Wayne's World...(3May09)

What is the Gospel?

Wayne Duncan

 

Romans 5:19 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.

John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

These scriptures catch the heart of our Gospel message.

Adam (the first Adam) sinned, and all humanity fell. All mankind bore the consequences of Adams fall.

Jesus came and was perfectly obedient to the Fathers requirements to make redemption available to all. Jesus was perfectly obedient, and as a result all who place their trust in Him will be made righteous right relationship with Him).

John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

This further captures the Gospel message.

God is a loving father, He loved the world so much that he gave His only Son.

Jesus is Gods only Son. Jesus is the Son of God…he is Lord, He is divine, he has always been and always will be. He is worthy of worship, all creation was made through Him…he is the uncreated one.

The heart of the Gospel is not a message of condemnation but a message of salvation.

Salvation means forgiveness of sins, healing, wellness of body soul and spirit. It contains elements of protection and guarding.  It also means we have been declared innocent by the Father through Jesus perfect obedience and sacrifice, through belief in Him.

When we believe righteousness come to us. We are declared righteous. This means we are given Christ's perfect obedience, as a gift, and this is how the father sees us. Righteous, for we have been Justified.

We see too that there is condemnation and perishing for those who do not believe in Jesus. The bible clearly teaches that there is a lost eternity for those who do not believe in Jesus. There is hell awaiting those who do not place their trust in Jesus, and it is eternal.

But for those who believe in Jesus, there is eternal life. All eternity will be spent in heaven with the king of kings and the king of glory.

When we believe in Jesus, we are using faith.  God helps us to have faith but at the end of the day each individual has to respond to the fathers drawing, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In responding we receive salvation. In that moment we pass from death to life, a new creation is born within us. This creation, this new life is alive to God, and is perfect. This is the core of who we are, made perfect forever. This new creation carries the power of God, the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This new creation is who we are in Christ. Living from this place is our new way of life.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Every person will appear before God one day on a day called the day of Judgment. Every person will be judged. Those who do not believe in Jesus will be cast into the eternal lake of fire, along with the angels and demons. Those who do believe, will be declared innocent by Jesus, and  will spend all eternity with God, the angels and the redeemed in Heaven.

Friends salvation is available to all who will believe in Jesus. If you do believe in Jesus you are saved, declared innocent and blameless before the father. If you do not believe in Jesus, turn to Him today, and he will receive you. He will declare you innocent and not count your unbelief against you. He loves you, he demonstrated this by the giving of His son. The reward is God himself. We will have fellowship with God in this life and in the life to come. You'll enter eternal peace, eternal rest and be loved by the great lover for ever.