The Good News

In a Nutshell...

• We are ALL sinners.
• The consequence of our sin is eternal separation from God.
• God loves us! He loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. He lived a sinless life, died on a cross and rose again from the dead.
• All we need to do is talk to the Lord - confess our sin, ask Him for forgiveness and invite Him into our lives.
• Once that prayer is prayed, we can be certain of eternal life in Heaven with God.
• In order to live this life to the fullest, it is best to start studying the Bible, to spend time with the Lord by praying and to get plugged into a church that teaches the Bible.

Here’s a further explanation...

Who we are

Many of us tend to think of ourselves as pretty good people. We think, "Well, I'm not a murderer. I pay my taxes. I love my family. I try to be a good citizen. I think I'm doing pretty well!" We compare ourselves to the really bad people and conclude that we must be good. However, the Bible says in Romans 3:10-11, "...There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." You see, we can not compare ourselves to other people to determine our goodness. We have to compare ourselves to the ultimate standard of goodness. We have to compare ourselves to God. In this light, we are all sinful men and women, living in a fallen world. Try as we may to be good, to do good things, we cannot escape the fact that we are powerless to do it on our own. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." That's all sin is...falling short of God's best and we are all guilty of it.

What We Deserve

The consequences for this sin are dire. Further on in Romans 6:23, the Bible tells us "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." So while we deserve death for our sin, the Lord provides a way out of that consequence. He doesn't just turn a blind eye to our shortcomings. That would deny His righteous nature. Instead He offers another way for that debt to be satisfied.

What God Offers

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." There are a few important things to notice about this passage. One aspect is the fact that it is belief in Jesus that allows us to enjoy eternal life AND avoid the eternal death we all deserve. But perhaps the most profound truth is the reason behind all of this: God's love! That is the gospel in a nutshell, it is the Good News…God LOVES you! While many people envision the Lord as some cosmic being who looks down on us all with a scowl and a pointed finger, the opposite is actually true. He is a loving Creator who loves His creation so deeply, so fervently, that He sacrificed His only Son to offer us eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, and His death on a cross fulfilled the demand. His innocent death served as the sacrifice for our sins. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 it says, "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." He bridged the gap between sinful people and a holy God. In addition to this perfect sacrifice, He conquered death and rose again. He is a living Savior! And the Bible says in 1 Peter 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us birth into a living hope through the resurrections from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you..." His resurrection provides our certain hope of eternal life in heaven with Him!

How It Works

How do we receive salvation? Romans 10:9-10 tells us "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Later on in that same chapter, in verse 13 it says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This is something the Lord longs to do for each and every person! Praying to God may seem a little scary, but it is simply a matter of talking to Him. He is anxious to hear you call out to Him! You can simply admit that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Confess that you believe in the work He did on the cross for you and ask Him to forgive your sins and to come to live in your heart. That's all there is to it!

What Then?

Asking Jesus into your life as your Savior is the first step of an incredible, eternal journey! You have become a child of God, a member of the family of believers! There are a couple things you can do to help you grow in this new life. Keep in mind, however, that these things you do will never be things that save you. That part is done! Jesus tells us in John 10:10 "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." He doesn't want us to simply get through this life, He wants us to live an abundant life! It is the quality of our lives that is affected by our growth in Him!

Pray – talk to the Lord. Your existence is a delight to Him! (Zephaniah 3:17) He wants the relationship you share with Him to grow deeper and stronger. Talking to Him is a great place to start!

Study the Bible – the Bible is God's love letter to you. It is the owner's manual for this life we live. As you read it you will discover more about who God is, how He wants us to live and how you can grow as a follower of Him! In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we learn that Scripture is 'God-breathed.' This means that God Himself speaks to us through these pages. If studying the Bible seems intimidating, start in the book of John. It is a straightforward account of Jesus' life here on earth. Remember that God wants to reveal Himself to you. He will be faithful to do this as you read His Word.

Plug into a church – Find a church that teaches the Bible faithfully. Being involved in a church helps us grow in our knowledge of the Lord and His Word. It also enables us to fellowship – to have other Christians come alongside us as we walk through this life. Find a church where you can receive sound teaching from the Bible, fellowship with other believers, worship and pray.

Tell someone – You don't have to be an expert on doctrine or theology before you share the Lord with others. Your own salvation experience is your testimony! There is a dying world in need of a Savior and you know Him now. So feel free to share what the Lord has done in your life...and hang on for the ride!

Contact us – Please feel free to contact our church office if you have any questions or need some direction. We have pastors and elders who would be happy to speak with you or pray with you. Giving your life to Jesus is the most important decision you will ever make and you will never be sorry. In fact, you will wonder how you survived a day without Him. May the Lord bless you!