God—through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Fortunately, our great Creator, God, loves us deeply and does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Because of His amazing love, He devised an inconceivable rescue plan. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross approximately 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for our sins. His sinless blood, shed on the cross, provided atonement (a cure and cleansing) for our transgressions (John 3:16; Romans 5:9-10).

In other words, we, as sinners, broke God’s Law, but Jesus paid the penalty on our behalf. This allows God, the righteous Judge, to legally dismiss our case. Jesus was then buried and raised from the dead, demonstrating that God accepted His sacrifice. Through this incredible act, Jesus becomes the way—the “bridge”—that reconciles us to God (2 Corinthians 5:18).

Friends, this is the “gospel” story, and it truly is “good news”! 

The Bible tells us that if we:

• Repent—turn away from our sinful ways and turn toward God and His ways (Acts 3:19),

• Put our full trust in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), and

• Confess Him as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9),

then God pours out His supernatural and saving grace upon us. When this transformational process happens, the Bible says we:

• Are born again into a new life (1 Peter 1:23),

• Become children of God (John 1:12-13),

• Receive the Holy Spirit within us, along with many extraordinary gifts (Ephesians 1:13-14; Galatians 5:22-23), and

• Are promised eternal life in heaven with God (John 3:16).

Being a Christian means stepping into a new identity and a new life in Christ, and it’s important to understand that this is a lifelong and exciting journey! Beyond receiving God’s precious gift of salvation, this journey includes:

• Getting baptized (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4),

• Reading and studying the Bible and growing-up spiritually (Joshua 1:8; 1 Peter 2:2; Romans 12:2),

• Praying and talking to God (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13; Philippians 4:6-7),

• Learning and practicing obedience to God’s Word (Matthew 28:20; Joshua 1:8; James 1:22),

• Joining a Bible-based church to grow alongside other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26; Hebrews 10:24-25), and

• Sharing this good news with others (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Peter 3:15).

So, there’s even more good news!

In addition to saving us from the “penalty” of sin (hell and eternal separation from God), Jesus also provides salvation from the “power” of sin in our daily lives. Upon salvation, you are immediately cured of the spiritual disease of sin in your spirit (our connection with God). However, the sin nature continues to influence our mind/soul and body (collectively our “flesh”) until the ongoing process of renewing our minds takes place.

Because of the Holy Spirit living within us, and through the application of our faith, we now have the power to resist sin and live victoriously! The Bible tells us that we have died to sin and are no longer slaves to it (Romans 6:6, 11-12). When temptation comes knocking, our faith in God’s promises, coupled with the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, enables us to overcome it. This includes breaking free from negative thought patterns, harmful habits, addictions, and other struggles that once held us captive.

To help further understand this incredible aspect of God’s salvation and living-in-victory plan, please see the informational chart below!

Ok, friends, there’s still more good news!  Did you know that joining God’s family (repenting and believing/receiving Jesus as your Lord) comes with many “family benefits”?  Some of these include: 

♥  Eternity in heaven (clearly the #1 benefit)

♥  Joy (divine “joy” which is deep and lasting and not based on circumstances)

♥  Peace (divine “peace” which is deep and lasting and not based on circumstances)

♥  Love (divine “love” that is selfless, unconditional, and never-ending)

♥  God’s Presence (via the Holy Spirit indwelling us)

♥  God’s Power

♥  God’s Protection

♥  God’s Provisions

♥  God’s Promises

♥  God’s Mercy and Blessing

♥  Divine Healing and Deliverance

In summary, it’s no wonder Jesus told us that he came to not only give us life, but also to give it to us more fully and abundantly (John 10:10)!  Thank you Lord!

Prayer to Receive God’s Gift of Salvation

If you would like to receive this free gift from God, here is a simple prayer you can pray. Saying this prayer is a way to express your faith, surrender your life to God, and declare that you are trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior while actively receiving His free gift of salvation.

“God, I know I have sinned against You and deserve punishment. But I believe that Jesus, Your Son, took the punishment I deserve by dying on the cross and that You raised Him from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death. I now declare Jesus as my Lord and Savior and choose to live for You. Thank You for Your amazing grace, forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life! In Jesus’ name, amen.”