What is the Gospel?

The gospel means good news, however it is not good news unless you understand why you need good news.

In the beginning, God made the world and it was good. God made everything in six days and then rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 1) God made man in His image. (Genesis 2) God told man not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil and he broke that law. Due to breaking God’s law death and suffering entered into the world. Bad things happen in the world because man has sinned. (Genesis 3)

God gave us the Ten Commandments, which are laws we are commanded to keep. They are not random laws that God came up with but they are based on the character and nature of God. God does not lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, or desire what others have. (Exodus 20)

We have all broken these laws. Ask yourself. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Sin starts in your heart. Before you steal something you covet it. Before you have sex with someone you lust after them. Before you murder a person you hate them. Have you lusted? coveted? or hated?

God is just and must punish sin where ever it is found. (Rom 2:12) Everyone has the law written on their hearts and breaks the law of God knowingly. (Rom 2:14-15) God will send people that have broken His law to hell for eternity. (Matt 25:41,46,Rom 1:18-20)

You do not want to go to Hell.

Here is where the good news comes into play.

Imagine you are standing before a judge and he says you either have to pay a huge fine that you cannot pay or go to prison. Someone you have never met runs in says that he loves you and pays the fine. This is what Jesus who is truly God and Truly man did for you.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Cor 15:3-6 (ESV)

God took on flesh and was born of a virgin. His name is Jesus. He lived a sinless life. He healed people and rose people from the dead. Jesus claimed to be God over and over again. He allowed himself to die on the cross to take the wrath of God in your place and then three days later rose from the grave. You must place your faith in Jesus taking the wrath of God in your place. Along with this, you accept the gift of Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus credits his perfect life that he lived to you. Out of gratitude for what Jesus did for you then you will turn from your sin and do good deeds that were prepared ahead of time for you to do. Jesus says that you must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. God fills you with the Holy Spirit and you are given a new heart.

Get into a Bible-believing church, read the Bible, obey what the Bible says, and pray. You cannot earn heaven by doing any of these things but you will do them because you want to grow as a Christian.