The Gospel
What does the Bible say about man’s relationship with God?
There is a God
There is a God who is the creator of all things and to whom all of creation is accountable. Of the many characteristics, we know first, that God is HOLY (Isaiah 43:15). He is unlike anything in all of creation. He transcends all else and cannot be known except by His personal revelation. Second, God is JUST. In His righteous perfection He is without sin (Proverbs 17:15). Because all sin is rebellion against Him as the perfect creator it must be judged. His judgment is perfect judgment based upon His perfect righteousness. Third, God is MERCIFUL (Titus 3:3-7). Without violating His perfect justice God took measures that made it possible to extend mercy and grace to the guilty.
Man sins against God
Man was created by God and in His image, but because of sin, all are corrupted. By nature and by choice, man rebels against God (Romans 3:12), is separated from Him (Romans 3:23), and is spiritually dead (Romans 6:23). Man is born under God’s condemnation and will ultimately face His wrath. Because sin is at the core of man’s nature, resulting in death and separation from God, he is helpless, hopeless, incapable and unwilling to be reconciled to his creator.
God has provided
God’s eternal remedy for man’s hopeless condition is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As God in flesh, He lived the life we could not live (1 John 3:5), died the death we deserve to die (1 Peter 2:24), and conquered the enemy we cannot conquer (Revelation 1:18). Jesus came to live in righteousness so as to offer Himself a sinless sacrifice, bearing the wrath of God on our behalf, thus satisfying the justice of God (Isaiah 53:1-10). Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2) that allows our God of justice to extend mercy to undeserving mankind.
Man is accountable
God’s mercy (withholding what we deserve) and grace (providing what we don’t deserve) is received, not by personal merit (we possess nothing that can suffice), but by faith in what God has provided through Jesus Christ. It cannot be purchased and it cannot be merited, but must be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5). This requires an acknowledgment of personal accountability to God as creator, recognition of personal sin against Him and the inability to remedy sins bondage and consequence, and receiving Jesus, believing Him to be God’s provision for salvation and eternal life (John 1:11-13; 3:16-21).
If you would like to discuss further the truths about Christ Jesus and the offer for salvation He is making please contact us. Be sure also to refer to the web site called Christianity Explored. It is a thorough discussion of the gospel claims and answers the tough questions many are asking.