GOD IS HOLY
The gospel means good news. Why do we need this good news? The Bible reveals that God, the creator of heaven and earth is holy, perfectly pure, and sinless. God says…
therefore be holy because I am holy. – Leviticus 11:45
God is also loving, gracious, merciful, good, righteous, and just.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1
The LORD is gracious and righteous; our GOD is full of compassion.- Psalm 116:5
God cares for you, willing to forgive, he desires to show you his grace and mercy but in his holiness and justice, he can not tolerate sin and he will punish those who sin against Him. The Bible says …
And he (God) passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished … – Exodus 34:6-7
We need this good news because we are not holy like God.
MAN A SINNER
God created you and he loves you – but you are a sinner. You failed and fell short of God’s standard for goodness – his glory, holiness and perfection. Can you say you are as good as God?
For God so loved the world (humanity) … – John 3:16a
for all (of humanity) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23
Sins are not just the bad things you do, it is your nature. This “sin nature” within you leads you to make sinful choices. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments (for example – you shall not steal, lie, covet or dishonor your parents)? Even if you only broke one of the commandments, it is evidence of your sin nature, it makes you unacceptable to God. Every human being is a sinner, no one is exempted – the Bible says – “for all have sinned” – not some, not a few, but all.
We need this good news because our sin makes us unacceptable to God.
SIN IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM
Your sin is a serious problem, it separates you from a holy God. A problem that has dreadful and irreversible eternal consequences. Your sin “cuts you off from God” both in this life and eternity.
It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. – Isaiah 59:2
Sin will ultimately lead to eternal death – in a place called hell, which is God’s judgment (sentence) for those who sin.
For the wages of sin is death … – Romans 6:23a (a sinner receives death)
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur (hell). This is the second death (eternal death). – Revelation 21:8
Are you included in this list? Sin then is like a big and deep abyss or valley that “separates you” and “cuts you off” from God. Your relationship with God is broken, this is bad news.=
The good news there is salvation from this consequence!
MAN CAN’T SAVE HIMSELF
Sin is like a spiritual disease. The solutions people come up with, at best, are only fixing the symptoms (like taking Tylenol, when you, in fact, have a serious sickness like cancer). The Bible says the Ten Commandments (the standard for goodness) is merely like a thermometer. We know a thermometer can’t cure any disease.
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are – Romans 3:20
Meaning, law-keeping and good deeds does not make you less of a sinner or more acceptable to God. In fact, to God all the good things we do, our religious acts, our rituals – are of no value to Him, like dirty rags.
Our righteous acts are like filthy rags – Isaiah 64:6
However, many people rely on such things. Are you trusting in your own goodness to be accepted by God? You are still cut-off from God.
The only cure for sin is to completely remove it from our hearts. Our hearts need to be made holy and righteous before God.
The good news is God has provided the solution to our sin problem.
JESUS CHRIST
Around 2000 years ago, in God’s perfect time, He sent His one and only Son into the world (yes God has a Son), he became human by being born of a virgin mother, he lived a perfect and sinless life, he did not commit any crime yet he was crucified, he was buried and rose back to life after three days – more than 500 people (eyewitnesses) saw him alive after His resurrection. He returned to heaven and now is seated at God’s right hand. His death fully paid the penalty for our sin. His perfect and sinless life is now a free gift being offered to the human race. His name is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. – 1 John 2:2
JESUS OUR SALVATION, THE BRIDGE TO GOD
Jesus is God’s solution to our sin problem! God reveals his love by giving the life of his only Son. His justice is satisfied by punishing his only Son on your behalf. You deserve to be punished – but instead, Jesus, the one and only Son of God, took the punishment for you, he became your “substitute”.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
God’s anger over your sin was poured into his own Son. Jesus rose again after three days – not only proving to the world that He is the Son of God, he gives brand new life to those who trust Him – the free gift of Eternal Life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
Jesus is not “one of many ways”, He is not “one of many steps” to God. Jesus is the only way to God; the only step; the only BRIDGE back to God. If Jesus is the Son of God – then we need to worship Him; honor Him; and give our lives to Him – He needs to become our Lord and King.
Jesus said – I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me – John 14:6
Do you trust Jesus as the way, the bridge to God? Trusting Jesus as your Savior, surrendering your life to his Lordship – completely cleanses you of sin and restores your relationship with God.
The good news: Christ is our bridge to God.
ETERNAL LIFE AND PEACE WITH GOD
In Christ you receive the free gift of Eternal Life – which is personal relationship with God, both in this life and in eternity.\
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. – John 17:3
In Christ, you have peace with God and reconciliation; you also experience his peace, purpose, and life to the fullest.
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:1b
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. – John 14:27a
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full – John 10:10b
This is the gospel, the good news.
CROSS THE BRIDGE
Now that you know the gospel, God requires you to respond in faith. It’s not enough to know that God has provided the bridge back to him – you need to cross the bridge yourself!
whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. – John 5:24
Crossing the bridge is done by faith. Faith means trusting the Word of God (that is believing this message). God’s Word says – anyone who trusts in Jesus as his Savior and Lord will have eternal life; will not perish; will not face God’s judgment; and has crossed over from death to life!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
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
Will you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? If this is the desire and cry of your heart, humbly call on the name of the Lord and …
REPENT “Lord, I’m a sinner, forgive me of my sins, I turn away from my life of sin and selfish ways”
BELIEVE “I believe Jesus is the Son of God who came to live and die to pay for my sins and after three days rose from the dead”
RECEIVE “I confess and trust Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I will follow Him the rest of my life”
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. -Romans 10:13
Riverlife Church 2024