The Gospel or Good News of Jesus

Many years ago, God created this earth (Genesis 1:1).  He is creative and powerful beyond our understanding and He is holy which means perfect in goodness (Psalm 77:13). He created us to love and obey Him (Deuteronomy 10:12) and He gave us freedom to rule the earth (Genesis 1:26).  The first people, Adam and Eve, had a wonderful relationship with God until they did not follow God’s rules or sinned which damaged their relationship with God and significantly changed their lives and everyone else’s lives since then (Genesis 3).

Whether we like to admit it or think about it, we all do things we know we should not do (Romans 3:23).  When we break a traffic or criminal law, there are punishments.  When we do not follow God’s rules – called sin, it damages our relationship with God and makes us His enemy (Colossians 1:21).  Because of our sin, the punishment or what we earn is eternal separation from God or death (Romans 6:23).  We often feel guilty for our sin.

Fortunately, because God loves us so much, He made a way for us to escape this eternal separation or death by sending His Son Jesus to earth to die on a cross in our place to endure the punishment we deserve or earned (1 Peter 3:18).  This demonstrates clearly His love for us to sacrifice His beloved Son even when we were His enemy (Romans 5:8).  He then rose from the dead which gives us hope and shows His power over sin and death (2 Corinthians 4:14).  If we truly believe in Jesus and what He did, we are freed or saved from the guilt and punishment through Jesus taking our place (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  He paid the price we owed so we can be freed from guilt and have a special relationship with God here on earth and for eternity.  This is the Gospel or Good News of Jesus or also described as amazing grace.

When we believe that we are sinners, believe that we deserve God’s punishment and then turn from our ways to follow Jesus (Acts 3:19), He saves us from our sin and changes us from enemies to become His children (John 1:12).  We are not saved by being good or by doing good things but by the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross in our place – He paid the debt that we owed (Ephesians 2:8).  This grace, this amazing grace, is given to us freely – not based on what we do but on what Jesus did on the cross.  To receive this wonderful gift, we must repent or turn from our ways and believe in who Jesus is and what He has done.  Again, this is Good News and amazing grace.

As children of God, we can have a new life following Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).  God’s Spirit actually comes and lives inside us to help us serve and love God (Romans 8:9).  Our focus changes from doing only what pleases us to following and pleasing Jesus – we surrender our will to wholeheartedly follow Jesus (Luke 9:23).  This new relationship begins here on earth and will continue throughout eternity – forever!  Following Jesus may not be easy or comfortable but He will be with us always to help us (John 16:33).  He will even use difficult times to help us change and grow.  Bad things may happen that we may not understand but we can completely trust Him (James 1:2-4).  He will be with us to help us and guide us to grow and become more like Him (Matthew 28:20b).

This is a very important and serious decision that should not be made lightly. It is often easy to make a decision without taking important things in consideration. After this decision, your life will change forever. Jesus tells us that we must count the cost and be ready for the challenges of the future if and when we make this decision – you must give up everything (Luke 14:28-33). It won’t always be easy. There is an enemy that will be fighting against you (1 Peter 5:8). It is the best decision you can ever make but one that should never be made lightly.

You have the opportunity to experience this Good News or amazing grace in your own life.  You must believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus died to suffer the punishment you deserved.  You will then need to repent or turn from your way of living to wholeheartedly follow the ways and commands of Jesus.  This will change your life completely here on earth and for eternity.  It is a challenging life but also a life of joy and peace and a promise of heaven instead of eternal punishment.  Why wouldn’t you want a life following Jesus?

For more information and to discuss this further, please find someone you respect as a Christian and sit down with them.  They can share with you how Jesus has changed their lives.  They can help you get started to learn more by reading the Bible, growing your relationship with God, becoming part of a Christian community and other important steps on this new journey.  What you do with this Good News will affect the rest of your life here on earth and where you spend eternity after you die.  Don’t miss this opportunity!