What is the Gospel

As human beings, we must not deny the truth that God is the creator of the entire universe and has complete authority over it. In the Scriptures we are told that in the beginning of time, God created this world by his own word (Gn 1:1; Heb 1:1-5). Another way of putting it, God is so powerful and mighty that he spoke the whole universe into being. Therefore, since God is the creator, he has full ownership over his creation (Ps. 24:1). If God has full ownership and authority over the creation, everything created is subject to him. Along with God’s rule over the entire universe, he also is the sustainer of all life and maintains order in the world. The Bible states that by the power of his word he holds the universe together (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3). Since God sustains the universe, every creature including you and me are indebted to him for everything, from the air we breath to the beating of our hearts.

Having understood that God is the creator, one must also recognize God’s character. We must understand that God is holy and requires holiness from us (Lev. 11:45). Jesus says, we must be perfect as God is perfect (Matt. 5:48). God is so utterly holy that the Scriptures tell us that man cannot see him and live (Ex 33:20). In the book of Isaiah, the prophet declared judgment on himself for even being found in the presence of the Lord (Is. 6:5). Because God is perfectly holy and righteous, everything he does is right and just. 1 John 1:5 tells us that there is no darkness (or sin) in God. Therefore, no one can bring an accusation against him for doing wrong. God is the standard of right.

Due to the fact that God is perfectly holy, righteous, and just, he cannot accept anything less than perfect righteousness from us. The apostle Peter reminds us of the Lord’s words “You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Pet. 1:16).” James tells us that if we break one of God’s commandments we are actually guilty of breaking them all (Jm. 2:10). This means God will not accept partial obedience. Because of his character, he by nature must uphold 100% perfection as the standard.

Now, most people believe that they are pretty good and some might even believe they do not sin. However, if we are to examine ourselves in light of God’s law we quickly see our failure. For instance, have you ever told a lie, if you have you, are a liar (Ex. 20). Have you ever stolen anything in your life (value does not matter)? If so you are a thief (Ex. 20). Have you looked at a person to lust after him or her? Jesus says to do so you commit adultery with that person in your heart (Ex. 20; Matt. 5:28). Do you at every moment love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength? This is the greatest commandment, and to fail to be obedient is to commit idolatry (Ex. 20; Matt. 22:36-38). If you are honest with yourself, you are guilty of all these and you must stand before God with him viewing you (at the least) as a lying, thieving, adulterous, idolator.

In light of what has been stated so far you may ask yourself, “Why is it that we cannot live up to God’s perfect standard?” The answer to that question goes back to the first two created humans, Adam and Eve. After God created the world in six days, including Adam and Eve, everything was said to be good (Gen. 1:31). In other words the world was perfect and there was no sin in it. However, Adam rebelled against God’s command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3). Therefore, sin entered the world and the entire universe was infected. Due to Adam’s sin the entire human race is plunged into a state of imperfection and sin reigns in the lives of people (Rom. 5:12). The infection of sin is so pervasive that even from the womb a child is afflicted (Ps. 51:5). We do not become sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.

You and every other person in the world are born sinners (Rom. 3:23). This means you have offended a holy God and are living in rebellion against him. The Bible says we are enemies of God (Rom. 5:10; 11:26). Again the Scripture reminds us that as long as we are in rebellion against God, we are storing up wrath for ourselves (Rom. 1:18-32). Therefore, if we die in our current state we will go to hell for eternity (Mt. 25:46).

Another thing you need to understand is that because you are a sinner and have offended God, you cannot gain his favor (Rom. 8:8). Therefore, you cannot repay God for all the sinful things you have done with good. In God’s eyes everything you do is evil (Rom. 3:10-18). Even the so called good things we do in this life, in God’s eyes are like a filthy rag (Is. 64:6). Keeping this in mind, the Bible is stating that all humanity is on its way to hell. We all love ourselves more than Jesus and we demonstrate we are his enemy by indulging in the lusts of the flesh rather than the righteousness of God. Our payment for this is death, both physical and spiritual, in hell (Rom. 3:23).

On the outset it looks as if you, me and everyone else has no hope. However, God provided salvation for us because we are all destined for hell and cannot change that. The means by which humanity has hope is through the person Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus is God (Jn 1:1). In order to save people from their sins Jesus left his throne in heaven and became a man (Phil. 2:6-7). This is an amazing truth, that the eternal God who created the whole universe came to earth to live among his creation. Why did he do that? Jesus tells us in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The reason Jesus died was to be a substitute. He took our place on the cross by being treated by God as a sinner (although he was perfect), so that we could be treated as righteous (perfect like Jesus) and gain eternal life. This is what the Bible means when it says, God made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might because the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

This Jesus, is the revelation of God (Col 1:15), the Bible states he is the exact imprint of the nature of God (Heb. 1:3). What this means is that he lived for approximately thirty-three years in perfect obedience to God the Father. Because he is righteous, holy, and good, Jesus is the only person who could save us from our sins. See, because God is holy and perfect, he must execute justice. The Bible says the payment for sin is death (Rom. 3:23) However, since Jesus did not sin and did not have a sinful nature infected by Adam he is able to take the punishment of sin that is meant to be for the world (Rom. 5).

Jesus, God in human flesh, came to earth to live the perfect life that you and I should have. He bore the punishment for the sins of the world. He died, was in the grave, and after three days he raised himself from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Christ’s death on the cross defeated death and sin and satisfied the wrath of God (Col 2:13-15).

This good news that Jesus has taken your sin and given you righteousness only applies if you give you life to him. Not everyone is forgiven of their sins, but only those who come and place their faith and trust in Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me (Jn 14:6).” This means you cannot get to God by another religion, nor can you try harder to be good enough to go to heaven. If you understand that you are a sinner, your only hope is the free grace and mercy of God, found in Jesus. The apostle Paul reminds us that salvation comes only through the grace of God through faith in Christ, and this is a free gift not as a result from being good. This way no one can take credit for their salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Every person in the world is in need of the perfect righteousness of God. Because we are infected with sin, it is impossible to attain that righteousness. However, if you come to Jesus, his perfect righteousness will be credited to your life (2 Cor. 5:21).

Finally, I will closed by explaining how a person can come to Jesus. You must truly come to an understanding that you are a sinner in rebellion to God and destined for hell. Believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Believe that he died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin and believe that he defeated sin by raising from the dead on the third day. Respond to this by repenting or turning away from the sin in your life and trust Jesus to credit your life with his righteousness. Trust him like you would trust a parachute if you were jumped out of a plane. Hold on to Jesus because if you do not, you will die.

The Bible gives this great promise “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 (Rom. 10:9). ” It is my prayer that after reading what I have written, you will understand what this verse means. Please do not wait any longer to get right with God. You are living on borrowed time and if you die apart from knowing Christ you will spend eternity in hell paying the punishment for your sin.