The Gospel
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NASB
Warm Up
- Have you ever been saved by another human being—physically rescued from danger?
Lessons
Video coming soon
Gospel simply means good news. Why is the sacrifice of Jesus such good news? Someone dying doesn't seem like a good thing? Well it depends on what was accomplished by that death. In this case, Jesus' death has made a way for you and I to return to God's original design and experience the life He desires for us. This means that the infection of sin has been removed from your life and you now have the freedom, right here and right now, to live with Jesus and like Jesus as you learn to surrender to the Holy Spirit inside of you.
If you have said yes to Jesus you now have full access to His kingdom as if you never sinned. This is why the gospel is such good news!
“6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
— Romans 5:6-11 NASBWhy was it necessary for Jesus to become our sin so we might become His righteousness? To answer this we must define sin; what it is and why it is so destructive. Sin, in essence, is the act of humans choosing their own path, independent of their loving and life-giving Creator. Despite being created by God, humans harbored mistrust and yearned for autonomy from God. But God's unwavering faithfulness and love did not abandon humanity in the depths of their self-obsessed rebellion. Instead, God Himself devised a path for reconciliation, so that humans could return back to God and experience the fullness of communion with God and His people.
So what is our response to this beautiful invitation to be reconciled?
Repent and Believe
“Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."”
— Mark 1:14-15 NASBRepent - metanoeó: To have a transformed mind or heart. Some would describe this as a 180 degree turn in life. We think it is better described as a completely new way of thinking that didn't exist before.
Believe - pisteuó: To believe or have faith. It conveys a sense of trust and dependence on a person or entity. It signifies trusting in God's promises and having faith in the Gospel's truth. This belief transcends mere intellectual acknowledgment, but more so a personal trust and unwavering commitment.
The Gospel
1. God is Holy, meaning God lacks nothing.
2. You have been designed to be like God.
3. You were infected by a disease called sin
4. Sin caused you to forsake God and His holiness.
5. Your sin needs a cure that only God can provide
6. God is love and refuses to leave you without a cure.
7. God put on human flesh and became sin on a cross so that you could be saved, healed and delivered.
8. Jesus' blood is for the entire world yet only those who accept will receive the benefit of His sacrifice.
9. If you put your trust in Jesus you have full access to experience the abundant life with Christ and the family of God right here on earth.
10. God and creation see you as a new creature, a hybrid of God and man united by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
11. God promises to never leave you nor forsake mankind even though mankind has abandoned God.
12. God promises that you will experience eternity with Him and the saints who believe.
- Do you realize your need for a savior? Explain.
- Do you acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and has saved you from sin and restored you back to a relationship with The Family of God?