The Gospel

How can we know God?  By trusting in Him through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Do you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ?  What is the core of the Good News?  Although the implications of the gospel are vast, the basic message is simple.

Ruler
God, the loving and joyful Creator, is the sovereign One over all people and things, and He deserves the worship, reverence and obedience of His creation.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.  Romans 1.20-23 (NASB)

Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.  Revelation 4.11 (NASB)

Rebels
We, the creation, have chosen our own path in life, and walked away from our Creator.  As a result we deserve our due penalty—death and separation from the loving and joyful Creator.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  Romans 1.18-19 (NASB)

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.  Hebrews 9.27-28 (NASB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6.23 (NASB)

Redemption
Jesus the Christ (the Messiah), who is fully God, took on a human body to live a perfect life, die in our place (thus taking our penalty), and rise from the dead.  As a result, the ability to know our Creator and live in His joy was restored and made available in Christ.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.  Romans 3.23-25 (NASB)

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit...  1 Peter 3.18 (NASB)

He [God the Father] made Him [God the Son; Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  2 Corinthians 5.21 (NASB)

Renewal
The available redemption cannot be earned, but must be applied to us individually as the Holy Spirit pulls us, and we respond to His grace in repentance and faith—accepting the gracious gift of life in Christ, and growing in Christlike character.  This involves immediate soul renewal, and later at the return of Christ, it will involve the physical renewal of our bodies and all of creation.

Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.  Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.  Romans 4.22-25 (NASB)

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  John 3.36 (NASB)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8.1 (NASB)

My sincere prayer is that you would be able to delight in God through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He offers Himself to you.  Will you trust in Him, and accept His gracious gift?

If you are just beginning your life with God in Christ, I encourage you to connect with a local church community of Christ followers.  In the meantime, for more information, click here.