The Gospel is the message of man's sin and God's grace, of human guilt and divine forgiveness, of new birth and new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is a message made up of four essential ingredients.

1. GOD IS THE CREATOR AND RULER OF ALL EXISTENCE

God created the world. He is the creator of all life and all things. He has made all nations and peoples for the purpose of seeking Him.

We, as creatures, are absolutely dependent on God, and He, as Creator, has an absolute claim on us.

2. ALL ARE SINNERS UNDER THE JUST WRATH OF GOD.

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

To sin is to break the law of God. We have offended God, flouted His authority, defied Him, gone against Him, and put ourselves in the wrong with Him. We have fallen short of God's standard. Hell is a just punishment for a single sin in one's lifetime.

As God is perfect and holy, we are separated from Him by our unholiness and sin. Sin has alienated us from God, and exposed us to His condemnation, hostility, and wrath, so that our first need is for a restored relationship with Him.

"For the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)

The reason why we sin continually is that we are sinners by nature, and nothing we do, or try to do, for ourselves can put us right, or bring us back into God's favor.

3. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD'S ONLY SOLUTION FOR SIN.

Our holy, loving Creator, confronted with human hostility and rebellion, has chosen in his own grace, freedom, and faithfulness to become our holy, loving Redeemer and Restorer.

Jesus Christ is God the Son, made man to save sinners according to His Father's eternal purpose. He lived as man so that He might die as man for men. Jesus was crucified, dying in the place of sinners. Christ's death was a saving action of bearing away the world's sins.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8)

Three days after his death, Jesus rose from the dead. He later ascended to Heaven where He is exalted. Christ has been enthroned and made King, and lives to save all who acknowledge His Lordship.

He is the only way to God.

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6)

4. WE MUST RESPOND WITH FAITH AND REPENTANCE.

All who hear the gospel are summoned by God to believe in Jesus Christ and repent of their sin against God.

Sinners receive through faith in Christ alone the gift of righteousness. The Bible describes this as a mighty substitutionary transaction. Through faith, we claim Christ's righteousness while Christ took on our sin and suffered the punishment for it.

"not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Phillipians 3:9) - Apostle Paul

Genuine faith acknowledges and depends upon Jesus as Lord and shows itself in growing obedience to the divine commands, though this contributes nothing to the ground of our justification [James 2:14-26; Heb. 6:1-12]. We are justified by faith alone.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Repentance is a change of mind and heart, a new life of turning from sin and serving the Savior as king in self's place. Christ deliberately called attention to the radical break with the past that repentance involves.

"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me…whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Matthew 16:24, 25)

All who are justified experience reconciliation with the Father, full remission of sins, transition from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, the reality of being a new creature in Christ, adoption into God's family, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Believers enjoy access to the Father with all the peace, joy, and love that this brings.

Consider this important message and the serious consequences if you were to be wrong about Christ. We encourage you to discuss this message with a mature Christian.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please contact us and we would be more than happy to help you.