What is the gospel? That’s the most important question you will ever ask!
The answer can be found in four simple truths from scripture:
Remember God loves you! The Gospel of John in the Bible says, For God so loved the world…(John 3:16). You are part of that world. He loves you and wants to give you eternal life. But there is a problem…
Recognize your need. Sin separates us from God.The word sin in the Bible means to miss the mark. Romans 3:23 says we have all missed the mark: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We have broken God’s law and thus there is a sin problem between us and God. God’s law declares that the penalty of sin is death–eternal separation from God in a place called hell. All of us sinners have earned this death sentence; For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). You cannot escape this sentence on your own.
Realize Christ has met this need. But there is good news, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid the full penalty for sin on the cross. Remember, God loves you. Romans 5:8 tells us, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. His death satisfied the penalty for sin–He paid in full the price for sin. His resurrection guarantees eternal life. In John 11:25 Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.
Rely on Christ for salvation. God asks you to trust in Christ alone as your only way to heaven. In one of the simplest verses of the Bible, Jesus Christ says, Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life (John 6:47). The word believe means to trust in, rely on, or depend on. The moment you believe in Him you have eternal life. That’s all God requires for you to have eternal life. So that leaves one question…
Do you believe? Have you trusted in Christ for salvation or have you been trying to get to heaven by your own ability? If you have not trusted Christ to get you to heaven, why not do it now? Providing you eternal life cost God everything! He punished His Son in your place, but receiving eternal life costs you nothing. Because of what Christ did on the cross, God now offers you this free gift if you will simply trust His Son to save you.
You might express your faith to God like this: Dear God, I come to You now. I know I am a sinner. Nothing I will ever do can get me to heaven. But I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins. Right now, I put my trust in Him alone as my only way to heaven. Thank You for the free gift of eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What happens now? If you have trusted Christ, you have eternal life! God guarantees it in His Word: And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13) Contact us and let us know of your newfound faith in Christ, and how we can pray for you!