The Bible teaches that God created us to love Him. But instead, from the very first man and woman God created right down to you and I, we’ve all disobeyed God (Rom. 3:23). How? We’ve rejected His rule and sought to establish our own (Rom. 10:1-4).
God is the Lord of all, and He will never let evil have its way. Instead, God promises that one day He will give humanity what they deserve - and what all of us deserve is nothing other than eternal punishment.
“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).
So, what is the hope Christianity offers? The answer is simple: the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). The Gospel shows us God’s way of doing things (Rom. 1:17). This Gospel is the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16).
The Gospel of Christ is the Gospel of the grace of God. Apostle Paul said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
What is then the Gospel? The Good News is that Jesus came to this world. He brought a message of hope to all people. Later, He would die on the Cross to save people from their sins. In fact, the word gospel is an old English word that means "glad tidings" or "good news."
Jesus announced Himself as coming "to bring good news to the poor … to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Lk. 4:18, NRSV).
Here’s how Apostle Paul summarized the Gospel: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:1-4, NLT).
So, the Gospel is all about Jesus Christ and what He did for us: 1) How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 2) And that He was buried, and 3) That He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. John 1:14 says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (KJV).
So, Jesus Christ, God manifested in the flesh (human form) came to this world, loved humanity that much to die for our sins.
How did Christ die? He shed His blood for our sins. Why did Jesus have to shed His blood? This is so because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).
Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28).
Luke 24:47 said, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Acts 10:43 says, “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sins.”
Romans 3:25 says, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission (forgiveness) of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
You cannot enter Heaven based on your merit unless someone takes away your sin.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
It is as follows: Jesus paid for your sins, and if you receive the finished work of Christ by faith, you can go to Heaven.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15).
Salvation is not given to everyone. It is given only to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (Rom. 10:9-10).
What are we saved from? We are saved from everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
The Bible teaches that there are two places you can go to when you die and exit this world: 1) Heaven – a place of bliss, or 2) Hell – a place of eternal torment (Lk. 16:19-31).
In this real story from the lips of Jesus Christ Himself, the poor man, Lazarus, was carried by the angels to Heaven when he died. The rich man went to hell when he died.
There are two possibilities: 1) You can pay for your sins, or 2) You can identify with someone who has paid for your sins in full.
The choice is entirely yours. 1) You can choose to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in which case you will have to pay for your sins in hell when you die. 2) But the Good News is that you don’t have to go there. You can come to Jesus Christ right now who has paid the prize in full for you, so that you can go to Heaven when you die.
Jesus Christ died in my place for my sins. He was buried and rose again. If you believe this, then you are saved (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
The only way to go to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6).
Hell is so terrible that I don’t want even my worst enemy to go there. The Good News is that you don’t have to go there. There is salvation offered to you through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ that you are saved (Eph. 2:8).
You see, Jesus loved you so much that He preferred to die in your place so that you don’t have to go to hell.
The question is: Do you love Jesus that much to trust Him for your salvation? (Acts 4:12)
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