The following is a brief outline of the Gospel, meaning "Good News." (view in PDF format)
OUR PROBLEM:
01. We have all sinned against God.
02. Sin has separated us from our Creator.
03. We must all face God's judgment for our sin.
04. We are incapable of appeasing God through our own works.
GOD'S SOLUTION:
05. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins.
06. Jesus gives eternal life to all who receive him.
07. Jesus changes lives.
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1. We Have All Sinned
Against God
What is sin? Sin is disobedience to God. God created us to glorify him, but we instead pursue our own ways.
All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way... (Isaiah 53:6)
Sin is rebellion against God -- a rejection of his authority. And we are all guilty!
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
There is none righteous, no not one... (Romans 3:10)
Our sin puts us in a state of opposition to our Creator.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works... (Colossians 1:21)
But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)
3. Sin Ultimately Leads To
Death
Disobedience to the Most High God has serious consequences.
For the wages of sin is death... (Romans 6:23)
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:15)
And those who die in their sinful state face God's eternal condemnation.
And whosoever was not written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment... (Matthew 25:46)
4. We Cannot Appease God
Through Our Own Works
Imagine a man is convicted of several counts of first-degree murder in a court of law. He is clearly guilty and shows no remorse. However, at the sentencing, the man's family says that he has been a good husband and father who regularly gives to the poor and does volunteer work in the community. Taking that into account, the judge decides to throw out the conviction and set him free!
What would be your reaction? Most likely, you would be outraged. Why? Because the man's good deeds don't come close to erasing the fact that he is guilty of murder, and JUSTICE demands that he be punished.
In the same way, our good works do not negate the fact that we are guilty of sin against God, who is infinitely HOLY and JUST. Even religious devotion and church membership cannot erase the guilt of our sinfulness.
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags... (Isaiah 64:6)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any one should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
On our own merit, we have no hope -- but God has provided a way!
When his disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:25-26)
5. Jesus Died To Pay The
Penalty For Our Sins
God's love is so great, that despite our rebellion, he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Christ, who was guilty of nothing, offered his life as a sacrifice for us. He willingly submitted to public crucifixion -- a gruesome and shameful death -- at the hands of sinful men. Three days later, Christ rose from the dead, proving that he indeed was from God. His resurrection demonstrates his power over death and his ability to give life to others. HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
6. Jesus Gives Eternal
Life To All Those Who Receive Him
Salvation is a gift that Jesus purchased for us with his life. Here's how the gift can be opened for you:
1. BELIEVE
Salvation comes through your personal faith in Jesus Christ. Do you believe what the Bible says about Jesus? He is the Son of God, who gave his life to pay for your sins, rose from the dead, and is now with the Father in heaven interceding for those who belong to him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. REPENT
If someone really believes in Jesus Christ, and wants to be reconciled to God through him, he cannot intend to continue living in the same sinful manner. True belief is always accompanied by repentance.
This does not mean that a person has to succesfully stop sinning before they can be saved. That would be impossible. Instead, repentance involves an overall change of mind about sin. If sin is a rejection of God's authority over you, then repentance is embracing that authority. It is a desire to obey God and please him.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out... (Acts 3:19)
that they should repent and turn to God... (Acts 26:20)
3. RECEIVE
Receive Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior. Belief in Christ is not merely acknowleding his identity or his deeds. Jesus is not a historical figure who has long since passed from the scene. HE IS THE LIVING GOD!!! When a sinner believes and repents, he enters into a permanent relationship with Christ, trusting him as his Savior, and following him as his Lord.
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God... (John 1:12)
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Will you receive Jesus today? You can pray to him right now. His ear is waiting for all who seek him.
A) When sinners repent and come to Jesus, they are restored to a right relationship with God.
When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son... (Romans 5:10)
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
B) Being reconciled to God, we can now live a new life, walking with God and honoring him, as he originally intended.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
C) The believer never achieves sinlessness in this world, but if he is diligent, he will grow more and more like Christ throughout his life. God has given us many resources to help us grow and live in Christ, including:
1) THE BIBLE
God has revealed all we need to know about him in his Word. Through reading and studying the Bible, we grow in our knowledge of him, as well as receive daily instruction and comfort.
As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. (2Peter 1:3)
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1Peter 2:2)
2) PRAYER
Believers have a direct, constant connection to a loving Father.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you...
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:7,11)3) THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus promised that he would send a helper, the Holy Spirit, who would actually live inside of believers, until we are reunited with him in Heaven.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:16-17,26)4) OTHER BELIEVERS
God wants us to help each other in our walk with him. That's why it's important to find a good church that preaches and teaches the Word of God, made up of Christians who love and serve one another, and encourage each other to grow in their relationship to God.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ...
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12,27)
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another... (Hebrews 10:25)
And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:21)
D) Best of all, we have an inheritance waiting for us in Heaven, and look forward to meeting Jesus face-to-face and spending eternity with Him.
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Will you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today?
For further information, please contact:
Cornerstone Baptist Church
17017 Twelve Mile Road
Roseville, Michigan 48066
(586) 445-8910
www.cbcroseville.org
or send us an email. We'd love to talk with you.
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