What is the Gospel?
Here’s GOOD NEWS!
“Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins,... He was buried, and He rose again the Third day...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Why is that good news?
“For all sinned.” (Romans 3:23)
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.” (John 3:17)
What does it mean to be “saved through Him?”
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross...” (1 Peter 2:24)
“That the one believing in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:15)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word and believes on Him that sent me, has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment but is passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24)
Salvation is freedom from judgment and death.
What kind of death?
“... cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found written in the book of life he is cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)
Who is this Jesus Christ?
“But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you might have life through His name [His person].” (John 20:31)
So is the Son of God, God?
“God was made plainly visible in flesh ...” (1 Timothy 3:16)
Why did God become man?
“...the church of God which He [God] has purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
God became man so that He could die for our sins.
But there have been other great men in history, can’t I believe in someone or something else?
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which it is necessary to be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Is there a reason to believe in Jesus Christ, in His death for my sins and His resurrection?
“Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man [Jesus] is announced to you the forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 13:38)
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved ...” (Acts 16:31)
What if I just choose not to believe?
“He that believes on Him [Jesus] is not condemned; but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the special Son of God.” (John 3:18)
“Then Paul and Barnabas were bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you, but since you have put it away from you and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, ...”” (Acts 13:46)
Don’t I have to be good or do some kind of good works?
“But to him that works not but believes in Him that declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is counted to be righteousness for him.” (Romans 4:5)
Isn’t there anything good I can do?
“Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.”” (John 6:28, 29) All you can do is believe.
But doesn’t the Bible teach people to keep the Ten Commandments to be saved?
“Therefore, by the works of the law no flesh [people] shall be declared righteous in His [God’s] sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
In fact : “And by Him [Jesus] all that believe are declared righteous from all things, from which you could not be declared righteous by the Law of Moses.” (Acts 13:39)
What exactly am I supposed to believe?
That Jesus is God. That He became a man. That He died for your sins on the cross. That He arose and is alive! That you will be forgiven and receive eternal life, if you will believe in Him.