I have heard many people give an account of what the gospel is. However, most people only give a snippet of what it is. Some people may say that that’s the crucial part – that Jesus died for our sins, but it leaves out so much, even if you include repentance.

You see, this Gospel is not our own, so we should not add to or subtract from it in any way. Even in witnessing, we need to declare its fullness. To say any less is not the Gospel.

Adam, Eve, and Sin

The Bible tells us that God created man “in our own image“. Male and female, He made them.

When Adam was made, God gave him a command with a severe warning. God told Adam that should he eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he “would surely die”.

Adam (and Eve) broke that command. In doing so, he broke not only that command but the ‘world’ God had designed man (man and woman) to live in.

Adam represented all mankind, so when God gave Adam this instruction, it was for mankind’s sake, not merely his own.

So, enter in sin, and death, disease, pain and anguish, and decay into our world.

The disobedient act above is called sin. Any act (thought, word, action) that goes against the nature and law of God is a sin. The punishment for sin is eternal death. God warned Adam of this, but he did not kill Adam.

God covered Adam and Eve with animal skin, by sacrificing an animal, therefore shedding its blood. This is a symbolic foretelling of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, him bearing our sins (being imputed to Him) and Jesus imputing (clothing) to us who believe His righteousness.

Separation from God and Separation to God

Adam and Eve were evicted from the garden because sin separates us from God. And thus, from that point, all mankind has been separated from God due to a human nature that is stained with sin.

However, in time, God chose a people of His own to demonstrate to the whole world His Sovereignty, Glory, Mercy, and Majesty, to separate a chosen people to Himself who became known as Israel.

God gave Israel laws to cover their sins; when they sinned, they had to slaughter an animal and shed it’s blood, as was done at the time of Adam and Eve’s sin. These laws were for a time until God himself would come to end the punishment of all sin from the earth, once and for all of those who have been chosen.

God did this in the person of Jesus Christ. There are over 400 Old Testament scriptures that tell of the coming Christ, including where he would be born and what he would do, all of which were fulfilled.

The Ministry of Jesus Christ

The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ started with the baptisms of John, where we see the Trinity (God as one essence as three equal persons) in action. 

Christ’s ministry was different to any other, and he was different to all other teachers. People, including scholarly Jewish people, marvelled at the wisdom and authority in Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus taught that love is greater than any act of the law, and even in keeping of the whole law, if it were possible by any human person. Jesus taught that there was nothing more important than to keep THE two commandments; to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and to love others as yourself. Jesus taught that if you thought in your mind to hurt someone, then you have in fact hurt them, and sinned in doing so. We remember that the punishment for sin is eternal death.

This Love, this Gospel

This love Jesus taught is far greater, above and beyond, than you may think to know.

Jesus said that even the non-believers love their friends and family, He calls believers to go much further. He says to love your enemies. I struggle with this calling, but it seems this is what ultimately defines a true believer. 

Remember that to merely make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ does not equal salvation. The scriptures tell us that even the demons believe in Jesus “and shudder”, it is for these that hell was made.

The primary message Jesus gave was to repent, the Kingdom of Heaven was near (believe). To repent is to entirely change your self-seeking life and, instead, turn to God and love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength. 

Jesus also said, “repent, and be baptised”, Mark 16:15-18.

If you love Me you will obey Me

Jesus said, ” If you love me, you WILL obey me. If you obey me, you LOVE ME.” Jesus said this over and over. When I read this, I think Jesus is telling us how we can be sure of our salvation. He is saying, when you love me as I call you to, you will want to follow My words in everything (obedience) you do, from the deepest part of your being, obeying all truth in every single moment.

I’m not saying that we are able to do that. Until heaven, we will sin. However, the Lord Jesus will place a real faith in us that truly desires Him, if we come to repentance and faith in His Word and finished work on the cross.

Jesus has given us all in His Word a very hard warning. He said many will come to me and say “Lord, Lord” but he will say “depart from me, I never knew you”.

In the Gospel of John, John writes that others will know we are Christians by our love for one another (believers). However, Jesus says what truly marks a Christian is those who are willing to go further.

In addition to Jesus’ teaching, He healed the sick, repaired extremities, cast out demons and raised the dead. An example of the complete healing we will receive (eventually) when we come to Him.

When Jesus healed people, he often said, “Sin no more”.

Jesus Showed No Partiality Concerning the Gospel

He visited with the poor and rich alike. He was ostracised for visiting with “sinners” because he was regarded as a religious teacher (and should therefore not sit with sinners) even by those who opposed Him.

Jesus said to Peter, who do you say that I am. Peter responded that he is the Son of the Living God. Jesus retorted that it was the Father (God) who had revealed this to Peter. Jesus also says that He is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6)

In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) Jesus is recorded as saying that He came to “give His life as a ransom”.

God tells us in His word that we “all fall short of the glory of God”, and that even our righteousness is but “filthy rags”. Jesus clarified this with His teaching that what we do in our hearts is as good as done.

Jesus foretold what would happen to Him. That he would die and in three days be raised again. And that is what happened. He was crucified, put in a tomb, and three days later was raised to life. He was then seen by many people for over 40 days before going to be with the Father. I highly recommend reading the Gospel accounts, starting with John, then Matthew, Mark, Luke.

Ransom and the Gospel

A ransom is paid to free something. In this case, the thing that Jesus ransomed was our soul from eternal death, which is hell. This equates to our sins, all past and future being forgiven. But PLEASE, you CANNOT make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and live an unrepentant, self-seeking, self-indulgent life. There is no point trying to mock God.

John 3:16.

Imputation

Scripture tells us that Jesus bore our transgressions; that our sin was imputed to Him. He took on the wrath of God, which is the penalty for sin. The Lord Jesus Christ bore that punishment.

When we put the trust of our whole lives in this Truth, the bible says that we are clothed in His righteousness. When God looks at one of His, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ; there is nothing greater. We cannot humanly fully grasp the depth and wonder of that eternal transaction. The most eloquent of all the theological scholars cannot even begin to tell us the reality of that truth.

Faith is a Gift

As Adam was warned, if you have sinned, even once (yet we all do continually) you will die (reap eternal death).

PLEASE READ THIS Luke 16:19-31

That is unless, as God tells us in His word if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord you will be saved, Romans 10:9.

Faith is a gift given to us from God, Ephesians 2:8-9. And the Bible tells us that everything is from Him and for Him.

This gift of being ransomed by the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be earned by doing any good thing. I don’t care how good or evil you are, scripture tells us that all have fallen short and he has died for all those that will come to Him. It is also God’s wish that none should perish.

You cannot earn this gift of faith in Jesus Christ, only BELIEVE.

John 3:36 tells us that “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Repent

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that enables one to repent and believe, (Ephesians 1:17, Romans 10:17, John 3:5). We are born-again and given a new life in Christ, 1 Peter 1:23. At that very moment, you become in Christ, and by His Spirit, He is in you. In Christ, we are blessed with all the blessings in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3-6). We are made righteous, Romans 5:1.

We have now been set free from sin. It no longer has the power of death over us. We are made alive in Christ.

The Bible tells us we are given the mind of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. His mind and power give us freedom to live for Christ the way He wants us to live. This power changes us to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ; this is called sanctification, and it takes a lifetime. This is not something we can do on our own. We cannot do it without God the Holy Spirit working in us. To believe anything else is prideful and putting yourself before God.

In this new life, others will mock you, you will be ridiculed. However, you will also be set apart and made Holy, just as He himself is Holy.

Faith Alone

There is nothing more glorious for a human being than to be given the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to live forever abiding in Him.

If you have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ, He has become your Lord, your King, and your Saviour to eternal life. For He is Lord, and the Bible tells us that one day every knee will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord.

If you can remember a single scripture verse for the rest of your life, remember this, Romans 12 verse 2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. How do you do this? Read your bible every single day without fail, find a Bible-reading and preaching church, such as a faithful Presbyterian church or an independent Baptist church. Thank God always throughout your day for everything, and lean on Him.

His ways are not our ways. God is greater.

I have heard the Gospel, now what.

“Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight” Exodus 33:13