The Message of the Gospel

Introduction – This paper was written by a retired high school and college mathematics instructor. It was not written or produced by any particular church or denomination. It is provided free of charge as an expression of God’s love for mankind.

When I return home and walk into my office, I always look at my telephone answering machine to see if I have any messages. My machine is old-fashioned. I don't need to log into an account or enter a PIN number. I just look at the machine. If anyone leaves a recorded message, I will see a flashing red light. Then, I press the play button and any new messages will be played. You know, God has left all of us an important message, the most important message of our lives. It's not hidden in an ancient code. It's clearly written for us in the Bible, the message of the Gospel, the Good News of God's love for the world.

You don't need to be a theologian, priest, or professional church leader to receive and understand this message of God's love. He is reaching out His hand to you today. The Bible says that it is God's purpose for the nations of the world to seek Him and know Him. Acts 17:27 (NLT) tells us, "... He is not far from any one of us." There are four essential elements to this message of hope, and I want to share them with you.

Part I. God Is Holy

In the Old Testament, in Isaiah 6:3 (ESV), one angel "... called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'" God is pure and holy. In the New Testament, in Revelation 4:8 (NLT), the angels cry, "'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.'" The Bible says that God's eyes are too pure to even look on our wickedness. In Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV), we read, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing."

Many scriptures reveal the truth that Christ was perfect in every way and in Him there was absolutely no sin. Revelation 15:3-4 (ESV) describes the majesty and purity of God: "'... Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.'" Nevertheless, we are challenged by Matthew 5:48 and several other verses in the Bible that say God is holy, and He calls us to also be holy.

Part II. Man Is Sinful

Unfortunately, man tends to not be holy. Man is not perfect, far from it. People are sinful and rebellious. The Bible says, "The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick ..." (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV). The prophet Isaiah, God's servant, confessed in Isaiah 6:5 (ESV), "'... Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'"

Human flesh is stubborn. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:18-20 (ESV), "18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. 19 For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." He goes on to say in verse 24, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Unfortunately, even when we do good things, we are often motivated by pride and selfish thinking. Isaiah 54:6 says that even our good deeds are like filthy rags, unclean in God's sight. All this wickedness separates us from God who is holy. Your sins have made a separation between you and God, according to Isaiah 59:2.

Part III. Man Is Separated From God

Sin destroys our relationship with God. God's Word says, "1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2 ESV). When Adam and Eve sinned, they tried unsuccessfully to hide from God.

All mankind is in the same predicament. Romans 3:23 (KJV) says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Everyone, rich and poor, strong and weak, all have sinned. It is the nature of man. To think otherwise is a delusion. The evidence of man's sinful behavior is overwhelming.

First John 1:6-10 (ESV) says, "6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

How can fellowship with God be restored? How can we be made righteous in God's sight? Not by good works or strict adherence to the law! Romans 3:20 (KJV) says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Our works can never save us. You can never earn salvation by good works. We are never good enough.

Part IV. God Extends His Hand of Mercy

Christ died on the cross to pay the ransom for our sins. Romans 5:18 (NIV) says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." From the very foundation of the world, God planned to demonstrate His love for us in such an extreme manner, and God has given us the privilege of sharing this message of hope, the message of the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul said in Second Corinthians 5:18-21 (ESV), "18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

If the Spirit of God is speaking to you today, then today is your day of salvation. Second Corinthians 6:2 says that at just the right time, God heard you. If you cry out to God, He will hear you. On the day of salvation, He will help you. He will send the Holy Spirit to guide you and draw you to Him. Certainly, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation! There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Your heart may become hard and your ears deaf to His call. Today, if you are fortunate enough to hear His voice, I urge you to say yes to Christ and His love.

You can experience a spiritual rebirth today. Romans 10:9 (KJV) says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Will you pray today and begin your journey with Christ? “Lord Jesus, I confess with my mouth today that You are the only begotten Son of the living God. I repent and turn from my sins. I believe that You died on the cross to save me from my punishment and I receive You as Savior and Lord of my life. Please help me to grow in Your fellowship and serve You all the days of my life. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer today from your heart, then you have become a child of God. You have been born again and your adventure with Christ begins. Read the Bible each day, beginning with the book of John. Talk to God each day and ask for His help. Find a church that loves Jesus, loves people, worships God with enthusiasm, and teaches the Bible. They will help and encourage you on your journey with Christ.

May God bless you,