The Gospel
"The gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it's good news to be believed!"-H.A. Ironside
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Declaration of the Gospel
In I Corinthians 15 we have the declaration of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
-"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;"
Jesus Christ did not die for any sins He committed because He was without sin (I John 3:5). Instead, He took upon Himself the sins of the world and died as the perfect sacrifice for fallen humanity by the shedding of His own blood on the Cross (Romans 5:8-9; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29). The Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life willingly in obedience to what the Father sent Him to do (John 10:18; Luke 19:10). To ring out to all heaven and earth Jesus cries from the Cross "It is finished!"
-"And that he was buried,"
In Matthew 12:40 Jesus compares His burial to that of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights so would Jesus Christ be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jesus Christ was laid in a borrowed tomb for seventy-two hours. He buried our sins once and for all!
-"and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
Upon the first day of the week (Sunday) the Lord Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave. The Lord Jesus Christ resurrected in a physical body and showed Himself openly for forty days following His glorious resurrection. The Bible explains how believers are justified because of the resurrection in Romans 4:23-25 "24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26).
-"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;"
Jesus Christ did not die for any sins He committed because He was without sin (I John 3:5). Instead, He took upon Himself the sins of the world and died as the perfect sacrifice for fallen humanity by the shedding of His own blood on the Cross (Romans 5:8-9; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29). The Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life willingly in obedience to what the Father sent Him to do (John 10:18; Luke 19:10). To ring out to all heaven and earth Jesus cries from the Cross "It is finished!"
-"And that he was buried,"
In Matthew 12:40 Jesus compares His burial to that of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights so would Jesus Christ be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jesus Christ was laid in a borrowed tomb for seventy-two hours. He buried our sins once and for all!
-"and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
Upon the first day of the week (Sunday) the Lord Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave. The Lord Jesus Christ resurrected in a physical body and showed Himself openly for forty days following His glorious resurrection. The Bible explains how believers are justified because of the resurrection in Romans 4:23-25 "24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26).
Decision of the Gospel
John 1:12-13 "12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
John 3:14-16 "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:8-9 "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
John 3:14-16 "14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Romans 4:5 "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:8-9 "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
I John 5:1 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
I John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
The verses provided above are just a drop in a bucket compared to all the scriptures from the Word of God that tell us exactly how to be saved and how to know we are saved. It is overwhelmingly clear that a person is saved by the following:
1. Believing what God has to say about SINNERS
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We are all sinners by nature, by birth, and by choice. We do not measure up to the standard of God which is perfection. The scripture has concluded all under sin (Galatians 3:22). Before we can be saved we must first agree with God about our sins.
2. Believing what God has to say about His SON
John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
The Pharisees were depending upon their own righteousness and ancestral lines (seed of Abraham) as the means of their salvation. They did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. The great dividing doctrine of all religion rests upon the person of Jesus Christ. This was true in Jesus' day and remains true today. The Bible declares Jesus Christ to be the God-man, completely man and completely God (I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-3). Jesus was virgin born and Holy Ghost conceived. He lived a sinless life and He died a sinners death. We must agree with God about His only begotten Son.
3. Believing what God has to say about SALVATION
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
The Bible way of salvation is to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:36 divides the whole world into two groups: 1. Those that believe (trust, rely upon) the Son (Jesus Christ) and right now possess everlasting life. 2. Those who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. As a result, the wrath of God abides on them and will continue to abide on them for all eternity. This "so great salvation" is NOT obtained by religious works, moral living, financial giving, or family descending. We have no merit in our own ability to find favor with God. Through His own blood Jesus Christ provided the way for sinful humans to become justified in the sight of God Almighty. Receiving Christ is to believe on His name (John 1:12). Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." How do I become a child of God? By placing my faith where God placed all my sins, on the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Believing what God has to say about SINNERS
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We are all sinners by nature, by birth, and by choice. We do not measure up to the standard of God which is perfection. The scripture has concluded all under sin (Galatians 3:22). Before we can be saved we must first agree with God about our sins.
2. Believing what God has to say about His SON
John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
The Pharisees were depending upon their own righteousness and ancestral lines (seed of Abraham) as the means of their salvation. They did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. The great dividing doctrine of all religion rests upon the person of Jesus Christ. This was true in Jesus' day and remains true today. The Bible declares Jesus Christ to be the God-man, completely man and completely God (I Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-3). Jesus was virgin born and Holy Ghost conceived. He lived a sinless life and He died a sinners death. We must agree with God about His only begotten Son.
3. Believing what God has to say about SALVATION
John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
The Bible way of salvation is to trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:36 divides the whole world into two groups: 1. Those that believe (trust, rely upon) the Son (Jesus Christ) and right now possess everlasting life. 2. Those who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. As a result, the wrath of God abides on them and will continue to abide on them for all eternity. This "so great salvation" is NOT obtained by religious works, moral living, financial giving, or family descending. We have no merit in our own ability to find favor with God. Through His own blood Jesus Christ provided the way for sinful humans to become justified in the sight of God Almighty. Receiving Christ is to believe on His name (John 1:12). Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." How do I become a child of God? By placing my faith where God placed all my sins, on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Destiny of the Gospel
RECEIVING
Ephesians 1:12-13 "13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Upon receiving Jesus Christ through the gospel message you are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3). You are sealed with the Holy Spirit and are eternally secure because of the blood of Christ and His glorious resurrection. You are Heaven BORN and Heaven BOUND!
REJECTING
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
By rejecting the free gift of eternal life you will one day be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. The wages of sin is death. Either you trust the payment Jesus Christ made for your sins 2,000 years ago or you will pay for your sins yourself. The self-payment plan with be settled in the lake of fire. It is not God's will that any spend eternity separated from Him.
Ephesians 1:12-13 "13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Upon receiving Jesus Christ through the gospel message you are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3). You are sealed with the Holy Spirit and are eternally secure because of the blood of Christ and His glorious resurrection. You are Heaven BORN and Heaven BOUND!
REJECTING
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
By rejecting the free gift of eternal life you will one day be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. The wages of sin is death. Either you trust the payment Jesus Christ made for your sins 2,000 years ago or you will pay for your sins yourself. The self-payment plan with be settled in the lake of fire. It is not God's will that any spend eternity separated from Him.
Trust Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour today!
If all this makes sense, will you take the next step and make it official!
Will you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour right now, the one who shed his precious blood on the cross of Calvary to pay for all of your sins? Perhaps you would like to talk to God and prayer in making this eternal decision. Remember, praying a prayer does not save you, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ does.
Sinners Prayer
"Lord, I admit that I’m a sinner & I don’t understand a whole lot about the bible, but I do believe that Jesus Christ died & paid for my sins in full, by his death & shed blood on the cross. I trust right now that He died for me, was buried & rose again from the dead and will live forever more. I trust Jesus Christ right now to save me, to be my Saviour, to forgive my sins & to give me the gift of eternal life. "
The moment you believe this, God up in heaven knows and He saves you, gives you eternal life!
Salvation is forsaking any other means of salvation but Christ and casting ourselves fully upon Him for eternal life.
Will you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour right now, the one who shed his precious blood on the cross of Calvary to pay for all of your sins? Perhaps you would like to talk to God and prayer in making this eternal decision. Remember, praying a prayer does not save you, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ does.
Sinners Prayer
"Lord, I admit that I’m a sinner & I don’t understand a whole lot about the bible, but I do believe that Jesus Christ died & paid for my sins in full, by his death & shed blood on the cross. I trust right now that He died for me, was buried & rose again from the dead and will live forever more. I trust Jesus Christ right now to save me, to be my Saviour, to forgive my sins & to give me the gift of eternal life. "
The moment you believe this, God up in heaven knows and He saves you, gives you eternal life!
Salvation is forsaking any other means of salvation but Christ and casting ourselves fully upon Him for eternal life.
