What is "the gospel" or the good news?

Jesus Christ died and rose again to make a way for you to come to God...

#1 ADMIT IT… You are a sinner
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Sin is our failing to perfectly live up to the perfect standard of God. If we all tried to throw a rock to the North-Pole, some of us would get closer than others, but we’d all fall short. No one gets into heaven by being good enough.

There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

#2 The Wages (or penalty) for your sin is death
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a)

All of us, 100% , will die someday. Everyone will someday die and stand before a holy God to be judged, and sentenced, to one of two places for eternity. Everyone failing to be perfect (according to God’s standard—not ours) will miss heaven and be sentenced to a place apart from Him to a prison (called hell) where we face a death sentence of dying forever.

#3 THE BAD NEWS is You can’t save yourself
...All our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

The bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

The best we have to offer doesn’t earn us a place in heaven, we just aren’t good enough. Imagine someone telling a judge who sentenced you to prison, that although you broke the law, you did some good things too. A good judge would have to say that although you had done good works, that He as a good judge, must sentence people who broke the law. (We have all broken God’s moral law of the 10 commandments, many times, each offense deserving the death.)

#4 THE GOOD NEWS is God made a way to save you through Jesus Christ

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

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Imagine you had cancer, but a new procedure will let you transplant your cancer cells for Jesus’ healthy ones. Jesus made a way to take your cancer cells and the death they bring (cells called sins) and deposited His right cells (His righteousness) on your behalf (when you accept Him). The transplant means He had to die for you to get a new (eternal) life spent in heaven.

If while sentenced to prison, having no way to “bail yourself out”, someone paid your fine, justice could be served and you could still go free. That’s what Jesus did at the cross, paid your fine so you could go free, but you must accept His gift, or choose punishment.

#5 How do you claim your free gift of salvation?

The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)

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. ... “anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. (Romans 10:9-11)

To believe (or to have faith - trusting alone in Jesus to save you) requires action. The step of faith (or trust) God requires is “repentance”. To repent means to turn from our sin and live for God. If while drowning in the ocean, the coast guard threw a lifeline, belief alone is not enough. To be saved you must act, reach out, and grab it. Repenting is giving up everything else to grab hold of God.

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14;6)

Are you ready to accept Jesus on His terms? If so repent and give Him control of your life. You can pray something like this - Dear God, please forgive my every sin (name them). I believe Jesus died and rose again to save me, thank you for the promise of heaven, I give you control of my life.

Please call us at 907-235-2609, or leave a comment here and we will rejoice with you.

Live holy, preach Jesus!