The gospel! What is it really? Christians tell us that the word gospel means “good news.” So, what is the good news?
Is it just this, “Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and you get to go to heaven?” Or, is it a little more complicated, like saying the following “sinner’s prayer:”
Heavenly Father:………………………………………………………………..
I come to you in prayer asking for the forgiveness of
my Sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my
heart that Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven and have
Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Father, I believe
that Jesus rose from the dead and I ask you right now
to come in to my life and be my personal Lord and
Savior. I repent of my Sins and will Worship you all the
day’s of my Life!. Because your word is truth, I confess
with my mouth that I am Born Again and Cleansed
by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name, Amen.
What about the people that never say that prayer? What about the people who say that prayer and then go off and live the way they always did before saying it? The fact is that Jesus is far more than my or your “personal saviour” He is the saviour of all men. He lived and died so that ALL men would be reconciled to God. The Gospel is thus far bigger, far better than we have often been led to believe.
Yet, even though the Gospel applies to all men, it is not a lawless Gospel. No one comes to the Father (God) unless he comes through Jesus, and the way through Jesus is the narrow way of obedience to His commands. And yet Jesus said His yoke was easy! The Gospel indeed is mystery upon mystery.
So, where do we begin in this journey called the Gospel? How did Jesus introduce the gospel?
He said, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Repent! Repent? What does it mean to repent? To repent means to “turn around,” or “change my mind.” Turn around from what? Change my mind about what?
First, turn around from following your own ideas about right and wrong, good and evil, and truth. If you want to know truth, then seek THE TRUTH. Second, change your mind about the existence of God and creation. Realize that we do not exist by chance, but that we fave in fact been created by God. “Start with Me, my name is Jesus. Start with me. I AM your GOD.”
