Saturday, August 17, 2013

The Gospel





I recently joined an online mission called Global Media Outreach. 


GMO is a ministry of Campus Crusade For Christ. Each day I receive requests to help guide others with growing in their faith and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. I usually only have one chance and communicating with various countries throughout the world is more difficult than in person. 
The question that often comes to my mind is: "which scriptures are most likely to effectively move people in Indonesia, Islamabad, or worldwide?" To help meet this need I have put together a clear and easy to understand presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The scripture above teaches us that there is only one Creator who created all things. He has shown Himself to us in the form of man (Jesus) and Spirit (Holy Spirit). The eternal truth of God has been shared with us through men who were inspired by God. The word of God, the Bible is eternal Truth. Although the teachings of men change, the Truth of God never changes. This truth becomes the foundation of our spiritual belief system. 
The Word or truth became a man through miraculous conception and lived among us. He came as a Savior to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sinful ways so that we might live with Him for eternity in Heaven. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
Jesus declares that he is the only way to receive redemption and eternal life. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6
All of us have a problem. We are all sinners, and in desperate need of a Savior. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
Eternal death is the fate that all of us face without Jesus. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Those who believe in Jesus Christ can be certain that they will live eternally in heaven. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
Jesus is a loving God and the good news is that He wants for none of us to perish. This is why he came to earth. His purpose here on earth was to live a sinless life in the form of a man; and then to die in place of us as the penalty for our sins … once and for all. He is our victory. He is our life. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8
We must do nothing to receive the free gift of eternal life. Jesus is full of grace and truth and we can believe in him and have eternal life. His grace is received through our faith alone, and is not a result of anything that we have done, or because we are a good person. Anyone, regardless of what they have or have not done ... can here and now believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, and receive eternal life. If anything was required for us to do in order to receive His grace, then "grace would no longer be grace." Romans 11:6. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Does God want for us to be a good person and to do good things? Of Course he does. Good deeds are just NOT a condition of salvation. We have been born again spiritually and his purpose for us (in Him) is to do good works. He wants to show His love towards others through each of us. He died for each of us; and now we are to die to self, and live for him. "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."  2 Corinthians 5:14

Why do I explain all of this to you? 
Because I want you to know that you can believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and then be certain that you have eternal life with Him in Heaven. This is called the "Blessed Assurance" of salvation. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."  1 John 5:13


Here is a prayer you can pray.


Jesus I believe you are the Creator of all things. I believe that you came as a man and died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I believe that you were resurrected from the dead. O God in Heaven, the one true God, most kind and merciful God of the universe, Creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ the Messiah ... please have mercy on me, forgive me and lead me the rest of my days. I believe you are my Lord and my Savior. I believe in your grace and truth. I believe in your Word and your promises and that I am now born again of the Spirit and that it is finished, and that I am here and now irreversably a member of your royal family in Heaven. I pray that you will send the Holy Spirit to guide me and help me to better understand you loving ways. Thank you, Lord for your free gift of eternal life. 
I love you Lord Jesus, Amen

Print this one off and keep it handy in your Bible ...
so that the next time you are asked; "what do you believe?"  
You will be prepared to share the Truth of the gospel with them.

Become an online missionary now and witness daily ... 
click here: Global Media Outreach

God bless you my friends.
Bob


1 comment:

  1. nice post for us christians
    I also love the style of blogging here on westbob.blogspot.com
    you see, there are 2 blogs that i've found so far to be very helpful and have something interesting for me whenever i visit, this one and http://danieluyi.com
    Keep up the good work you're doing here.

    ReplyDelete