THE GOSPEL

“Jesus loves you”

Have you ever heard this before?

How about this…

“Jesus died for you”

The most well know verse of the Bible brings out both of these two themes…

John 3:16 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Another Bible version says it even better…

John 3:16 (HCSB)
For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is God

It is important to understand that when you read this famous verse, you must keep in mind that Jesus Christ is not only God’s Son, but God’s Son is also God…

John 1:1-3… 14 (HCSB)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created…
The Word became flesh,
and took up residence among us.
We observed His glory,
the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

The Gospel

It makes sense that the message or news about God’s Son, that “Jesus loves you,” that “Jesus died for you,” is referred to as “The Gospel.” The term Gospel simply means “good news.”

Why is it “good news” that Jesus died for you?

Because, His death provided for you the means for you to be able to approach God for the forgiveness of sins.

The Torn Curtain

Luke 23:44-46 (ESV)
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

The “curtain” described above was the barrier to the “most holy place” in the temple in Jerusalem. That is where God dwelled. No one (except for a priest once per year through sacrifice on the “Day of Atonement”) could ever enter behind that curtain. If they did, without sacrifice, they would die. When Jesus died on the cross as a once and for all sacrifice, that curtain was then torn, opening up to all the most holy place where God dwelled…

Hebrews 10:11-22 (ESV)
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”

then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

In other words, Jesus loves you so much that He died for you so that you can now go into God’s presence directly to ask Him for forgiveness. This is why “God gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus said…

Mark 1:15 (ESV)
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

With the curtain now torn, anyone who now goes to God and repents (changes their mind, recognizing that they are a sinner) and believes this good news, will “not perish but have eternal life.”

Judgement

The Bible warns that…

Hebrews 9:27 (ESV)
…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…

After we die, we will all (at some future time) be resurrected. Jesus also gave a warning along with giving the good news…

John 5:28-29 (ESV)
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

Have you done good or evil?

Be honest with yourself.

Sin

The Bible is very clear in describing what sin is…

James 4:17 (ESV)
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Have you ever known the right thing to do… yet failed to do it?

Then, repent and believe!

Enter into the most holy place and ask God for forgiveness. It is always the right time to go directly to God to make things right between you and Him…

Hebrews 4:7a, c (ESV)
…he [God] appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying…

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

I pray that you will go to God, giving your allegiance to Him through His Son, repenting and believing in Jesus Christ, so that you will not perish… but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9 (ESV)
…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Blessings to you and your family!