The Message of the Gospel
1. Good News and Bad News
The very word “Gospel” means Good News. But in order to see just how good the Gospel is - we've got to understand the bad news. Everyone person, who has ever lived (save One) is a sinner and falls woefully short of the glory of God. In fact, because God Himself is holy, He won't allow any sin or evil in His presence. Sin is a violation of God's Law, a rebellion against His rule, and often a selfish act at the expense of another. Much of sin can be summarized in the 10 commandments, but it also includes sinful words and the attitudes of our hearts. ” For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Rom. 6:23
2. The Sin Chasm Between God and Man
The Bible, however, speaks of God as an absolute, unchanging Being. Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” It’s precisely because God is utterly holy, literally “…a consuming fire.” Deut. 4:24, that He “…hates wickedness and loves righteousness.” Heb.1:9. God is so totally holy and pure that “He cannot abide evil.” Hab.1:13. Clearly, all of us can do nothing to satisfy God’s absolute holiness and achieve His standard of total perfection. God’s holiness and our sin have created a vast, unassailable gulf between us. So the compelling question remains, How can we ever find a way to cross this chasm which separates us from God?
3. God has bridged the chasm
God provided the only means by which His holy standard could be satisfied and lost sinners might have access to Heaven. As sinners, we deserve death, or eternal punishment and separation from God. Because of His unfathomable love and mercy, God determined, from eternity past, that He would suffer the punishment we deserve; that He would pay the price for our sins, canceling out the debt we owe so that we might be redeemed and spend eternity in His presence!!! In I John 3:5 we read “He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.” In Jesus we see the perfect God and Creator of all the universe becoming one of us, except without sin. As a man, He lived the perfect life we are unable to live. He then went to Calvary’s cross to die in our place. Since He was a perfect and sinless man, His death was an acceptable sacrifice for us. Since He was also the eternal God, His death was efficacious for all who receive Him by faith alone. Jesus conquered sin and death once and for all, giving us a real and living hope by His resurrection from the grave. The resurrection of Christ is an essential component of our salvation. Because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death, we no longer need to fear death ourselves…if we personally know the One who now sits at the right hand of God the Father and intercedes for us who have put our complete trust in Him alone as our Savior and our Lord.
4. God’s Gift of Eternal Life
In Eph. 2:8-9 We read these profound words which separate Christianity from all of the world’s religions. (8) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God’s grace alone (or undeserved favor) is the basis, or ground, for a sinner’s acceptance by Him. Faith alone is the means by which that gracious gift of eternal life is received.
5. How Can I Receive God’s Gift of Eternal Life?
We simply believe the message of the Gospel in its totality and cast ourselves upon the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith alone. We acknowledge that we are sinners lost and helpless. We admit that we can do nothing at all to earn, merit, or deserve salvation. We confess that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ “Salvation is found in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. We ask Jesus Christ to come into our life and forgive us for all of our sins and we commit ourselves to Him alone, by faith alone as Savior and Lord.
The Faith Bible Chapel family urges you to “Seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring forth. None of us knows what the future holds. We urge you to respond today if God is convicting you of your need for Him. II Cor. 6:2 reminds us of this reality “….I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Please contact us if you have questions or we can help you in any way. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly and give you His peace.