"THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST"
THE BEST NEWS YOU'LL EVER HEAR!
The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe (Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:9). Since the beginning of time when the first man sinned, mankind has been under the condemnation of God (Romans 5:12). Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin (Romans 3:23), everyone is guilty (Romans 5:18). The punishment for the crime of sin is physical death (Romans 6:23) and then an eternity spent in a place of eternal punishment (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:46). This eternal separation from God is also called the “second death” (Revelation 20:14–15).
The fact that all are guilty of sin and condemned to spend eternity in a place of torment is very bad news. But God, because of His love for the world, has made a way for man to be forgiven for their sins (John 3:16). He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of man on Himself through death on a cross (1 Peter 2:24). In placing our sin on Christ, God ensured that all who will believe in the name of Jesus will be forgiven (Acts 10:43).
This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that God provided the way for man to be freed from the penalty of sin (John 14:6: Romans 6:23). But not all people will be saved from hell; only those who place their faith in Jesus will go to heaven when they die (Acts 4:12).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news anyone will ever hear, and what a person does with this news will determine where he or she spends eternity. God is calling you to choose life. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved (Romans 10:13)!
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
What does it mean to be a born-again Christian? The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21.
The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and
member of the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews). Nicodemus had
come to Jesus at night with some questions.
As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said, “‘I tell you the truth, no one
can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be
born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second
time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the
truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water
and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth
to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born
again”’ (John 3:3-7).
The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." Nicodemus had
a real need. He needed a change of his heart—a spiritual
transformation. New birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby
eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12, 13 indicates that being "born again" also carries the idea of "becoming
children of God" through trust in the name of Jesus Christ.
The question logically comes, "Why does a person need to be born again?" The apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins"
(NKJV). To the Romans he wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life
through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth. Only those
who are born again have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with
God.
How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8-9
states, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one
can boast." When one is saved, he/she has been born again, spiritually
renewed, and is now a child of God by right of new birth. Trusting in
Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin when He died on the
cross, is the means to be "born again." "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
If you have never trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, will
you consider the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your
heart? You need to be born again. "Yet to all who received
him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband’s will, but born of God" (John 1:12-13).
Confess the Name of Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9....... "God, I know that
I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus
Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I
could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for
Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
