The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel... (1 Corinthians 15:1)

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. (Romans 1:16)

What is this gospel? What is the only message that has the power to save and keep souls ready for eternity? What message has the power to deliver you from eternal torment in hell and prepare your soul for the final judgement – to take you to heaven, and to know Christ in this life and in the life to come?

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

Some have said that the gospel includes physical healing in this life. Others have said that you’ll get a healthy life or be monetarily well-off. Others have said that Jesus will take away all your depressions and downers in this life. This is not true. The gospel is to reconcile you to your Creator. In order to understand the gospel, you must first understand God, and His attributes.

Who is God?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

He owns you. He is your Maker. He was eternally past and will be eternally future.

He is completely separate from all others, He is not like an archangel nor is he like a worm, He is holy, holy, holy and separate from all.

And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." (Isaiah 6:3)

"The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God is righteous. He cannot sin nor be tempted by sin. God hates sin. It is important to note that God not only hates sin, but He also hates the unrepentant, unforgiven sinner.

The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. (Psalm 5:5)

He has a love-hate relationship with sinners. He abhors them but at the same time he loves them and pleads with them for their salvation until the time of judgement comes.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. (Psalm 116:5)

In spite of our sinfulness and disobedience, God has shown grace to man…

...God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalm 7:11 KJV)

If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. (Psalm 7:12)

God's wrath is coming upon all wicked, disobedient and self-righteous.

The Problem

All mankind everywhere has violated His laws and hated their own Creator by their wicked works:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He [Jesus] said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38)

The greatest commandment in all of Scripture is to love God supremely above all else. Have you done this? Have you put God as first and supreme every day of your life from the moment of your birth until now? No one has. What can you do for the crimes you committed against a Thrice-Holy God?

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

You are a sinner. You are a criminal in God’s sight. You have violated His laws. His wrath is upon you and is coming for you in a place called Hell: Eternal fire, eternal torment, forever.

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; (Matthew 25:41)

The good news is that God has shown His love toward you today to read this gospel message:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

God has made provision to take away your sins by becoming a Man born of a virgin, living a perfect life and dying on the cross for your sins – if you believe -- Jesus endured the punishment of the Father for the sins which you have committed. And He rose from the dead on the third day. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, (Acts 17:30)

You must repent and place your faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of your sins. You must be converted, or born again from above to inherit eternal life Jesus said in John 3. Turn from your wicked ways and turn from your trust in yourself, in your own goodness – because you have none. Put your trust in Jesus who is God and you will be saved and freely forgiven of all your sins – past, present, and future. In this world, you will have tribulation, but take heart, Jesus Christ has overcome the world.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Next Steps:

But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26)

Do what Jacob did, do not let God go, Keep coming to Him. Go to God in prayer for everything. Read your Bible every day. Find a Bible-believing local church.

Jesus Christ, the God-man, was prophesied thousands of years prior to His appearance in Scripture (For example Genesis 3:15 and also Isaiah 53 which was around 700 years before Christ). Jesus was seen by hundreds after His resurrection. God gave us Scripture: The Holy Bible. Our faith rests on Christ alone.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

The only hope of salvation is through Jesus Christ alone. No other religion leads to eternal life except for Biblical Christianity.

Please read my follow up document on The Joy of Knowing Christ and The Doctrine of Hell