What Is the Gospel?
What exactly is the Gospel and why designate a page for it here? The Gospel is why this website exists because the Gospel is the reason I am pursuing missions in the first place. The term "gospel" translates the Greek noun euangelion found in the Bible which means, “good news.” So, what is this Good News that the Bible proclaims? Do stay a little longer and read on to find out.
Before the beginning of time, there exists a timeless God having no beginning and no end (Psalm 90:2). This God created the whole universe out of nothing, calling into existence the things that did not exist (Genesis 1:1-2; Romans 4:17). He made us to enjoy knowing Him and the all-surpassing delight of His glory (Psalm 149:2, 5). God knew each of us intricately and intimately while we were still in our mothers' wombs (Psalm 139:13-16). Yet, even before any of us were born, we were already tainted by sin (Psalm 51:5). This means that we already carried a natural inclination to desire and do wrong or to act selfishly. All humans have been born in sin ever since the first man Adam committed the first sin (Romans 5:12). When we sin, our sin is primarily against God, our Creator, because sin is a lack of conformity to His law, an expression of His holy nature. God is good and loving but He is also just and holy. In His justice and holiness, He must punish sin or He wouldn't be just or holy. He has made it known to us in the Bible that the punishment of sin is death (Romans 6:23). All human beings will die at one point or another–that is actually an evidence that we are sinners. Death did not exist until sin entered the world. However, the punishment of death goes beyond this life; it means eternal separation from God in hell. Some think that good works can get them into heaven, as long as the good they do outweigh the bad they do. However, the law of God is like a chain. If we break one law, we break the whole law (James 2:10). Good works are not enough to get us into heaven. Think of it this way. A wise professor once taught, the seriousness of an offense depends on the worth of the one offended. So if someone kills an ant, it wouldn't be thought much of. But what if it was a bird? Or a dog? Now how about a baby? God is of infinite worth. When we sin, we sin primarily against Him and obtain a debt owed to Him that is of infinite value. How can we ever pay this infinite debt, finite creatures that we are? This is where the good news comes in: God saw our human predicament and provided a way for us through Jesus Christ, His Son (John 14:6). God sent His Son–infinite, eternal and coequal with Him–to be born into this world, which He created with His Son (John 1:1-3, 10). Christ the infinite Maker enters into the world He made and becomes a finite human being to save us. |
John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Jesus had great compassion on sinners. In fact, He was gentlest with those who knew and were burdened by their sinfulness. He said that He came not for the healthy and righteous but for the sick and sinners, that is, those who know of their sinful condition (Mark 2:17). To those knowing they are slaves to sin, Jesus promises freedom (John 8:34, 36). Ultimately, Jesus was wrongly accused and died a cruel, unjust death–the death of a criminal–though He was a sinless man. But He knew all along that this was why He came; He came so that He could die for sinners (John 12:27; Hebrews 2:14). There on the cross, "[God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The infinite debt we owed to God has been paid in full by God Himself, who covered the debt through the costly sacrifice of His infinite Son (Colossians 2:13-14). Yet, death could not hold Jesus in the grave. On the third day, He rose again (Luke 24)! His resurrection is the sinner's hope to overcome sin and even conquer death one day (Romans 6:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15).
My dear friend, do you want to be forgiven of your sins and freed of the weight of infinite debt? The moment you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus, God will instantly forgive all your sins, cancel your debt, and pronounce you righteous with the very righteousness of His Son (1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:10-12; Romans 5:18-19). He also promised to make you His child and keep you as His own all the way until you are safely home to Him in heaven (John 1:12; 10:28-29). The Holy Spirit will permanently live in you as your closest companion to help you grow in understanding the Bible, trusting and obeying God, overcoming sin, and becoming more like Jesus (Ephesians 1:13-14, 17-20; Galatians 5:16-26; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18). You will find that nothing compares to the treasure of knowing Christ, belonging to Him, and living for His glory (Philippians 3:8-9). Will you believe in the Gospel (God's good news for you) and receive Jesus Christ (God's greatest gift to you) as your Savior? Like a father waiting for the return of his long lost child, God eagerly waits for you to turn to Him. He is ready to welcome you in His warm embrace and lavish you with His love and grace. The fullest joy you were made for awaits you there. |