The word “Gospel” literally means “good news.” Specifically, it is the good news of how Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves, that is, to live a sinless life and die for our sins. Now through faith, and faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, we can be reconciled to God and have eternal life.

There are two perspectives needed to understand the Gospel, individually and universally, both with four big ideas.

Individually

1. God – The Sovereign, Perfect, King has created all things for His glory.
2. Man/Sin – Humanity has chosen disobedience (sin), with the penalty being eternal death.
3. Christ – Out of love and grace, God became flesh, lived a sinless life, and died as our substitute for the penalty for our sins.
4. Response – By faith alone in what Jesus did and not by any good works of our own, we are completely saved from the penalty and power of sin and given eternal life (salvation).

This perspective helps us see our own individual need for reconciliation to God because of our sin. Through faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are justified in God’s sight forever. The good news is that salvation is a gift to be received, not a reward to be earned.

Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16

Universally

1. Creation – God created a perfect world.
2. Fall – Man’s sin brought a curse on all things.
3. Redemption – Through Jesus, God is renewing all things, including humanity.
4. Restoration – One day all things will be new, just as they were before sin.

This perspective helps us see our part in a bigger story of what God is doing in history. Those who through faith accept Jesus as their Savior are part of a new people, called the Church. The good news is that the broken world we all live in now will not last forever but will be restored.

Genesis 1; Romans 8:19-22; Revelation 21

“THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS” ROMANS 8:1

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