The Gospel Message
The gospel message is a simple one-we are sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ, God's only Son, came down from heaven and died on the cross to be the atonement for our sins. When we come to Him in humility asking for forgiveness, when we repent and believe on Him, we will be saved and adopted into God's family. He will fill us with the Holy Spirit to enable us to live godly lives.
- You were created to know God and bring him glory.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
Everyone wants to be known, valued, and loved – to know that their life has meaning and purpose. Many people feel utterly unloved and insignificant, like life has no meaning. It is good news that God has created every person in his image with dignity and purpose. You find peace and joy when you live according to the purposes of the One who created you.
- You are a sinner, spiritually dead and separated from God.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
Your problem is that you cannot live out the purpose for which you were created because your heart and life is corrupted by sin. Every person is deeply broken and separated from God and his love and therefore, are under his wrath and judgment. There is something wrong inwardly and though all people try to find some sense of purpose, enjoyment, and satisfaction, most fail to find these.
- God saves you and makes you alive through Jesus Christ.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
The good news is that God, who is loving, merciful, and kind, made a way for us to find what we are truly looking for! God sent Jesus to live, suffer, and die for the sins of people – he paid the death penalty for your sins and through his sacrifice, you find forgiveness and peace with God along with eternal life.
- God calls you to believe in Jesus for salvation.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
For we hold that one is justified (declared righteous) by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:8-9)
Faith in Jesus and what he accomplished on the cross is the necessary response to God’s grace. Faith is turning away from yourself, your sin, and all human ways of salvation and placing full trust and confidence in Jesus alone.
If you have questions or want to know more about salvation, Jesus Christ, the gospel, or Christianity, please contact our church office and a pastor or elder will return your call.
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