The Gospel (Good News) of Grace
Finding Forgiveness of Sins & Eternal Life in/through Jesus Christ
God & Creation
Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Genesis 1-2). The crown of His creation was and is man—man (Adam) and woman (Eve) (Genesis 1:26-27). God created us in His image and likeness, which is to simply say that we are moral beings with the unique privilege and purpose of reflecting the character of God on earth; and God is holy (absolutely pure and separated from sin) and righteous (deals justly with His creation). Man had perfect, loving fellowship with God. There was no pain, sorrow, or suffering. There was love, peace, and joy unlimited.
Man & Sin
However, man sinned against God by disobeying His command (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-7). The result of this sin was broken fellowship between God and man, guilt, curse, and both physical and spiritual death (Genesis 3:8-24). First John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Romans 6:23a says, “For the wages of sin is death….” Due to the sin of our first parent, Adam, all of mankind is born into a sinful world, with sinful natures, under the just condemnation of the holy Creator God (Romans 5:12). Due to this sinful nature that we have inherited, we are enslaved to sin and live in opposition to God and His ways, and are by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). This spiritual death that characterizes us consists of alienation from the life of God and a hard heart toward God (Ephesians 4:18). The wickedness of mankind is great in the earth, and the thoughts of his heart are only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). Due to sin—sexual immorality, evil desires, greed, idolatry, hypocrisy, lying, slander, hatred, obscene talk, homosexuality, stealing, adultery, etc.—the wrath of God in righteous judgment will come upon the world (Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians 3:5-8). You have sinned against God, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The only thing that we as sinners deserve is eternal punishment and separation from the holy God in hell (2 Thessalonians 1:9). However, Romans 6:23b says “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Christ & Salvation
You see, God promised to provide a Savior who would reverse the Fall of man due to sin and restore a remnant of man to rightful fellowship with Him (Genesis 3:15, 21). There is only one way by which we may escape this judgment to come—God’s way, for there is only one name under heaven by which men must be saved. This name is the name of Jesus Christ, the holy and righteous one (Acts 3:14; 4:12). On the cross Jesus Christ took the place of sinners, bearing their sin, guilt, and punishment upon Himself. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). By Christ’s shed blood on the cross there is forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7). God gave proof of this by raising Jesus from the dead, declaring Him to be the Son of God who has accomplished salvation (Acts 17:31; Romans 1:4; 4:25). Whereas the sin and guilt of Adam was imputed (credited) to our account, as we are his children, so Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us through faith (Romans 5:12-21). The only way that sinful man may appear before God in true holiness and righteousness is through the holiness and righteousness of Jesus Christ. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5). It is through Christ and Christ alone that man may be restored to rightful, loving fellowship with God. There is forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life at the cross of Jesus Christ for all who believe (John 3:16)! By what means will you attempt to approach God? There is only one 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).
Repentance & Faith
God commands all people therefore to repent or turn from sin and to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30; Romans 3:23-25). Forsake the sin you have so loved and follow the Lord Jesus. Do you believe in what you have just read? If so, then you should start to see a change in your life—new desires for God, for His word, for holiness, for truth, for fellowship with other believers, for others to come to Christ. These are some of the marks of a true or genuine believer. In salvation we go from being enemies of God, deserving only His wrath, to being worshipers of God, having His loving grace lavished on us through Christ (Romans 5:8-11; Ephesians 2:4-5)!
Church & Discipleship
If you have truly believed in this word, then it is important for you to join together with other believers in a local church that is committed to teaching and obeying the Bible, and is centered on the gospel (Hebrews 10:24-25). Your next step would be to receive baptism, as that is the ordinance (religious rite commanded by Christ) by which one enters into the visible expression of the church (God’s people), identifying themselves as a disciple of Jesus, according to His crucifixion and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:1-11). Joining a church will help you grow up in the faith, as you’ll be nourished in the truth of God’s word (Ephesians 4:11-15). Worship the Lord with fellow Christians for His grace and mercy toward us through Jesus Christ.
If you would like to know more about what it means to place your faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him, please click HERE and send me a message. I would love to hear from you. ~Carolyn
In Times Like These 