The Problem – Sin
Before we can truly appreciate the Gospel, we must first understand the truth about ourselves. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We’ve all thought a wrong thought, said the wrong thing, or done things we knew wasn’t right. The Bible word for this is “sin.”
Because God is holy and just, sin has a penalty. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” The truth about death is that it’s a word that means separation. Sin will always separate us from God. This is not just true physically, but spiritually as well. The Bible says that for those that have not had their sins covered, they will experience a spiritual separation from God known as the “Second Death” in a place often referred to as Hell.
That’s the bad news. But the good news is this…
God’s Love and Christ’s Sacrifice
God loves you. Yes, YOU. He loves you not in a generic sense, but in a real, personal way. Despite all of your sin and choices to turn from Him, He cares deeply for you and desires a relationship with you.
He knew there was no way for you to be reconciled to Him, so He made the first move…
John 3:16 says, “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.”
Jesus Christ came to this earth, lived a sinless life, and then gave his life to pay the penalty that our sins deserved. 2 Corinthians 5:21, speaking of Jesus, says, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
He was buried, and three days later, something incredible happened… Jesus rose from the dead.
Why It Matters
This is the Gospel: His death, burial, and resurrection.
And the Bible makes it clear—Jesus is the only way to heaven. On your own, you’re dead in trespasses and sins. But Jesus has made a way, really THE WAY for us to be forgiven of our sins and restored from the separation we deserve.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The Response
So how should you respond to this information?
The Bible tells us in Acts 20:21 about “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Repentance means a change of mind that leads to a change in direction. Until this point you have been walking after your own thoughts and desires. It has lead to sin and separation. God asks you to TURN FROM your sin and TURN TO the only hope: Jesus Christ.
Faith means placing your full trust in Jesus Christ alone—believing that He died for YOU, was buried, and rose again, and that He is YOUR only hope of salvation. You must rest fully in His finished work on the cross.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”