God’s Gospel
God’s Holiness
God never had a beginning. He has always been eternally self-sufficient, meaning that He needs no one outside of His triune self. Father, Son, and Spirit—three persons in one eternal, perfect, all-powerful being: God.
The Bible tells us that He created all things, seen and unseen, and that they exist for His glory. Romans tells us that, in God’s creation, it is clearly evident that there is a Creator. Look around: the skies, seas, moon, sun, gravity, seasons, life, and breath—everything is working and sustained because of a Creator.
God is a holy God, which means that He is utterly different, or “set apart,” from everything and everyone else. He is perfect and without sin. He is not merely the same as us but greater; rather, He is completely different.
We were made to worship and enjoy this great God, but we sinned. To sin against a holy, eternal God demands payment. That payment is death and judgment. God, in His perfection and justice, does not let the sinner go unpunished. Sin demands justice. God is perfectly just. How, then, can a just God spare a sinner?
Scripture: Isa. 43:7–10 | Rom. 1:19–20 | Ex. 3:14 | Ps. 90:2 | Isa. 44:6 | Ps. 22:3 | Isa. 6:3 | Rev. 4:8 | Gen. 1:1 | John 1:1–2 | John 8:58 | Isa. 45:7 | Rev. 1:17–18
God’s Grace
God could have rightly left us—a sinful people—to ourselves, to die in our sin. Sin earns us death and, after death, judgment.
God’s Word tells us that guilty sinners—all of us—will appear before God’s judgment seat and be held accountable for all our sins. Every deed, every thought, and every secret will be laid bare before the King of the universe. It is right for us to fear this mighty God, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He will cast the guilty into the lake of fire—hell—where they will suffer torment forever.
But God, being rich in mercy, loved us by sending His own Son, Jesus, to earth. In this, the grace and love of God are seen. Jesus, who had never sinned and was eternally God, came to earth in humility as a man. He lived perfectly, then died in our place on the cross and became our sin and paid for our sin though he knew no sin. He canceled the record of debt that stood against His people, nailing it to the cross and triumphing over the enemy.
On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished,” paying for all the sins of His people. He rose from the grave on the third day and then ascended into heaven to God’s right hand. He is exalted above every name and is alive forevermore.
The word gospel simply means “good news.” The good news is that God was gracious to humanity in Christ Jesus. His love and justice were fully displayed in Christ on the cross, where He judged the perfect Christ for our sin and spared those who would believe, though they are guilty.
What great news! FORGIVENESS OF SINS! Christ Jesus came to save sinners! God has made a way for us to enjoy and worship Him forever!
Scripture: John 3:16–36 | 1 Tim. 1:15 | Rom. 6:23 | Rom. 3:10–24 | Rom. 5:1 | Rom. 4:5 | Rom. 2:16 | Ps. 111:10 | Acts 20:28 | John 19:30 | 2 Cor. 5:21 | Gal. 3:13 | Rev. 21:3
God’s Appeal
God offers a message—an appeal—to the world in this present day. I plead with you to hear Him: be reconciled to God. Repent and turn away from your sin. Come to Christ the Lord and serve Him with your whole life.
Jesus was the wrath-appeasing sacrifice for sins. Now anyone who repents of sin and believes in Him can be saved. God offers one way: Jesus Christ.
In Genesis, God flooded the earth because of humanity’s sinfulness and saved a few people in one way—an ark. Whoever was inside it was safe from all the raging and deadly waters. God says in Acts that He commands all people to repent. Christ is the Ark, the salvation for all who would come and enter through Him.
There is no other name but the name of Jesus Christ that can save. He is the one and only eternal, perfect Creator and Savior. Besides Him, there is no God! This is God’s wisdom to mankind: Christ crucified.
Believe in the name of Jesus, and you will be saved!
Scripture: Acts 16:30–31 | 2 Cor. 5:19–21 | Gen. 7:1 | Acts 2:37–39 | 1 John 2:1–2 | Luke 24:46–47 | Acts 4:12 | Acts 17:30–31
To find a church near you, visit:
www.9marks.org/church-search/
For more, please see some resources below:
Paul Washer | The Depths of The Gospel (Part 1) & (Part 2)
Paul Washer | A Living Sacrifice
John MacArthur / Jonny Ardavanis | What is the gospel?