The Gospel Message
John 3:16 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John Piper
"In EVERY situation and EVERY circumstance of your life, God is always doing a thousand different things that you cannot see and you do not know.
The Problem: Sin & Separation
However, all of us have sinned. We’ve gone our own way, disobeyed God, and chosen to live apart from Him.
The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Sin separates us from God who is holy and perfect, and the result is death—both physical and spiritual separation from Him (Ezk 18:4). God's holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by eternal death (Rom 6:23). That's why simply changing our patterns of behavior or being morally good can't solve our sin problem or eliminate its consequences.
The Solution: Jesus Christ
The good news is that God didn’t leave us hopeless.
He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sin (Rom 5:8). Jesus, who was sinless, died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment we deserved (1 Pet 3:18). He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death, so that we can be forgiven, be reconciled to God and have eternal life with God.
Even though God's justice demands death for sin, His love has provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners. Christ's death satisfied the demands of God's justice
(Rom 3:26), and Christ's perfect life satisfied the demands of God's holiness, thereby enabling Him to forgive and save those who place their faith in Him (2 Cor 5:21).
The Invitation: Repent and Believe
The bible says, If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Rom 10:9). True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin (Luke 13:3,5). Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin, pursue Christ, and obey Him (1 Thes 1:9). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (1 John 2:3).
Faith & New Life
When you turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, you receive the gift of forgiveness and a new life in Christ
(2 Cor 5:17 / Eph 2:8) The Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, helping you grow in faith and walk in God’s ways. Jesus gives you peace, purpose (Eph 2:10), and the assurance of eternal life with God (John 17:3).
