Understanding the Gospel Message: The Path to Christian Salvation

The most important question you will ever answer is, “What is the Gospel, and what is my response to it?” The word “Gospel” comes from two Greek words meaning “to announce good news,” specifically the Good News of Jesus Christ. His story is undoubtedly good news for all who seek Christian salvation. The starting point of the Gospel is God, who created everything to glorify Himself. The entire Bible unfolds the Gospel, but certain verses provide a clear Gospel explanation that leads to salvation. 

To answer the question, “What is the Gospel?” we must first understand who God is. Psalm 96 tells us, “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens… Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.” God created everything, including you and me, and we are called to worship, honor, and glorify Him. Whenever we place anything above Him, we deny this truth. 

Ephesians 1:3-14 presents a long sentence in the Bible that describes how everything God has done for us was for His own glory. The phrase “to the praise of His glory” appears three times in this passage, emphasizing its importance. 

Similarly, 1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Even the basic necessities of life, such as eating and drinking, should reflect our faith in Jesus, ensuring that everything we do honors and glorifies God.

Unfortunately, we could not have failed God more miserably than we have. Instead of honoring and glorifying God, we have been self-centered. We have rebelled and done our own thing instead of focusing on Him. According to Psalm 51:5, we are all sinful from birth. We are sinful and will one day stand before Him as our judge. Acts 17:30-31 reminds us that '…now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness…'.

Have you ever told a lie? (Even a small one?) That makes you a liar. If you were to look at the 10 Commandments and be completely honest, you would have to admit that you have broken every one of them. Romans 3:10-12 states, 'as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.' Romans 3:23 & 6:23 affirm, 'For there is no distinction: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' Additionally, Romans 6:23 tells us, 'For the wages of sin is death…' and Genesis 6:5 asserts that every intention of our hearts is evil.

These verses clearly explain that we are not looking for God. We are all sinful and deserve punishment for our sins, which is spiritual and physical death. We will all one day face judgment for our lives and our sins, emphasizing the urgency of understanding Christian salvation.

The biggest problem with sin is that we cannot earn our way to heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we take an honest look at what the Bible teaches about our sinful condition, it can be discouraging. It tells us that not only are we sinful, but we also cannot do anything about this condition on our own. However, the Gospel explanation reveals that faith in Jesus is the key to our salvation, providing hope and a path to redemption.

BUT: in the midst of our sinfulness, God did something about it. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is incredibly good news for anyone seeking Christian salvation. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “…he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus took the punishment for my sins, as God punished Jesus for all the sins of everyone who would ever turn to and trust in Him through faith in Jesus. Now, He looks at me as if I had lived the perfect life of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:4 encapsulates the core truth of the Gospel explanation: Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He took my place and endured the punishment for my sin. His resurrection proves His power over death. 1 Peter 3:18 says, “Christ also suffered for sins… that he might bring us to God.” Jesus died so that we could know God and be saved. 

So how do I become a Christian?

Romans 10:9-10 states, "Because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Similarly, Mark 1:15 emphasizes the importance of repentance: "Repent and believe in the Gospel." To achieve true Christian salvation, we must repent and place our faith in Jesus. This belief extends beyond simply acknowledging the facts about Jesus; it requires a genuine turning away from sin and a commitment to living a life of obedience. To truly "believe" means to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus alone as the solution to your sin problem. Remember, only Jesus can save you. Will you repent and believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord? 

Having an accurate view of who Jesus is crucially impacts our response to Him. Only Jesus can grant us freedom from sin and judgment, transforming us and restoring our relationship with God. 

The ultimate question remains: "Will you repent and believe in the Gospel? Will you place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord (Master) and your Savior?" If you do, then you are saved, and a prayer of thanksgiving is certainly appropriate. 

If you've repented of your sins and trusted in Christ, surrendering to His Lordship, we would love to talk further about your journey. Please get in touch with us so we can rejoice with you. If you still have questions about Jesus, the Bible, Christianity, or what it truly means to be "saved," reach out to me. I'd be delighted to discuss it with you.