An old joke starts with these lines: "Ive got good news and Ive got bad
news." The gospel the word means good news -- is the greatest news ever
delivered to the human race.
But first, the bad news
- Sin results from disobeying Gods moral law, whether by commission
(Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law" 1 John 3:4) or omission (Therefore
to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin James
4:17).
- No one is, by nature, righteous in Gods sight ("The LORD
looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any
that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all
together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Ps.
14:2,3).
- The penalty for sin is spiritual death ("And the LORD said
unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."
Ex. 32:33).
- This involves eternal torment in a place called Hell ("The
wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
Ps. 9:17). ("And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better
for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and
the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:43,44).
How can we escape this judgment?
 | CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD. ("He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Prov. 28:13). |
 | REPENT OF OUR SINS BEFORE GOD. ("
Repent, and turn yourselves
from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin." Ezek.
18:30).
|
Now, for the good news of the gospel!
| | JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS. |
- He Himself suffered the punishment we deserved to suffer
("But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to
his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isa.
53:5,6).
- His substitutionary atoning death, by the shedding of His blood,
enabled us to become righteous before God ("For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him." 2 Cor. 5:21). ("Being justified freely by his grace through
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.") Rom.
3:24,25.
JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD ON OUR BEHALF.
- His resurrection fulfilled Gods promises ("And
we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the
fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath
raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my
Son, this day have I begotten thee" Acts 13:32,33).
- His resurrection enables Christians to live uprightly ("For
if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is
crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth
we should not serve sin." Rom. 6:5,6).
SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD. ("For by grace are ye saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." -- Eph. 2:8)
What must I do to be saved?
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house." Acts 16:31
"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."
Rom. 10:9
We love you and want to see you go to Heaven. For further information, write
us at
mark@shemaisraelministries.org.