The word “gospel” simply means “good news,”. We have fallen under the condemnation of God our Creator because we have violated His law, the Ten Commandments, and his holy righteous character demands that he pour out his wrath upon us as a result. However, the good news is that God has from eternity decreed a way to satisfy the demands of his righteousness without condemning the entire human race. You can be saved from your sin and its ultimate penalty! God has taken it upon himself apart from any good works that we can do or any merit in us to accomplish our salvation.
The following are the key points of this good news that God graciously gives us in the Bible:
- God is perfectly righteous and holy. – Matthew 5:48
- God created and owns everything, including you. – Genesis 1:1, Psalm 24:1
- You must perfectly obey God’s law in order to merit eternal life. – James 2:10
- However, you have broken God’s law. – Romans 3:10; 23
- As a result you will pay the eternal penalty for your sin. – Romans 6:23
- You cannot save yourself by your good works. – Titus 3:5
- God demonstrate his love to us by sending Jesus Christ. – Colossians 2:9
- He lived his entire life in perfect obedience to God’s law for us. – 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Jesus Christ died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sin. – Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Christ rose from the grave and is alive today. – 1 Corinthians 15:4
- In order to have eternal life you must repent of all that dishonors God. – Isaiah 55:7; Luke 9:23
- You must believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, and be willing to follow after Him. – Romans 10:9