The Gospel:
Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,"
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
1 Peter 2:24 " He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."
John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Romans 5:8 " but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 10:9 "... 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."
2 Corinthians 5:21 "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
John 11:25 " Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,"
1 John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Hebrews 12:2 "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Mark 16:6 "And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him."
Ephesians 2:8 " For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
God has always, from the beginning of time, required a sacrifice to be right with Him because of the sinfulness of man. In the old days (B.C.) the sacrifices that God gave specific orders to carry out, were of animals. Lams, sheep, goats, birds, cows, rams, etc. This began in the garden of eden where the first sacrifice for sin was the animal that had to give it's life so that Adam and Eve could have clothes on. This was the first recorded death in the entire world, and it was a result of man's sin. God gave detailed instructions about how to sacrifice appropriately according to sins, however, as in the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was giving God sacrifices not according to God's instructions and that led to more trouble. What an applicable story for today. How often do we give God sacrifices that "seem" right to us, without abiding by what God has spelled out for us clearly in the Bible.
God sent Jesus to be our sacrifice, once and for all. No more animals, no more lengthy decrees to be cleansed of our sin. Just one man, slaughtered for the multitude to follow. Faith in Jesus that produces a radically changed life will be granted pardon of sin and an eternal life after death with the Almighty God of the Universe. We believe that Jesus Christ was God in flesh, who came to teach about God, show his power as God, die on the cross for the penalty for our sins, then rise again having power over death, to ascend into heaven and prepare a place for us. This is the gospel. This is what Justin and I live every day for. This is why we have hope. This is why we eat, sleep and breath. This is why we weap for a world who hasn't heard of Jesus. This is why we need to tell others. This is what transforms lives. We can not rest on this earth because so many have not heard. We are the vessels God has chosen to take this gospel to the world and we can not fail. We must urge others to see the Truth. We must beg God for the mercy of imparting faith to others. We will be strong and courageous and declare this Truth to everyone. I love that our kids are picking up on our passion for Christ. Kalena's teacher told me she did this artwork on her own, totally unprompted. I pray my kids will be more passionate about the gospel than we are, and that they will do a better job telling others than we do. To God be the glory.
