This is a short document that tries to answer some common questions around the Gospel and other words that you may often hear and maybe don’t understand. It’s not a complete or finished document and to get the best answers then it’s always best to read the Bible, the Word of God.
You can also
listen to our Gospel Message audio recordings of Sunday Gospel
Meetings at Ballyclare Gospel Hall (Northern Ireland) if you would like to hear
a simple and straightforward Gospel Message preached from the Bible.
What does Gospel mean?
The Greek
word for the word “Gospel” is “euaggelion” and it means the following (Strong’s
Concordance):
1. a reward for good tidings
2. good tidings
a. the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and
subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the
death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus
Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for
the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right
hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of
God
b. the glad tidings of salvation through Christ
c. the proclamation of the grace of God, manifest and pledged in Christ
d. the gospel
e. as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings.
What is the Gospel Message?
The Gospel Message of the Lord Jesus Christ is best described by referencing the Bible, The Word of God.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" - John 3:16 (KJV)
This is the simple Gospel Message of the Lord Jesus Christ ...
God created us, He wanted (and still wants) a close
relationship.
Our sins separate us from God, we need to be made right with
God.
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds; a perfect sacrifice is
needed.
Paying the price for sin, the Lord Jesus Christ died on the
cross and rose again.
Everyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ receives
forgiveness of sins and eternal life, this is the Good News of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Life with the Lord Jesus Christ starts when you believe and
never ends.
The Gospel
Message needs a decision from YOU! If you’ve started to read this document,
then you have that decision to make NOW! Not tomorrow or the next day. The time
is NOW.
“... behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Cor 2:6 (KJV)
What is Creation?
It states in
the Bible that God created everything, and it was "very good".
It was perfect - there was no pain, no suffering, no sin. This is the close
relationship that God wanted with Adam. Unfortunately, that harmony was broken
with the first sin and because God is a righteous God then He has to judge sin;
but God is also a God of Love and he has provided us with a solution in His
Son. Everyone wants that perfect life, but that perfection is only possible
through the Lord Jesus Christ.
"And God saw everything that he had made,
and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth
day". Genesis 1:31 (KJV)
What is Sin?
Sin is what
separates us from God. We are all born sinners and we need to make things right
with God to obtain forgiveness of sins and to escape Judgement.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all
have sinned." Romans 5:12 (KJV)
What is Substitution?
The
definition of a substitute is "a person taking the place of
another". God is a righteous God and demands Judgement for Sin, but He is
also a Loving God and has provided us with the perfect substitute through the
Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died on the cross, and rose again, so that
our sins can be forgiven.
"... and He Himself bore our sins in His
body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for
by His wounds you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
What is Repentance?
Repentance
is admitting you are a sinner and choosing to turn away from sin by obeying the
Lord Jesus Christ. This is your choice. It's a decision you make and it's lifelong.
"I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32 (KJV)
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". Acts 2:38 (KJV)
What is Salvation?
Salvation is
the forgiveness of sins, through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the
cross at Calvary and obtaining Eternal Life by believing in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” - John
5:24 (KJV)
What is Eternal Life?
Eternal Life
is a free gift of God to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word for
"gift" is "charisma" which means "a favour which one
receives without any merit of his own, the gift of divine grace, the gift of
faith" (Strong's Concordance). Eternal Life is not something we can earn
and it's not something that we automatically deserve.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:27-28
(KJV)
Eternal Life
is in the present and starts once you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
continues into the future. It's a quality of life.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. " -
John 5:24 (KJV)
"Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?" - John 11:25-26
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up
his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that
thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,
whom thou hast sent." - John 17:1-3 (KJV)
What other verses can help with understanding the Gospel Message?
“But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us”. Romans 5:8
"For all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God". Romans 3:23
“There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”. Romans 8:1
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved”. Romans 8:1
“For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. Romans
10:10
“For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”. Romans
10:13
More Information
Download and share our infographic called "What is the Gospel Message?".
You can also listen to our Gospel Message podcast using your preferred podcast player (e.g. iTunes on an iPhone or Google Podcasts on an Android phone) or you can listen and subscribe on YouTube. This is completely free and the Lord Jesus offers the free gift of Salvation to you if you are willing to accept it.
Visit Ballyclare Gospel Hall Website for further information
or contact us if you have any questions. Here
you can join our e-mail list and be among the first to hear when any new podcast
episode is published.
We trust
that God will bless the reading of His Word!
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