God
The gospel is rooted in the person and character of God. He is the Sovereign Creator and Owner of everything (Gen 1:1 | Ps 24:1; 103:19 | Isa 43:7 | John 1:3 | Col 1:16). In the first verse in the Bible, Genesis 1:1 says: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”—He created everything out of nothing. He created you and He created me. Genesis 1:27 says that “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
God is a personal and intimate God who created man to love, serve and enjoy endless fellowship with Him—He created us for relationship, that we might know Him and worship Him (John 17:3 | 1 Cor 10:31 | Phil 3:3 | Heb 13:15). And since God owns and rules everything, He has absolute authority over our lives, and we owe Him absolute allegiance, obedience and worship (cf. Matt 20:15 | Rom 9:20–21).
Psalm 24:1 says that “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein”—you belong to Him (see also Ps 50:10–12 | 1 Cor 10:26). It is He who gives life, takes life and sustains life—your days are numbered, every one of them has been written in His book—every moment of each day has been sovereignly determined by God (1 Sam 2:6 | Job 1:21 | Heb 1:1–2:8 | Ps 54:4; 139:16). We, like the rest of creation are completely dependent upon God for everything (Acts 17:28). Not only is God the Sovereign Creator and Owner of everything, but He is also perfectly Holy.
He is set apart from everything in creation, including any other gods (Isa 6:3 | 1 John 1:5). He is the Creator! There is no other God but Him. He is set apart from sin—there is no sin in Him, nor will He have anything to do with sin (Hab 1:13 | Jas 1:13)! Therefore, He cannot commit or approve of evil (Hab 1:13 | Jas 1:13). He in His perfect holiness, demands that we be holy—He requires perfect obedience to His Law (Matt 5:48 | Jas 2:10). He says: “You shall be holy for I AM Holy” (Lev 11:44–45 | 1 Pet 1:16).
Man
But the problem is that we are sinful (Isa 59:1–2); man has broken God’s Law (Rom 3:10, 23). Everyone is guilty of sin: “There is no man who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46 | Rom 3:23). God’s Word says that “None is righteous, no, not one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:10, 23). That doesn’t mean that we are incapable of performing acts of human kindness, but we are completely incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Rom 3:10–12). James 2:10 says “For whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” Because man has broken God’s Law, man will pay the eternal penalty for sin as Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death.”
Sin demands a penalty. God’s holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished by death (Ezek 18:4). The wrath of God is revealed against all the unrighteous and ungodly who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18), who unless saved by God will experience the eternal penalty for sin (Rom 6:23). Man cannot save himself by his good works; even man’s righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (Titus 3:5 | Isa 64:6 | Eph 2:8–9). All we deserve is to be cast into the lake of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth day-in-and-day-out for all eternity (Rev 20:14–15; 21:8).
Jesus Christ
But, Jesus, the Lord and Savior, according to the predetermined will of God (Acts 2:23), came to earth as both God and Man (John 1:1–5, 14 | Col 2:9). Truly God and truly Man (John 1:1–3, 14). Jesus is Truly God; “All things were created through Him and for Him…and in Him all things hold together” (Col 1:16–17). He entered this world; and while He was sustained by the nutrients within Mary’s womb, He was upholding the universe by the Word of His power (Heb 1:3). Jesus is Truly Man; and in great humility, He grew up with the pains of living in a fallen world, though He Himself never sinned (Phil 2:6–11 | 2 Cor 5:21 | Heb 4:15; 7:26). He lived a sinless life—the life that both you and I have failed to live, Jesus lived perfectly. He was tempted as we are, yet He did not sin (Heb 4:15 | cf. Luke 4:2). In obedience to God and on behalf of His people, Jesus fulfilled all righteousness (Matt 3:13–17); and He fulfilled God’s Law (Matt 5:17–20).
And as a demonstration of God’s love He died on the cross paying the penalty of sin; He absorbed the wrath of God in the place of His people (John 3:16 | Rom 3:25; 5:6–8 | 2 Cor 5:14–15, 21 | 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18 | 1 John 2:2; 4:10). “He [The Father] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). And on the third day, He rose from the grave and is alive today (1 Cor 15:4), thus accomplishing righteousness and forgiveness for all who turn from their sin and place their faith in Him (Rom 3:21–30).
Trust in the Lord
God, in His grace and for His glory provides salvation to all who believe (Rom 3:24; 5:15; 6:23 | Eph 1:6–7; 2:5, 7–8 | 2 Thess 2:16 | Titus 3:7 | 1 Pet 5:10). And true faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Every man, woman and child must repent of all that dishonors God. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are a sinner—confessing your sins to Him and making a conscious choice to deny yourself and to turn away from sin and towards Jesus (Luke 9:23–26; 13:3, 5 | 1 Thess 1:9 | 1 John 1:9). It isn’t enough to believe certain facts about Jesus—even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (Jas 2:19), but they do not love and obey Him. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). True saving faith always responds in obedience (Eph 2:10). And God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30–31).
If you are concerned that you are not saved, then I encourage you to turn away from sin and any confidence in good works and turn to the Lord pleading with Him for mercy and grace, for only He can save you (Luke 18:9–14 | Eph 2:8–9 | Rom 6:23 | Titus 3:5–7).
As Christians we understand that we are sinners, but we trust in the person, life and finished work of Christ on the cross as the only means of salvation—the only way we can be forgiven and reconciled to God. It is only in Christ that one can be forgiven and spared from God’s wrath. It is only in Him that one can be reconciled with God and enjoy an intimate, joyful relationship with the Triune God (John 17:3 | 2 Cor 4:6 | 5:17–21).
Today is the day of salvation and thus if you do not know the Lord, I urge you to seek Him today; seek Him while He may be found (Isa 55:6). Repent of all that dishonors God (Isa 55:7 | Luke 9:23); cry out to the LORD for mercy (Luke 18:9–14); and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9–10). Plead with Him to graciously save you for His glory (Isa 48:9–11). Call on His Name (Rom 10:13). Don’t wait another day, repent while you still have a chance (Acts 17:30 | Isa 43:7 | Eph 1:6, 12, 14 | Heb 9:27). And if Jesus sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).
This is the gospel—the good news of salvation for all who believe. If you are not sure if you are saved or if you have any questions whatsoever, please call the Outreach Ministry at Living Stone Bible Church at +27 78 678 9366. If you are saved; praise be to God for the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus (cf. Eph 2:7). Praise be to God that we are no longer slaves of sin but have been set free and are now slaves of righteousness; we no longer live for ourselves, but we live for our new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 6 | Phil 2:3–8).
What is the Fruit of Salvation?
When God saves us, He saves us unto goods works which He has prepared beforehand for us to walk in (cf. Eph 2:10). With Christ as our example and Scripture as our guide we walk in the power of His Spirit in the works that He has preordained for us to walk in (cf. Gal 5:22–25 | Eph 4–6). God in His grace has blessed us with various ministries and responsibilities—a stewardship, such as ministries in the home—marriage, parenting, grandchildren; ministries in the church; our vocation, communities and in the neighborhood in which we live.
Let us be faithful to walk in the good works God has prepared beforehand to walk in for His glory.