The Gospel
The gospel is good news! It’s the good news that Jesus Christ, by His own blood, has provided a way for mankind to be reconciled back to God. This good news means that all mankind now have an option out of bearing the penalty of sin themselves. The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God, in hell, which is a place of eternal fire and torment. But by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ, mankind can escape eternal judgment and instead freely receive eternal life. A life spent eternally in the presence of God. The gospel is really, very, good news, but acting on this good news is a decision that each person must make of their own accord.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
1. In The Beginning
The book of Genesis starts with the story of the beginning of creation. God created man from the dust of the earth, and with a defined and explicit purpose to exercise dominion over the earth and the things of the earth.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
God established a covenant with the man, Adam, via a commandment, however both Adam and Eve violated the commandment, and thereby sin entered the world. Eve listened to the persuasions of the enemy, Satan, and disobeyed God by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This sin resulted in the separation of man from God, but God in His infinite mercy had a plan.
God’s laws are clear that blood is required to pay for the penalty of sin. The blood of animals atoned, or covered over, the sins of mankind only but for a short period of time, but not fully. It would take the blood of a sinless man to provide forgiveness of sins once and for all.
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV)
2. The Saviour
God’s plan for the redemption of mankind was set from the beginning, and at the appointed time the saviour was born. Jesus was born incarnate of God, making him a perfect and sinless man. He was born of a virgin and lived a life honourable and pleasing to God in all His ways. His perfect life made Him the perfect sacrifice, totally qualified to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin.
Jesus was beaten, crucified (which caused His blood to be shed on the earth), died, was buried and then resurrected from the dead in His obedience to lay His life down for the sake of mankind. Not only did His death, burial, and resurrection pay the penalty for the sin of mankind, but Jesus also paved away for those who believe in Him to live a life like He lived. A life of victory and power, pleasing to God. Anyone who believes in who Jesus is, will be saved. The believer immediately then become a son of God. They are now born again.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
John 1:12 (NKJV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
3. Become Born Again
To receive this new life in Jesus Christ, you must firstly acknowledge that you are a sinner, and in need of a saviour to rescue you from the penalty of your sins. By conviction of the Holy Spirit, once you accept this is the state that you are currently in, you are then in a position to repent. Repentance means that you confess that your sins are wrong doings, and therefore stand against a Holy God. It also means that you intentionally turn away from your past life and sins, and instead turn to Jesus Christ, to live a life pleasing to God.
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
When you have repented, you then ask Jesus to come to you, to be your Lord and Saviour. Jesus as Saviour saves you from the penalty of sin. Jesus as Lord is to be fully obeyed. If you have done these steps sincerely from your heart, rest assured and believe that God has heard, and your prayer has been answered. This is faith. Finally, confess out loud and to someone else that Jesus is now your Lord and Saviour. You are now born again and belong to the Kingdom of God.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:3–7 (NKJV)
4. Baptisms
Water Baptism
Just as Jesus Christ Himself died and was buried, a newly born again person, needs to follow suit. To identify with Jesus, you must be buried and leave behind the old life, which is realised by water baptism. By being baptised in water, where you are fully dipped under a body of water and coming up out of it again, you are being buried with Christ and rising with Christ. Burying the old man and rising a new creation in Christ, in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit.
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptised?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Acts 8:36–37 (NKJV)
Holy Spirit Baptism
As well as being baptised in water, you, as a new convert, should also ask God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, you are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, who brings new life to your spirit. Your spirit is born again, made alive to God and can commune with Him. Prior to this, your spirit is separated from God and is therefore dead. There is an additional experience of being baptised in the Holy Spirit which some describe as having the Holy Spirit fall, rest, sit on you. Baptism in the Holy Spirit brings power for you to be a witness to others of the gospel and how it has changed your life. The baptism of the Spirit also introduces you to the myriad of supernatural workings of God for both yourself and others.
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:38–39 (NKJV)
5. Disciple of Jesus
Now that you are born again, you’re a disciple of Jesus Christ. Congratulations! A great adventure now lies before you! To grow in faith, pray and read your Bible every day. Prayer is communication with the God that you now serve. Reading the Bible is your daily bread; your spirit feeding on the very words of the God that you now serve. Finally, find a good, church, or body of believers who by faith and the Holy Spirit live and walk out the full gospel. May the Kingdom of God continue to rapidly grow and expand through true fellowship and united work of the disciples of Christ…which now includes you!
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV)
