The Gospel begins with the understanding that we have been separated from God because of our sin. We’re responsible for our sin because we’ve chosen to rebel against God and His commandments. Because of our egregious acts of defiance, God owes us nothing but wrath and eternal punishment to satisfy His perfect justice. We have crossed the holy line of a holy God in which we stand naked and ashamed in every hidden or open act of sin we’ve committed. We are not just corrupt because of what we do. We are corrupt by nature to such a degree we worship ourselves, our desires and our pleasures leading to the death of everything; Death to our emotions, to our spirit and to our bodies.
God initially created us perfect in His image having dignity, value, worth and purpose forever made to enjoy fellowship with Him. Because our first parents, Adam and Eve, chose to rebel against God and worship themselves they died spiritually separated from the life God intended them to have. The same defect was passed down to us.
Because we’re dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1), God did something extraordinary! He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to this planet on the greatest rescue mission in the history of mankind. In His loving pursuit of you and me He became one of us, leaving behind His power and glory and lived as we live (Matt 1:23, Phil 2:5-7). He experienced the same problems and temptations we face and through it all committed no sin (Heb 4:15). Because God requires justice for our sin, He substituted Himself willingly on our behalf by dying the most brutal death known to man (Eph 1:7, Heb 9:22), taking upon Himself the full force of God’s wrath of which we deserved. He averted it and killed sin completely when He hung on the tree. He became our sin on the cross and took our punishment (2 Cor 5:21). He became what we are to set us free, paying the debt we owe while not compromising His character. Why? Because God is love and He loves you very much.
He was buried in the grave and three days later rose from the dead, forever defeating sin and death, disarming and embarrassing Satan who had total control over our lives (Col 2:15). Those who accept this wonderful truth by faith, repent and turn to Jesus, will gain eternal life now and forever, enjoying a relationship with the eternal God as His child with all of its benefits (John 1:12). Those who reject this and wish to exercise faith in “self” will be subject to the eternal torments of hell now and forever.
The relationship Jesus freely offers has two benefits: First, the believer experiences a new life here and now (John 10:10). That life consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Second, the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit destined to spend eternity with The Lord. Because salvation was God’s doing means it’s not dependent on our performance (Eph 2:8-9). Therefore we could never “undue” something we never did in the first place. That means there’s security in the grace that Jesus provided. It stands forever! (Rom 5:2).
In summation, The Gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ where God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from judgment for sin into fellowship with Him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with Him forever.
You can reach out to Jesus by praying something like this: Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but, through you, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt, bearing my punishment, and offering forgiveness. I turn from my sins and receive you as Savior. Amen.