The Gospel

What is the Gospel? Well, the word gospel translates to “Good News,” so I guess you can say that when a Christian is sharing the Gospel, they are just sharing the good news with you. It is really the ‘Good News” about Christ, Jesus, Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus, which ever you  prefer. For me it is usually Christ.

Bible study can be frustrating (I Know) but is really doesn’t have to be. There is a lot that happens in the Bible and it can be hard to keep straight. What I am going to do here is break it down into 4 topics that teach us just what the Gospel is and what is so important about it.

1. Creation
2. The Fall
3. Redemption
4. Restoration

                         Creation

These are the four topics concerning the Gospel. The Book of Genesis, which means beginning starts this story. In the opening line of the Bible we can read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 NIV). As you may notice it says God created, so it is assumed that God was here before the beginning. God’s creation was good. We know this because God said it was good after each new creation. God also created man and woman, but, the amazing part is that we were made in God’s image. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27 NIV).

The Fall

Now the Garden of Eden was going great. Adam and Eve had jobs to do, name all the creatures and populate the world, for just a couple. Genesis Chapter 3 tells us all about the fall but I will summarize but you are encouraged to read it for yourself. Adam and Eve were told in the beginning not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Enter Satan in the image of a serpent. Satan convinces Eve to eat the fruit (Genesis 3:1-7). What happened then is that their eyes were opened and they realized that they were naked and so they hid from God when He came to look for them. The Apostle Paul lets us know, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin has now entered the world, along with death, which only means one thing. There must now be a need for redemption. Where will that come from? How will we be set right?

Redemption

Not to confuse any of you but I must explain the three persons of God. God is a triune God. The Bible Dictionary defines Triune as “Three in one: constituting a trinity in unity. as the Godhead.” There is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Now time for the good news. Jesus was born in a normal birth by a human woman (Mary). Jesus lived a mostly normal life and went to school and played, but he was far from normal. He was our redeemer; our Savior! OK, you are wondering just what Jesus does to save us? Jesus lived a sinless life; literally perfect, even though He was in the flesh just like you and me and was tempted by Satan just like us. Christ faced many trials while he was on this Earth. What needs to be mentioned here is that as mentioned before, God is Triune meaning Jesus is God. With that said God came to the Earth in the flesh and left his heavenly home and all its glory. Why? For you, me, and every person on this Earth. ” But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still  sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV) The Son of God died for us! Now that is sacrifice. This is what separates Christ from other religious leaders; He was resurrected on the third day. He appeared to the apostles and others then ascended to be at the right hand of the Father. With the death and resurrection of Christ that means that there was Restoration.

Restoration 

We were given a gift at this point; the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to bring us back to God’s image. This is also were the word Faith comes into play. Faith, meaning to trust in the unseen, we are to place our faith in Christ Jesus. Paul once again tells us,” For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

By this guideline we can see that God created the heavens and the earth and it was good. Mankind was made in the image of God and it was good. Mankind being the rebels they they are messed everything up. The cool thing that can be found in Chapter Three of Genesis is the protoevangelium or the first prophecy of the Bible, ” And I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15 NIV).

This is the short version of the Gospel. Why did I want to share the Gospel first? The Gospel actually tells us why we should accept Christ as out personal Lord and Savior. It also tells us of the consequences of not placing your faith in Christ. “The penalty of sin is Death!” There is a simple way do place your faith in Christ, The ABC method.

1. Admit that you are a sinner
2. Believe that Christ walked the earth in the flesh. Believe that Christ is the son of God and that He died on the cross and rose again on the third day.
3. Confess your faith to to your pastor, Christian Friend, Your Chaplain. Follow the example of Christ in Baptism, ” If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9 NIV)

Dear gracious and loving heavenly Father, Lord I know that I am a sinner and that I need you in my life. Lord I believe that you walked this earth in the flesh and even though you were the King of Kings, Lord of Lord’s, our Savior, you came as a servant to serve us because you loved us as you still do. Lord you died on the cross for me and you were resurrected on the third day and you now sit at the right hand of the Father. Lord I just ask you to come into my life and lead me where you want me to go. Send down your Holy Spirit to guide me and to help me grow spiritually.  This I pray in the Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN

If you prayed this prayer or your own prayer leave me a comment or let me know somehow.

God Bless,

Chaplain Howie