Good News

The Gospel (Good News)

First, the bad news: all of us have sinned, and for all who sin, there is the ultimate penalty: death—physical death and spiritual death (hell).

The good news is that Jesus provided the solution for our sin and for that worst-possible penalty that comes with sin. Those who truly and accurately believe in the true Jesus—and the truth about His death on the cross for our sins—are saved from this eternal consequence (i.e., hell/“lake of fire”). Tragically, those who reject Him still remain under this judgment and eternal condemnation (cp Jn 3:14-18, 36).

Therefore, we all need to rightly respond to the reality of our overall sin, and the eternal penalty of sin—and our supreme need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God—by putting our faith in Jesus and the meaning of His life, death, and resurrection.

So, what a person believes about the above, and what follows below, is literally the most important thing he or she believes. It is the difference between life and death. Between an eternity spent in heaven or in hell.

• We were created to be in a personal, loving relationship with God. (Gen 1-2)
• Sin has consequences. Adam and Eve sinned, and through their sin, they severed that relationship and brought a death penalty on all mankind. (Gen 2:17; 3:1; Rom 5:12, 17)
• All of us have sinned. (Rom 3:23; 5:12)
• We will all reap the consequences of sin: destruction, deception, death, and separation from God. (Gen 2:17; Is 59:2; Matt 7:13-23; Rom 5:12; 6:23; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:1ff; 2 Thess 1:9; 2:12)
• More specifically, and most importantly, sin results in an eternal penalty for all of us: hell, the “lake of fire.” (Rev 20:14-15; Jn 3:15-17, 36; 2 Thess 1:9)
• However, it is because of our sin and the eternal penalty of sin (hell), that Jesus—out of His love for us—lived and died, and lives again. (1 Cor 15:1ff; 2 Cor 5:15-21; Heb 2:9; 9:22; Rev 1:5)
• Because He so loved us, Jesus suffered profoundly on the cross and died for us, in our place, and took on our punishment at the cross, to satisfy that penalty and justice. (1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; 3:16; Rom 3:20-26; 5:8)
• God did this in order to provide the only possible solution to our superlative problem, which is sin, and the consequences of sin. (1 Cor 1:17ff; Eph 2:8-9; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb 9:14)
• Because Jesus died for us and our sin, it is no longer sin that keeps us from Him. It is our refusal to truly repent and believe in Him and the good news about His finished work on the cross. (Mk 1:15; L 13:3-5; Jn 3:16-18, 36; 2 Cor 7:10-11; 2 Thess 2:9-13)
• His death, burial, and resurrection fully paid the price for our sin. Nothing can be, or needs to be, added to Jesus and what He did. If we try to add to this, then we are nullifying His all-sufficient death, payment, and gift of life. *Note: This is precisely what many false teachings try to do–add works or effort from us to make up for His 100% sufficient sacrifice. (cp Jn 11:25-26; Acts 15:1ff; Gal 3:1ff; 5:1ff)
• Therefore, whosoever truly and accurately believes in God and the truth about Jesus Christ and His purpose on the cross—those who realize the reality and grievous nature of their sin, their separation from God, the eternal penalty of their sin, and their supreme need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God, will be reconciled to Him and saved from everlasting torment. (cp Acts 2:37ff;Jn 3:15-17; Lk 1:77-79; 24:45-47)
• This salvation is through faith and grace alone, and apart from any good works of our own. Those who genuinely believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will live with Him in heaven forever! (Rom 1:16-17; 3:19-28; 4:5; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9; 1 Cor 1:17ff; 15:1ff; 2 Cor 7:8-11; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Thess 2:13)

Questions To Ask

What do you believe about all of the above? What do you specifically believe about Jesus, about the reality of your sin, and about His death on the cross for your sins?

How would you describe your relationship with God? (severed; broken; estranged; reconciled; loving)

Do you see your superlative need to be forgiven of all of your sins and to be reconciled to God? Why or why not?

Have you received—through faith, and His grace—God’s pardon of your eternal penalty? If not, what do you want to do about that now?

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 3:16