GOSPEL

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…” Ephesians 2:4

The more we understand God’s character, the more clearly we see His love for us and the reason he sent His Son. God is a loving, merciful God. At the same time, He is a just judge who will not let the guilty go unpunished. 

Habakkuk 1:13; Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 2:4

“…even when we were dead in our transgression…” Ephesians 2:5

Man’s sinfulness is a critical part of the Gospel. Man’s rebellion, beginning in the Garden of Eden and passed down to every human in history, separates us from this Holy, merciful God. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Without the understanding of sin, there is no realization of the need for a Savior.

Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3

“…made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:5-6

Christ is either sufficient to forgive us of sin through His act on the cross, or He is not. The Gospel must clearly state that Christ is not simply “an answer” but “the only answer” to the sin of mankind and the resulting separation. Because Christ is sufficient, nothing needs to be added to the Gospel to complete the promise of redemption. The one thing that remains for salvation is for us to respond to Christ’s sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:6, 11; John 14:6; Acts 4:12

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:5, 8-9/em>

Though God clearly acted in eternity past with a divine plan to redeem mankind, He has also placed on us a responsibility to hear and believe the Gospel. This belief in Christ and the Gospel will result in a person turning to God from sin to worship and serve Him.

Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; Romans 1:16; 2:4; 10:9-10; 1
Thessalonians 1:9

“…so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:7

The Bible teaches that eternity presses on us. Those who do not place their trust in Jesus Christ will perish into eternal hell, separated from God. Those who trust the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross will spend eternity with God in heaven. This urgency drives us to share the Gospel.

Exodus 34:7; John 3:16; Romans 2:4-11; 6:23

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

When one hears the Gospel and accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, the result is a changed life. Life is transformed by the power of the Gospel, not the efforts of man – and the change is dramatic.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:2-10