The Gospel of Jesus Christ:
- God - God is eternal and unchanging, the One Lord who created and sustains the universe for His glory and praise. There is one God who is Triune in nature, The Father, The Son Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit. He is good to those who fear Him and take refuge in Him, and the one with whom we will all stand before one day as Judge, to give an account of our lives to. Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone whom i have called, whom i have created for my glory." Colossians 1:16 - "All things were created by Him and for Him." Isaiah 5:6 - "But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness."
2. Man - Created in the image of God distinct as both male and female. We were created to accurately reflect who God is, and display to all creation His glory and worth. Our very first parents Adam and Eve fell into sin against God and brought judgment on all mankind. All who are born are born with this sinful nature that rebels against God. Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."Genesis 6:5 - "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
3. Sin - Our sin and rebellion against God is the highest cosmic treason. We owe Him all of our praise and adoration, and everything we have comes from Him. God's standard is perfect righteousness, but because of our sin it is impossible for us to keep that standard. The only right judgment for sin is eternal condemnation. Habbakuk 1:13 - "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor." Isaiah 59:2 - "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
4. Jesus Christ - God cannot overlook man's sin, but has in his love for us provided a way to atone for our sin and give us the perfect righteousness that we need. He did this by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to us. Jesus, God Himself, took on humanity to live a perfect life in our place. He was obedient and righteous in every way, perfectly fulfilling God's law, and in His plan offered His life as a substitution for us, being unjustly crucified on a Roman cross. On that cross He drank the full wrath of The Father and paid for the sin of all those who would trust in Him and His work on their behalf. And after three days He rose again from the dead because death had no power over Him, The Father accepted His sacrifice for Sin, and the resurrection proves that He is God in the flesh, victorious over sin, death and the devil. He now sits in heaven and will return both to save His church and judge the living and the dead. 1 John 4:8-10 - By this the love of God is manifested in us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.2 Corinthians 5:21 "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
5. Redemption - God commands all men everywhere to repent, and believe this good news. Repentance means a change of mind, which changes your ways. When we repent of our sin, we agree with what God has said about us as undeserving sinners, we change how we look at life, our purpose, who we are and who God is, and that changes how and what we live for. We then believe that Jesus is God, who redeemed us on that cross, we trust in Him and follow Him daily, living for His Kingdom and glory. This means the moment someone becomes a Christian, not only are they forgiven but they are now a disciple/follower of Jesus, who's job is to make MORE disciples and followers of Jesus through love and proclamation of this gospel. Acts 17:25-30, Matthew 28:18-20, Colossians 1:28-29
