The Gospel literally means 'good news'!
This good news centers around a Jew born over 2000 years ago. His name is Jesus of Nazareth and his coming would change the world! To understand the good news of Jesus we need to start by understanding a few things about God and ourselves.
God is the creator of all things. He is holy, perfect, and righteous. He created all things perfectly and for the purpose of bringing himself glory and honor. This is what he deserves as our creator.
As the crowning acheivement of his creation God formed the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, to rule over all he had created. Their purpose was to glorify and enjoy the infinitely valuable God who had created them. Though God created Adam and Eve perfectly they chose to sin and disobey the God who had created them. By doing so they made themselves and all their descendants slaves of sin. The ultimate penalty of sin (disobeying God's law) for Adam and Eve and every one of us who are their descendents is death. This death is not just physical but when we die physically we continue to experience an eternal spiritual death that the Bible describes as eternal torment under the just wrath of God.
We are all descendents of Adam and Eve. Because of this you and I are all sinners who deserve nothing but God's wrath and judgement. Because of our sin we have no hope of saving ourselves and being reconciled to the God who gave us life.
Though the Bible declares we were 'dead in our trespasses and sins' God has done an amazing and gracious thing. Out of his love and mercy for sinners he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ (who is himself God), to be born as a baby boy 2000 years ago. Jesus grew up as a poor Jew in the rural 1st century town of Galilee. Though he was God he humbled himself to live life as a man. Where Adam and Eve (and every one of us) sinned and broke the law of God, Jesus Christ lived a perfect life. He never once broke God's law but in everything he did he perfectly pleased his Father. Then, having lived a perfect life, Jesus died a sinner's death on a Roman cross. Though he died as if he was the greatest of sinners, Jesus had commited no sin. On the third day after his death God did something amazing to show Jesus' righteousness. He raised Jesus from the dead! Jesus now sits in heaven at the right hand of God the Father having been exalted above everyone and everything in all of creation.
The good news is this! Jesus died as a substitute to pay for sins that were not his own. He did this out of his amazing mercy and love. If you turn away from (repent of) your sins and trust Jesus to save you from the judgement you deserve then you can be reconciled to God and have life! You no longer have to face an eternity under God's wrath but you can live here and now as a friend and child of God.
Because of what Jesus has done you now face the question, 'how will I respond to him?' Will you reject Jesus and this news about him, or will you believe in him for your own salvation? Please consider carefully. If you have any questions about Jesus or what is means to be a Christian then please come visit with us and we would be happy to share more.
Sincerely,
The Christians of West Oaks Baptist Church