The Gospel
1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
God is the Creator.
2. “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” ((1 John 1:5).
God is holy.
3. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
We are sinners.
4. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
This “death” occurs now. We lose our friendship with God by sin. Death also occurs forever; hell, Jesus calls it “a furnace of fire,” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50).
Sin brings punishment.
5. “For our sake he (God) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
God sent his son, Jesus to earth. The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb. Being conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus was God. And being born to a human being, He was human. Jesus was fully God and fully man.
Jesus lived a perfect life. Never sinned. And because Jesus was perfectly righteous, He was fit to be the sin penalty substitute for sinners. He paid our debt for sin by dying on the cross. God attributes Jesus perfect righteousness to all who accept Him by faith.
Jesus took our punishment.
6. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).
Three days after Jesus died on the cross and was buried, God raised Him from the dead.
Jesus will judge the world.
7. “…everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
Believe that you’re a sinner and deserve God’s punishment.
Believe also that God sent Jesus to endure that punishment in your place.
Believe that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the only way you can be forgiven.
Believe and by faith accept Jesus as your Savior.
God will forgive you and you will be saved.
You’ll know and enjoy the God who created you.
You will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.
Amen.