The Gospel - Part II

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Something or someone is at the center of who we are, and whatever is at our center will determine who we are becoming. From our center flows such things as our attitude, actions, reactions and behaviors. What’s at the center of our lives not only impacts how we view ourselves and the world we live in, but it impacts how we understand and relate with the God who is creator of all.

If we would be people that would have the Gospel at the center of who we are, then a healthy and accurate understanding of the Gospel is essential. The Gospel simply means ‘Good News.’ But what exactly is the good news of the ‘Good News’?

Before that question gets answered, one thing must be made perfectly clear. The Gospel is about GOD – not about man. The Gospel is about what God has done – not what we’ve done. The Gospel is about what God is doing – not what I am doing. Simply put, the Gospel is God-centered, not i-centered

In many ways, the good news of the Gospel can be summed up in the following verses:

John 3:16-17 – "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The good news of the Gospel is that God loved humanity enough to pursue us despite our sin and rebellion against Him. We know God loves us because of Jesus – He showed up! Jesus stepped into a depraved world for one purposes – to be the Righteous One who would bring the unrighteous ones (us) to God through His perfect life, bloody death and glorious resurrection.

The good news of the Good News is that God did for humanity what humanity could not do for itself – salvation!

As one looks through the epic story of God (the Bible), the news that makes the Gospel so good can be seen in the following;

1. There is a Living God! Meaning, God is not dead as some throughout history have suggested, but God is ALIVE and He is the creator of all. Acts 14:8-15

2. Our God Reigns! There is no god (idol) that is more powerful then our God! Isaiah 52:7; Psalm 146:10

3. There is NO God like OUR GOD! There is nothing or no one in all of creation who is comparable to our God because there is NO God who is like our God! Deuteronomy 4:35-39; 2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Kings 8:60; 1 Kings 18:36-39; Isaiah 43:10-13; Isaiah 46:5-10

4. JESUS is the SAVIOR, the CHRIST, the LORD! Humanity does not need to be confused as to who the Savior is because Jesus, the only Savior who could save stepped into humanity nearly 2,000 years ago. Luke 2:10-11

5. JESUS died for our SINS in accordance w/the Scriptures! Simply put – because of Jesus, all of our sins have been FORGIVEN! Mark 10:45; Romans 5:1, 8; 1 John 2:2; Colossians 2:12-14.

6. JESUS is ALIVE – HE is RISEN from the DEAD! The one that was brutally murdered conquered death. The Savior who sacrificed His life so that we could have life eternal was victorious over sin, Satan and death! Luke 24:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:13-17.

7. Salvation is for all who believe. To those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save sinners and confess Him as such, salvation is not a possibility but a reality! Romans 1:16; 10:9-10; 1 John 5:11-13

8. Our eternity will be spent in heaven with God, not in hell separated from God. Jesus death and resurrection secures for those who believe a new eternal home – heaven! John 14:1-3; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:1-4.

9. The promise of the Holy Spirit. To those that confess Jesus as God, we are not left to figure out on our own how to live lives that please God. We have been given the Spirit of God who resides in us that guides, teaches, convicts and empowers us to live the lives God has purposed for those who believe. John 14:16-17; John 14:26-27; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Acts 1:8.

10. The promise of a new life. Because of Jesus, I am not just a refurbished version of my old self, but I am a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 2:20.

What makes the good news of the Gospel so good is that without the Gospel, the news would be horrific. The headlines might read something like this –

· Humanity has no hope of ever being RECONCILED with GOD!

· Humanity has no hope of ever having PEACE with GOD!

· Humanity has no hope of ever KNOWING GOD!

Thank you God that the news coming from you to us is Gospel – Good News!