Good News
Gospel is a word that means "Good News." What Good News do we have to share with the world? Simply this: Jesus Christ died and rose again for sinners like you and me. In the gospel, three foundational principles are revealed: 1) God is holy, and equally just and kind, 2) all people are depraved sinners, and 3) Jesus Christ alone appeases the Father's justice and shows kindness to sinners. Therefore, what must man do to be right with God? He must believe the Good News!
God is holy.
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3).
God tells us that he is holy, which means that he is morally perfect and completely distinct from all created things. For instance, while we have a beginning and an end, God always exists.
Because God is holy, he will judge the whole world because we have all failed to honor him as he deserves and obey him as Lord over all.
People are sinful.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Unlike God, all humans everywhere and at all times have sinned, thus committing treason and rebellion against God our Creator.
To illustrate, let's imagine all your private thoughts and secrets were burned onto a DVD. Then, all your friends and family were invited to watch this DVD. Wouldn't you be embarrassed and ashamed?
All of us have sinned and, therefore, are deserving of God's condemnation.
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23).
Jesus Christ is the only savior.
"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Even though all humans are deserving of God's wrath, God has graciously provided his Son as a sacrifice for our sins in our place!
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
God has done the work for us through Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to believe in what he has done.
Do you believe this?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).