The core of the Christian faith has to do with something called the Gospel. The word gospel basically means “good news”, and below are several basic summary statements with bible verse references that explain what this “good news” is.
1. First… some good news:
~ God created this world. Everything- the cosmos, our world, nature and all of humanity- were all created by God. (Genesis 1)
~ God not only created this world, but he loves this world and every person including you and me. (John 3:16)
2. Now THE bad news… WHICH WE need to HEAR before WE can fully understand the good news.
~ Because of what the Bible calls “Sin” (which is basically rebellion in our hearts toward God) we are under the judgement of God and separated from the kind of relationship with Him that He created us to be in with Him… a personal and intimate relationship.
~ Every one of us has this condition of rebellion in our hearts toward God. (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8)
~ The consequence of our sinful condition is judgement and condemnation, which results in present and future separation from God. The Bible refers to this separation from God as death. (Romans 6:23) And eternal separation from God after this life is referred to as hell. (Matt 5:22, 29, Matt 10:28, Mark 9:43, Luke 16:23)
3. And now… The good news of the GOSPEL.
~ While our sin may separate us from God, God has provided a way for us to receive forgiveness as a gift from Him. We are forgiven and made right with God through Jesus His Son, who took our sin upon himself, and suffered the judgement for our sin… in our place… on the cross. And the Bible tells us that, if you truly put your faith in Jesus, and his death on the cross for your sin, you are forgiven. You no longer stand under God’s judgement, but are forgiven and free from condemnation, and you have become a child of God. (1 Peter 3:18, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, John 1:12, 1 John 3:1).
4. This IS GOD’S GREATEST ACT OF LOVE IN ALL OF HISTORY
~ God made his love known to us by sending his Son Jesus to die for our sins… so that we could be forgiven, and so that we could become children of God living under his favor and blessing. (Romans 5:8, John 3:16-17)