The Gospel

The Bible explains that a problem exists between God and man. Man was created with free will. Our first father, Adam, used his free will and disobeyed God’s command. When that happened, sin entered into the world. The perfect conditions that existed at the beginning no longer existed. The creation itself fell into disorder. Man, who was created to live in God’s presence and fellowship with Him, could no longer do so.

God                /////// X ///////                Man

God is perfect and holy. Nothing imperfect can remain before God. But God knew this would be the case. He knew that without experiential knowledge, man could not understand or appreciate God. In sinning, man gained this knowledge, but it was a high cost to pay.

Evil, the absence of goodness, abounds. It exists in our hearts, and it surrounds us in ten thousand different ways. Sin is the problem, and the Bible identifies what God has done to correct it in man.

Throughout history, God has slowly and methodically worked through His plan of redemption. Each step has been given so that when it is complete, every question will be answered for us to understand the glorious nature of what He has done.

This is what the Bible is for. It explains how God has fixed the problem of sin in man so that we can again have fellowship with Him. The Bible can take a lifetime of study, but the gospel, the good news, is simple.

God united with humanity in the womb of a virgin. Christ Jesus, the God/Man, was born under the law that He gave to Israel. He lived perfectly before the Father, never sinning. He then gave His life in exchange for our sins. The Bible says –

“20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Corinthians 5:20-21

This is what the cross signifies. In Jesus’ cross, God’s wrath for sin was poured out on His own Son. Now, through faith in what Jesus has done, God credits Jesus’ righteousness to those who believe.

The good news is that because Jesus never sinned, death could not hold Him. He prevailed over death and was resurrected on the third day.

This tells us that our sin is forever forgiven. He took it to the grave with Him. If our sin remained on Jesus, He would have remained dead. But He prevailed in His own righteousness while removing our sin! Jesus has done it.

The good news of Jesus Christ is explained in 1 Corinthians 15: Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again according to Scripture.

“1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4

The Old Testament foretold these things would come to pass. The New Testament confirms they occurred. God only asks you to believe this simple gospel. By faith, trust in Jesus. He is the Lord who loves you and died so that you could live. Through faith in Him, you will be granted eternal life because your sin debt has been paid. In due time, God will raise those who trust in Him to be in His presence again forever.

God has promised this in His word. Believe the gospel and then learn to know this wonderful Savior by reading His word each day.

“In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.” Ephesians 1:13 (CSB)