The Gospel
The Gospel. The good news.
It's the true story of a man who was born 2,000 years ago in a manger to a teen named Mary. This man was named Jesus. His name means "Messiah" and that is exactly who He has become. Jesus lived on this earth for only a short time, but during that time He served. He served the people around him; he lowered Himself to the status of a servant-someone who, at that time, even washed the feet of those he served.
Jesus lived a perfect life, one without blemish or stain. He never lied, committed adultery, cursed, stole, broke a promise, or had a bad attitude. He never did anything to dishonor God His father.
Jesus had twelve close friends, His disciples. Throughout their lives, Jesus and His twelve disciples were used mightily by God to point the world to Himself. They healed the lame, blind, and deaf (Matthew 9, Luke 5). They raised people, like Lazarus, from the dead (John 11:1-44). Jesus turned water into wine; He fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14: 13-21). These things were performed by the power of God.
The thing is, Jesus was sent to earth with a purpose. God knows that people do wrong things. That we were and forever will be sinful (meaning we do bad things). I am sinful and you are sinful. We are born into sin. We couldn't and will never be able to atone for our wretched ways. So He sent Jesus as a sacrifice. He came to rescue us from our wrong, sinful ways. You see, God hates sin. He cannot stand it! He is sinless and we are sinful. As sinners, we don't have the right to stand before a holy God. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
BUT, here's the good news!! Jesus died in our place! He took the wrath of God off of our shoulders and laid it on His. He died a gruesome, horrific death on a cross. He was perfect and willing to become our sin. He willingly shed His blood so that we can live. And three days later, after he was crucified and dead, He rose from the grave (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24: 1-12, John 20: 1-10)! He overcame sin and death, therefore beating sin and death for us. So now we can confidently approach God. Because He loved us and still loves us that much. As Jesus has taken our punishment, God looks at us and sees the perfect nature of His son. We are no longer under the wrath of God if we put our faith and trust in Jesus! We have been granted grace and mercy by God the Father, given eternal life, freedom from sin, and an opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus! To grow in Him and seek His face. To understand just a smidge of the greatness of God. To bask in His loving kindness.
Here are a couple of verses that speak truth about the love of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
Yes, God gave His only son for you. For me. For all of humankind. Because He loves us more than we will ever have the ability to comprehend. So that we can enjoy Him and do what we were created in His image to do. 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."
And that is the best news ever.
It's the true story of a man who was born 2,000 years ago in a manger to a teen named Mary. This man was named Jesus. His name means "Messiah" and that is exactly who He has become. Jesus lived on this earth for only a short time, but during that time He served. He served the people around him; he lowered Himself to the status of a servant-someone who, at that time, even washed the feet of those he served.
Jesus lived a perfect life, one without blemish or stain. He never lied, committed adultery, cursed, stole, broke a promise, or had a bad attitude. He never did anything to dishonor God His father.
Jesus had twelve close friends, His disciples. Throughout their lives, Jesus and His twelve disciples were used mightily by God to point the world to Himself. They healed the lame, blind, and deaf (Matthew 9, Luke 5). They raised people, like Lazarus, from the dead (John 11:1-44). Jesus turned water into wine; He fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14: 13-21). These things were performed by the power of God.
The thing is, Jesus was sent to earth with a purpose. God knows that people do wrong things. That we were and forever will be sinful (meaning we do bad things). I am sinful and you are sinful. We are born into sin. We couldn't and will never be able to atone for our wretched ways. So He sent Jesus as a sacrifice. He came to rescue us from our wrong, sinful ways. You see, God hates sin. He cannot stand it! He is sinless and we are sinful. As sinners, we don't have the right to stand before a holy God. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
BUT, here's the good news!! Jesus died in our place! He took the wrath of God off of our shoulders and laid it on His. He died a gruesome, horrific death on a cross. He was perfect and willing to become our sin. He willingly shed His blood so that we can live. And three days later, after he was crucified and dead, He rose from the grave (Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24: 1-12, John 20: 1-10)! He overcame sin and death, therefore beating sin and death for us. So now we can confidently approach God. Because He loved us and still loves us that much. As Jesus has taken our punishment, God looks at us and sees the perfect nature of His son. We are no longer under the wrath of God if we put our faith and trust in Jesus! We have been granted grace and mercy by God the Father, given eternal life, freedom from sin, and an opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus! To grow in Him and seek His face. To understand just a smidge of the greatness of God. To bask in His loving kindness.
Here are a couple of verses that speak truth about the love of God.
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the
gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
Yes, God gave His only son for you. For me. For all of humankind. Because He loves us more than we will ever have the ability to comprehend. So that we can enjoy Him and do what we were created in His image to do. 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."
And that is the best news ever.