What is the Gospel?
We Must Each Make a Personal Decision
We must each respond personally to the offer of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ. John 3:36 – “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 1:12 tells us that Jesus came to His own people, but His own people did not receive Him. But to all who do receive Him, to those who believe in His Name, to them He gives the power to become sons of God. In Acts 16:30-31 a man asks the question, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer he is given is the call to each one of us: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” Believing in Him means acknowledging to God and to yourself that you are a sinner with no hope of being right with God apart from His mercy and the payment of Jesus Christ on the cross. It means believing that He died and rose again and acknowledging that He is, indeed Lord. It means a conscious decision to turn from your natural sinful independence from God to a humble, obedient dependence upon Him. Obedience does not make anyone acceptable to God. However, obedience should be the natural byproduct of true faith. We obey, not in order to be right with God, not in order to earn a place in heaven. Rather we obey because Jesus is Lord and His laws are right. Do you believe that Jesus Christ was the perfect Son of God? Do you believe that His death on the cross was the payment for your sins? What place will you give Jesus Christ in your life now?
If you have never personally responded this gospel and would like to be right with God. If you would like to have a firm assurance of your eternity with God in heaven; or if you believe in your heart that what you have read is true and you haven’t yet personally and intentionally responded to God and His offer of new life in Christ, then we would suggest that you pray the following prayer to God:
Dear God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and have earned Your judgment and rejection. However, I do want to know You. I want to be one of Your children. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty that I earned by my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead and that He lives forever with You. Forgive me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Fill me with the assurance that I am Yours. By Your grace, please enable me to live for You for the rest of my days. Amen.
Your exact words are not important. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit interprets our words so that God hears the desires of our heart. If you have confessed your sin to God and have asked Him to forgive you because Christ paid the payment of death for you, and have acknowledged Jesus as Lord, then the Bible says that you are saved from the penalty of your sins. You are a child of God and are in relationship with Him. He has given you His Holy Spirit and has sealed you as one of His own.
Let us encourage you to find a church which teaches the Bible as the Word of God. This will help you to learn and grow in this new relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and will give you an opportunity to rejoice with others who have come to know Him as well.
If you have any questions regarding these things, please feel free to contact us at Hope Church. We would be happy to speak with you.