The Good News
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom 1:16).
Dear reader, before we go any further, let’s pause and make sure everyone reading this book is starting on the same page. Let’s ascertain that we are all at the same starting line. This is of utmost importance. And for all who are already in Christ Jesus, let’s revisit the foundation of our Faith together. Let’s ensure that the foundation upon which we are building is the Rock of Ages.
The brief section that follows will provide the foundational scriptures upon which this precious salvation provided for us by God is based. It is summarized in a compact form here and a more elaborate treatment can be found in the rest of this book. This is meant to be a guide for the precious seekers, or a new believer, and a refresher for all of us. For we all need to return to the foundation and ensure we know what we believe, in Whom we put our trust, and on Whom our faith rests.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ”(1 Cor 3:11).
And we all need this to make us more effective in helping our new or younger brethren.
1.1 The Good-News-In-Brief
Here’s “the gospel in a nutshell”, stated in its simplest form in Scripture.
All of us, the entire human race have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death.
Entire human race is dead in sin and trespasses and unable to save herself. The physical body dies as a result of this spiritual death. God, because of His inexplicable love for fallen man–whom He created in His image, sent His own Son, to pay the price for man’s redemption and to bring man back to Himself. Since man cannot save himself, God sent His Son to die in man’s place, for the wages of sin is death. And thus, God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, miserable offenders, Christ died for us. This provides salvation for anyone who would believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only- begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have life eternal (John 3:16).”
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him….
Therefore the most important step every one of us must take is this: Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we are all condemned and must accept the salvation God has provided through Jesus Christ His Son. There is only one way to be saved; there is only one Name given under heaven to men by which we can be saved: and that is the Name of Jesus.
Dear reader, if you are not 100% sure that you have eternal life, this is what you need to do—and you can do it right this minute:
Acknowledge that you, like everyone else, are a sinner
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one“
(Rom 3:10); “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God“ (Rom 3:23); the soul that sinneth must die, “for the wages of sin is death“ (Rom 6:23).
Acknowledge what the Scriptures says that you are a sinner, that you cannot save yourself, and therefore in need of a Savior. I have sinned, and you have sinned. And sin has driven us out of the presence of God.
Recognize that you cannot save yourself by your good works
“But all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as flthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6); “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph 2:8).
Accept that the price has been paid
The payment for sin is death
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23). The requirement is that someone must die to pay for sin, but has to be someone who is alive and is also sinless. Since All die in Adam, no man can do this, in fact no one can even save himself. Man is helpless and doomed to suffer eternal death. This is when the Love of God shined forth.
Acknowledge that Christ paid the debt for you
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus died on the cross for your sins.(Romans 5:8).
This is the Gospel:
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 was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (1Cor 15:3, Rom 4:25 NIV).
Believe the Gospel
Believe God’s Testimony
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1John 5:11,12).
Believe God’s Love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16,17).
Repent, Turn to Jesus
What can you do to earn this salvation?–Nothing.
Your morality cannot save you. Your goodness cannot save us. Your acts of kindness to the poor cannot save us, neither can your religious activities save.
But what must you do to be saved?
Repent and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). Turn to Jesus, accept His sacrifce on the cross for you, and believe in His blood shed for your redemption.
Accept Him As Savior, Confess Him as Lord
Accept Him as your personal Savior and Lord. Now speak to the Lord Jesus by yourself:
Thank Him for dying for you,
Thank Him for carrying your sins on the cross, for suffering and paying for them;
Tell Him that you want Him to be your Savior from this moment on.
Tell Him you are submitting your life to Him, that you want Him to be Lord of your life from this moment on.
Pray in your own words and from your heart a prayer like this one for your salvation now:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. Your word says “anyone that comes to you, You will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). So I know You won’t cast me out. Thank You. You also said in your word that “…if I shall confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in mine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, I shall be saved,” and that “whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom 10:13).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; I believe He died on the cross for me and was raised from the dead for my justifcation; I accept Him this day as my Savior and Lord. I confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and afrm that He is my Lord and Savior; Therefore, according to your word, I AM SAVED. Thank you, my Father, and thank You, my Lord, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Here’s a summary of your confession
I believe in my heart Jesus Christ is the Son of God
I believe He suffered and died on the cross for me and paid for my sins. He was made sin for me.
I believe He was buried and rose on the third day for my justification. He was made sin for me, and I have been made righteous by His death and resurrection.
I confess Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Lord, my Physician and King. Now I am saved.
And in Him I live, and move, and I have my being.
For the Scripture says:
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” “For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom 10:9-11,13)
According to Romans 10:9, and John 6:37 which says: “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out, He will not cast you out. Therefore, You Are Saved! You are born again! You are a child of the Living God! Glory to God on High.
