What is the Gospel?
BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS
Death is NO JOKE.
Doctor: "I'm sorry, Joe. Your test results came back today, and they aren't good.
I can only give you around 4 weeks to live."
Joe: "Oh, no, that's terrible, Doctor! And to think that I don't have enough money to pay your bill, either!"
Doctor: "In that case I'll give you an extra month."
Gee, that joke isn't too funny, is it? Every one of us have probably faced the death of a loved one, whether it be a Dad or Mom or a Grandparent. And, statistics show, that death will probably come visiting US as well, someday.
Don't you wish you had a doctor like the one in that joke, that could promise you a few extra months or years of life?
Well, I've got Good News, and Bad News.
BAD NEWS…
YOU are going to die. I couldn't begin to tell you how or when, but I know (and you do too, don't you?)
that it's coming. And what happens then? Well, the news gets worse before it gets any better.
You see, YOU are a sinner! (Okay, well, if it makes you feel any better, I am one too.)
You say, "I'm a GOOD person!" But, you see, God's standard is PERFECTION. He demands it.
The bible says that if you break one of the least rules in the bible, you are guilty of breaking the WHOLE Law.
(Just like the police say, when you are 'breaking the LAW' by speeding?)
For whosoever shall keep the WHOLE Law, and yet offend in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. -James 2:10
These rules include gossip, lying, being angry, calling names, thinking lustful thoughts,
and the things we might FAIL to do. (Matt 5-6) In fact, SIN is in our nature. No one has to teach a baby
how to say "NO!" We have to be trained how to behave. We misbehave naturally.
The Bible tells us that we are ALL sinners, so we are ALL in the same boat.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. - Romans 5:8
We have all turned aside; We have together become unprofitable;
there is none who does good, no, not one. - Romans 3:12
Next, …the WORSE News.
God will judge sin. And the punishment for sin is death. Not the PHYSICAL death our bodies will all
experience, but something much worse.
For the wages of sin is death… - Romans 6:23
This death is an eternity in hell.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
- Matthew 25:46
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
- Revelations 21:8
Well, won't the good things I do get me into heaven?
Let's see what the bible has to say about that:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His MERCY, He saved us. - Titus 3:5
For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
For we are ALL like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags… - Isaiah 64:6
You see, God sees all the good things we do (works) as nasty rags. We have sin in our lives, and no amount of
good things we do is going to change that fact. It's kind of like saying "How much POISON is acceptable in the
baby's cereal? How much sugar can I add to eliminate it?" Adding
'good works' on top of your sin doesn't do anything but attempt to 'cover up' your sin with dirty rags.
GOOD NEWS…
GOD Loves YOU!
Yes, He IS a God of Love. In fact, He loved you SO MUCH that He did everything necessary to 'fix'
the problem we have, because of our sin. He sent His Son Jesus, to die in your place. That's right, YOURS.
Jesus died for the sins YOU committed. He didn't HAVE to, He did it freely.
Come now, and let us reason together, Says the LORD, Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. -Isaiah 1:18
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die,
he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? -John 11:25-26
Jesus died, to give us life. He raised Himself from the dead to prove that He is God.
Anyone who believes on Him (not just believes He existed, not just believes He was the son of God,
but one who puts his trust in Him, like you would put your trust in a chair when you SIT in it)
will not perish in the lake of fire, but will live eternally in heaven.
No 'Plan B'.
God provided ONE way to be saved. He did it willingly, wanting us to turn to Him and away from our sin. He didn't provide any other way.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:6
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12
So what must you DO to be saved? It's as easy as A B C!
ADMIT - First, Admit to God that you really are a Sinner, that you understand you can't fix it.
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. - Proverbs 28:13
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. - I John 1:8-10
BELIEVE - Believe that Jesus died for your sins and Rose again. Trust that sacrifice He made for YOU, and claim it as your very own! Thank God in prayer NOW for the sacrifice He made for you.
So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved… -Acts 16:31
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. - Romans 10:9-10
COMMIT - Commit your life to Jesus as your Lord.
Since He has purchased you with His blood, you belong to Him now. He is the best king you will ever know.
Oh, and one more thing: TELL SOMEBODY!!