If you're ever around us, you'll notice that we talk an awful lot about "the Gospel." But what is it? In short, it means "good news." It's a term we use to describe all that God has done for us in Jesus Christ and the response of faith He calls us to make. When you understand the Gospel, you'll see why we talk about it, sing about it, preach about it, and share it with everyone we meet. It really is the most important, life-changing news you'll ever hear.
Here's a brief summary. If you have questions about this, or would like someone to help you place your faith in Jesus, just let us know.
God's Design
We see beauty, purpose, and evidence of design all around us. The Bible tells us that God originally planned a world that worked perfectly, where everything and everyone fit together in harmony. God made each of us in His image, which means that we are supremely valuable and have a purpose. The purpose we were created was to worship God and walk with Him. (Genesis 1:31; Psalm 19:1)
Sin
Life doesn't work when we ignore God and His original design for our lives. We all choose to disobey God's authority and distrust His goodness. The Bible calls this sin. Every person sins and the consequence of our sin is separation from God-in this life and for all of eternity. (Romans 3:23; 6:23a)
Brokenness
Sin leads to a place of brokenness. We see this all around us. Brokenness is not only all around us, but it is in our lives too. When we realize this brokenness, we begin to look for a way out. We look in many directions to figure this out on our own (good works, friends/family, jobs, church, alcohol/drugs, etc.). None of these heal our brokenness. They may mask it for a time, but brokenness leads us to a place of realizing our need for something greater. (Proverbs 14:12; Romans 1:25)
Gospel
Sin and brokenness are the bad news, but God gives us a remedy for our brokenness, some good news. Because of God's love for us, He did not leave us in our brokenness. Jesus, God the Son, came to us and lived perfectly according to God's design. Jesus came to rescue us by doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. Though He was without sin, He took our sin and shame to the cross, paying the penalty of our sin by His death.
Jesus did not stay in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day showing that Jesus' sacrifice for us paid the penalty for our sin. Jesus has defeated sin and death to provide us the only way for us to be rescued and restored to a relationship with God. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Colossians 2:14)
Repent & Believe
This Good News requires a response. Simply hearing is not enough. We must admit our sinful brokenness and stop trusting in ourselves. We don't have the power to escape this brokenness on our own. We need to be rescued.
We must ask God to forgive us, this means turning (repenting) from sin to trust only in Jesus. We must believe the Gospel that Jesus is God's Son who died in our place and surrender to Jesus as Lord of our lives. (Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Recover & Pursue
When God restores our relationship to Him, we begin to discover meaning and purpose in a broken world. Now we can pursue God's design in all areas of our lives. Every day we follow Jesus seeking to know Him more and become more like Him. Even when we fail (and we will), we understand God's grace forgives all sin.
God's Spirit, given to us at salvation, empowers us to pursue His design and assures of His presence in this life and for all of eternity.