God’s required response to His Gospel
"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news" (gospel)!” (Mark 1:14-15).
The Gospel is clearly stated in 1Corinthians 15:
"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
A person MUST understand that all people, since Adam and Eve to the present, fall short of the glory of God. All are under condemnation because of sin which separates all mankind from the holiness and righteousness of God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
God is absolutely holy and perfect.
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
God cannot tolerate anyone who is less than holy. In order to satisfy His righteous demands, sin must be atoned for.
"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power"
(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Sin is any thought, attitude, or action which is contrary to, or falls
short of the character of God in His holiness, perfection, or any of His other attributes.
People are sinners because they all inherited sin at birth.
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
People sin because they are all sinners.
"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:14).
People are sometimes caused to sin because of the temptation of Satan.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
(1 Peter 5:8).
Since the wages of sin is death, all people are destined for hell, a place of eternal torment and suffering.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
(Revelation 20:10-15).
The Bible clearly states that God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us,
"to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Since Jesus was fully God and fully man and was perfect, without sin, He fulfilled the righteous requirements of God in relation to mankind. The works of Christ in His birth, life, death, and resurrection provide the remedy to sin and death.
Christ's work provides the way for all mankind.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
But not all accept the gift He offers. The way of salvation is provided,
but many reject it, as they reject the Holy Spirit and Christ.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Bible states clearly that no man comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ.
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
God's requirement for all people is that they must repent (agree with God, turn from sin and turn to God),
and believe Him to the point of trusting Him as Lord and Savior.
"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21).
If anyone chooses to turn from their sins.....
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9b),
.....and trust completely what Jesus has done for them,
"And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:9)
......God's Spirit will then place them "in Christ," guaranteed to never receive the punishment their sin deserves.
Repentance (turn from sin, turn to God) and Faith (belief-trust)
are the two essential elements of God's required response to His Gospel.
Scriptures are quoted from the New International Version of the Bible.
"After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news" (gospel)!” (Mark 1:14-15).
The Gospel is clearly stated in 1Corinthians 15:
"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born" (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).
A person MUST understand that all people, since Adam and Eve to the present, fall short of the glory of God. All are under condemnation because of sin which separates all mankind from the holiness and righteousness of God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
God is absolutely holy and perfect.
"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
God cannot tolerate anyone who is less than holy. In order to satisfy His righteous demands, sin must be atoned for.
"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power"
(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Sin is any thought, attitude, or action which is contrary to, or falls
short of the character of God in His holiness, perfection, or any of His other attributes.
People are sinners because they all inherited sin at birth.
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
People sin because they are all sinners.
"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:14).
People are sometimes caused to sin because of the temptation of Satan.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
(1 Peter 5:8).
Since the wages of sin is death, all people are destined for hell, a place of eternal torment and suffering.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
"And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
(Revelation 20:10-15).
The Bible clearly states that God provided His Son, Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us,
"to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Since Jesus was fully God and fully man and was perfect, without sin, He fulfilled the righteous requirements of God in relation to mankind. The works of Christ in His birth, life, death, and resurrection provide the remedy to sin and death.
Christ's work provides the way for all mankind.
"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
But not all accept the gift He offers. The way of salvation is provided,
but many reject it, as they reject the Holy Spirit and Christ.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
The Bible states clearly that no man comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ.
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
God's requirement for all people is that they must repent (agree with God, turn from sin and turn to God),
and believe Him to the point of trusting Him as Lord and Savior.
"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21).
If anyone chooses to turn from their sins.....
"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9b),
.....and trust completely what Jesus has done for them,
"And be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:9)
......God's Spirit will then place them "in Christ," guaranteed to never receive the punishment their sin deserves.
Repentance (turn from sin, turn to God) and Faith (belief-trust)
are the two essential elements of God's required response to His Gospel.
Scriptures are quoted from the New International Version of the Bible.