The Gospel or Good News of Jesus

IN THE BEGINNING Unlike all created things, God has always existed (Psalm 90:2). He was never created and has no beginning or end. At a point in time, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He is creative and powerful beyond our understanding, and He is holy, meaning He is perfect in goodness and purity (Psalm 77:13). God created us to know, love, and obey Him (Deuteronomy 10:12). He also gave humanity responsibility to care for and rule over the earth (Genesis 1:26). The first people, Adam and Eve, enjoyed a perfect relationship with God until they chose to rebel against Him. This rebellion, called sin, damaged their relationship with God and brought suffering and death into the world (Genesis 3).

THE FALL When Adam and Eve sinned, their nature was corrupted by sin. Since then, every person has been born with a sinful nature (Genesis 3). We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). When we break human laws, there are consequences. In the same way, when we break God’s laws, we sin against Him. Sin separates us from God and makes us His enemies (Colossians 1:21). Because of our sin, we deserve God’s judgment. The penalty for sin is death—eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23).

THE GOOD NEWS Because of His great love for us, God made a way for us to be rescued from the penalty of sin. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die on the cross in our place, taking upon Himself the punishment we deserved (1 Peter 3:18). God demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners and enemies of God (Romans 5:8). Jesus was buried and then rose from the dead, demonstrating His power over sin and death and giving us the hope of eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:14). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the debt we could never pay ourselves. Because of Him, we can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and enjoy a relationship with Him both now and forever. This message is called the Gospel, which means “Good News.”

OUR RESPONSIBILITY To receive this gift of salvation, we must first recognize that we are sinners who deserve God’s judgment. We must repent, meaning we turn away from our sin and turn toward God (Acts 3:19). We must also place our faith in Jesus Christ—believing who He is, what He accomplished through His death and resurrection, and trusting Him as Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). When we repent and believe, God forgives our sins and adopts us into His family. We are no longer His enemies but become His children (John 1:12). Salvation is not earned by being a good person or by doing good works. It is a gift of God’s grace received through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are saved not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST When we become God’s children, He gives us new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). God places His Spirit within us to help us love, obey, and serve Him (Romans 8:9). As followers of Jesus, our focus changes. Instead of living primarily for ourselves, we seek to follow and please Him. We surrender our lives to His leadership and daily choose to follow Him (Luke 9:23). This relationship with God begins now and continues for all eternity. Following Jesus is not always easy, but He promises to be with us through every circumstance (John 16:33). God uses both joys and hardships to help us grow spiritually and become more like Christ (James 1:2-4). We can trust Him completely because He is always with us and will never leave us (Matthew 28:20).

COUNT THE COST Following Jesus is a serious commitment and should not be entered into lightly. Jesus taught that we should count the cost before deciding to follow Him (Luke 14:28-33). To follow Christ means surrendering every area of our lives to Him. It means placing Him above our own desires, plans, possessions, and relationships. There will be challenges, sacrifices, and spiritual opposition along the way (1 Peter 5:8). Yet Jesus is worthy of our complete devotion. While the path is not always easy, it leads to true life, peace with God, and the promise of eternal life.

NEXT STEPS If you believe that you are a sinner, that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and if you are willing to repent and follow Him, you can call upon Him in faith today. There is no special prayer that saves a person. Salvation comes through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. However, you may express your faith to God through prayer, confessing your sin, thanking Him for His sacrifice, and committing your life to Him. Choosing to follow Jesus is the most important decision you will ever make. It affects not only your life today but also your eternal destiny.

FOLLOW UP If you would like to learn more, speak with a mature Christian whom you trust. Ask them to share how Jesus has changed their life and to help you understand the Bible. As a new believer, it is important to read God’s Word regularly, pray, become part of a Bible-believing church, and develop relationships with other Christians who can encourage and help you grow in your faith. The decision you make about Jesus Christ is the most important decision of your life. Consider it carefully, seek God sincerely, and respond to Him while He is calling you.