The Gospel of Jesus Christ

2010-09-18

1. We are sinners against the Creator God, and the penalty of sin is eternity in hell:

• For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
• For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
• And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27)
• And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15)

Synopsis: We all have sinned (we both have rebelled against God are in a state of rebellion against God). Because of this, God will punish us in the lake of fire for eternity.

2. Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, and rose from the dead:

• For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
• [A man asked the apostle Paul and Silas:] Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:30-31)
• 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)

Synopsis: God became a man, Jesus Christ, and was tortured, died, and went to hell in our place. He rose from the dead, and is in heaven until an appointed time of his return. Believing on Jesus alone is the only way to get to heaven.

3. We need to believe on Jesus alone to be saved, and not in our own intrinsic worth, good deeds, church attendance, baptism, religious gurus, or anything else.

• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6)
• He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36)
• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)

4. Assurance of Salvation

• And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:11-12)
• [Jesus speaking:] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24)