The Gospel
John 3:16
“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.”
In the Beginning: A Perfect Creation
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and He saw that everything He made was good. On the sixth day, God created mankind in His perfect image and gave them freedom to enjoy everything in the Garden of Eden—except for one tree: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
However, instead of obeying God, Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and ate the fruit they were forbidden to eat. That one act of disobedience introduced sin into the world—and from that moment on, every human being has been born into sin.
The Cost of Sin
Romans 6:23a says,
“For the wages of sin is death.”
That’s it. That’s the cost. The penalty for sin is death—physical, spiritual, and eternal separation from God.
God made this clear to Adam in Genesis 2:17:
“For in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.”
Scripture also tells us:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23
So, according to God's standards, not one person born from man and woman (which is everyone who ever lived on earth except for Jesus), deserves eternal life based on their own righteousness. Even when we think we’re good, God says:
“We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” – Isaiah 64:6
Have you ever smelled a filthy rag? There’s nothing good about it.
God continues to warn us:
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 14:12
So if you’ve ever said, “I’m a good person” and assumed that was enough to earn eternal life—it’s time to reconsider.
Why We Struggle with Sin
We are born with a sinful nature. Think about it:
Who teaches a child to be selfish?
Who teaches a child to lie when they get caught doing wrong?
Who teaches a child to be disobedient?
No one does. It’s just in us. As Paul writes in Romans 7:15,
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate—I do.”
Sin is our inherited condition—but praise God, it doesn’t have to be our final one.
The Good News
Romans 6:23 doesn’t end with death.
“…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Though we were born into sin, we can be born again, we must be born again. This new birth comes by confessing our sin and placing our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
“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
This verse is so simple, yet so profound. Can all the wrong I’ve done, all the times I’ve turned from God—truly be forgiven? Can I really spend eternity with Him?
Yes!
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8–9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)
In this parable, a son demands his inheritance early and wastes it all on reckless living. He ends up hitting rock bottom—starving and ashamed. But when he comes to his senses, he decides to return home, hoping his father might take him back as a servant. So, he considers what he’s going to say to get his father to accept him back as a servant and makes his way home.
As he gets closer to home, his father sees him from a distance, runs to him, and embraces him. As the son attempts to give his “I’m sorry” speech, his father pays no attention and doesn’t even let his son finish what he wants to say before he starts commanding his servants to prepare to celebrate the return of his son.
That’s how heaven reacts when we return to God.
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” – Luke 15:7
Forgiveness Through the Blood of Jesus
Hebrews 9:22 – “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”
Ephesians 1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
Psalm 86:5 – “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”
Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Micah 7:19 – “You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”
Daniel 9:9 – “To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.”
Our Mission: Share the Gospel
Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
We’re living in a confused world. Morality is distorted, and sin is widely accepted—even celebrated. Professing Jesus is popular; living for Him? Not so much.
Many call themselves Christians but only follow the parts of the Bible that don’t interfere with their lifestyle. But Jesus didn’t die so we could stay the same.
Living Sacrifices
True Christianity isn’t about perfection—it’s about surrender.
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2
“You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:20
Real believers aren’t ashamed of the gospel:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” – Romans 1:16
We are called to live and share the Gospel, and God has equipped each of us to do so.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me so much that You gave Your only Son, Jesus, to die in my place—before I even knew I needed saving. I confess my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can live a life that honors You and points others to You. Help me not to hide my faith, but to boldly share the gospel—the good news of salvation—with those around me. In Jesus' name, amen.