So...What is the Gospel?
The Perfect Creation and the Fall
In the beginning (in the not so distant past), the eternal God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) created the heavens and the earth and everything in them (in six literal 24 hour days), including the first man, Adam and the first woman, Eve (in His own image, He created them). God declared everything in His creation to be very good, but Adam and Eve, believing the lies of Satan, disobeyed God and as a result, sin and death (spiritual death immediately and then physical death later) entered the world. The whole of creation was marred. (Read Genesis Chapters 1-11; See 1)
In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. Sin originated with Adam and is passed down to everyone of us, from generation to generation.
All of human kind is descended from Adam. He is the head of the entire human race and is in a real sense our representative. We all inherited a sin nature from our parents and ultimately from our first parents, Adam and Eve (primarily Adam). In Adam's fall (original sin), we sinned all. "Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" Romans 5:12. We are all sinners by birth and also in thought, word, and deed. (See 2)
None of us are good. All of us are sinners. We all deserve God's judgement.
No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
Not even one person is righteous. (Romans 3:10)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone [Hell], which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
In the beginning (in the not so distant past), the eternal God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) created the heavens and the earth and everything in them (in six literal 24 hour days), including the first man, Adam and the first woman, Eve (in His own image, He created them). God declared everything in His creation to be very good, but Adam and Eve, believing the lies of Satan, disobeyed God and as a result, sin and death (spiritual death immediately and then physical death later) entered the world. The whole of creation was marred. (Read Genesis Chapters 1-11; See 1)
In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. Sin originated with Adam and is passed down to everyone of us, from generation to generation.
All of human kind is descended from Adam. He is the head of the entire human race and is in a real sense our representative. We all inherited a sin nature from our parents and ultimately from our first parents, Adam and Eve (primarily Adam). In Adam's fall (original sin), we sinned all. "Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" Romans 5:12. We are all sinners by birth and also in thought, word, and deed. (See 2)
None of us are good. All of us are sinners. We all deserve God's judgement.
No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
Not even one person is righteous. (Romans 3:10)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone [Hell], which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
Jesus taught people to fear God -- for it is He who has the power to cast them into hell forever!
“And I [Jesus] say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" Luke 12:4-5
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt 10:28
“And I [Jesus] say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" Luke 12:4-5
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matt 10:28
Hell is Eternal!
5 Reasons Why Hell is Eternal
1. The Word of God (the Bible) says so. (see Matt 25:41; 3:12, Daniel 12:2, Mark 9:44-49, Luke 16:23-24, 2 Thes 1:9, Rev 14:10-11; 20:10)
2. The One to Whom the sin was committed is eternal (the Biblical God) therefore the punishment is also eternal.
3. God is the One who grants repentance to sinners. In Hell sinners never repent because God never grants them repentance. *
4. Sinners in Hell never stop sinning therefore Hell never ends. *
5. Heaven is forever and so is Hell (see Matt 25:46). If Hell is not forever than neither is Heaven.
* (see John MacArthur: People in hell never repent)
5 Reasons Why Hell is Eternal
1. The Word of God (the Bible) says so. (see Matt 25:41; 3:12, Daniel 12:2, Mark 9:44-49, Luke 16:23-24, 2 Thes 1:9, Rev 14:10-11; 20:10)
2. The One to Whom the sin was committed is eternal (the Biblical God) therefore the punishment is also eternal.
3. God is the One who grants repentance to sinners. In Hell sinners never repent because God never grants them repentance. *
4. Sinners in Hell never stop sinning therefore Hell never ends. *
5. Heaven is forever and so is Hell (see Matt 25:46). If Hell is not forever than neither is Heaven.
* (see John MacArthur: People in hell never repent)
God has made a way for us to be forgiven and spared His wrath. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God died in our place on the cross.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"He [Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:8b
"[Jesus] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him [Jesus], having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14
“For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one [Adam], much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22
Eternal Life is Only in God's Only Son
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18
"He who believes in the Son [Jesus] has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me [Jesus] has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus] has everlasting life." John 6:47
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [God], you will die in your sins." John 8:24
Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Eternal Life is a Promise from God
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3
"...[T]hese are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5: 9-13
Eternal Life (salvation, redemption) is Only By the Grace of God and Not By Works
"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses (and sins), made us alive together with Christ..." Ephesians 2:4-5
"In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" Ephesians 1:7
"...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." Romans 3:24
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." Romans 11:6
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Eternal Life is a Free Gift
You and I earned eternal death (Hell), but God offers you and I the free gift of eternal life (Heaven)!
”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (See 3,4)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 1 Corinthians 9:15
Will you receive it?
There is only one way to receive the free gift of eternal life—it is to cease striving and stop trying to earn eternal life. Humble yourself and throw yourself completely on the grace and mercy of God! (See 5)
Repent: change your mind about who you are (a wretched sinner deserving of eternal Hell and incapable of saving yourself from God’s judgement and the punishment of Hell) and change your mind about who God is (Good, Holy, Righteous, and Just who can and must send you to Hell but who is also Loving, Gracious, and Merciful, willing and able to save you) and believe the Gospel ("...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures“ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Put your complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and in His resurrection—the hope of eternal life! (See 6,7)
Today is the day of salvation! Receive (trust in) Jesus Christ as Savior, worship Him as God, and obey Him as Lord!
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"He [Jesus] humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:8b
"[Jesus] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24
"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him [Jesus], having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:13-14
“For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one [Adam], much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22
Eternal Life is Only in God's Only Son
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him [Jesus] should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
"He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18
"He who believes in the Son [Jesus] has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me [Jesus] has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus] has everlasting life." John 6:47
"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [God], you will die in your sins." John 8:24
Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Eternal Life is a Promise from God
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." John 17:3
"...[T]hese are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5: 9-13
Eternal Life (salvation, redemption) is Only By the Grace of God and Not By Works
"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses (and sins), made us alive together with Christ..." Ephesians 2:4-5
"In Him [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" Ephesians 1:7
"...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." Romans 3:24
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." Romans 11:6
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Eternal Life is a Free Gift
You and I earned eternal death (Hell), but God offers you and I the free gift of eternal life (Heaven)!
”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (See 3,4)
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 1 Corinthians 9:15
Will you receive it?
There is only one way to receive the free gift of eternal life—it is to cease striving and stop trying to earn eternal life. Humble yourself and throw yourself completely on the grace and mercy of God! (See 5)
Repent: change your mind about who you are (a wretched sinner deserving of eternal Hell and incapable of saving yourself from God’s judgement and the punishment of Hell) and change your mind about who God is (Good, Holy, Righteous, and Just who can and must send you to Hell but who is also Loving, Gracious, and Merciful, willing and able to save you) and believe the Gospel ("...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures“ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Put your complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and in His resurrection—the hope of eternal life! (See 6,7)
Today is the day of salvation! Receive (trust in) Jesus Christ as Savior, worship Him as God, and obey Him as Lord!
1. Is Genesis Literal History? - John MacArthur (Grace to You); The Battle for the Beginning - John MacArthur (ONE WAY JESUS)
2. “In Adam’s Fall We Sinned All” by Simon Turpin (Answers in Genesis); Who Gets the Blame for Original Sin—Adam or Eve? by Dr. Georgia Purdom (Answers in Genesis); Through Adam, Death - John MacArthur (Grace to You)
3. Jesus and the Fact of Hell (ONE WAY JESUS); Will more people go to heaven or to hell? (ONE WAY JESUS); Is hell real? Is hell eternal? (GotQuestions)
4. Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? (ONE WAY JESUS); The Exclusivity of Jesus Christ and the Gospel (ONE WAY JESUS)
5. Are good works enough? (ONE WAY JESUS); Genuinely Good People Go To Heaven? (ONE WAY JESUS)
6. It Is Finished! (ONE WAY JESUS)
7. The One Who Overcame Death (ONE WAY JESUS)
2. “In Adam’s Fall We Sinned All” by Simon Turpin (Answers in Genesis); Who Gets the Blame for Original Sin—Adam or Eve? by Dr. Georgia Purdom (Answers in Genesis); Through Adam, Death - John MacArthur (Grace to You)
3. Jesus and the Fact of Hell (ONE WAY JESUS); Will more people go to heaven or to hell? (ONE WAY JESUS); Is hell real? Is hell eternal? (GotQuestions)
4. Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? (ONE WAY JESUS); The Exclusivity of Jesus Christ and the Gospel (ONE WAY JESUS)
5. Are good works enough? (ONE WAY JESUS); Genuinely Good People Go To Heaven? (ONE WAY JESUS)
6. It Is Finished! (ONE WAY JESUS)
7. The One Who Overcame Death (ONE WAY JESUS)
The Gospel
What is the Gospel?
"...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures“ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
What must I do?
...Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying,"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and BELIEVE in the GOSPEL.” Mark 1:14-15 (emphasis added)
What is God's promise to me?
"...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures“ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
What must I do?
...Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying,"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and BELIEVE in the GOSPEL.” Mark 1:14-15 (emphasis added)
What is God's promise to me?
"...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
What now?
Read your Bible and obey it. Pray everyday. Tell others about Jesus. Get baptized and become a member of a good Bible teaching church. (See: "How to Find a Good Church" (Wretched Radio) and From the Lighthouse Blog: How to Find a Bible-Believing Church)
Additional Resources
"What Is a Biblical Worldview?" By Ken Ham and Stacia McKeever (Answers in Genesis)
The Greatest News Anyone Could Ever Hear! by Mike Gendron (ONE WAY JESUS)
The Story (Truth For Life)
Unpopular the Movie (Red Grace Media)