THE GOSPEL OF JESUS!

Those of you who have read my 146 consecutive weekly blogs over the last two and a half years know I have nearly always referred to the gift of salvation, eternal life and personal relationship with Jesus Christ! I am now being convicted that in my writings I have not described in detail the Plan of Salvation as revealed in the Bible. So I dedicate this blog to that purpose! I want everyone to KNOW and UNDERSTAND God's redemptive plan, and how to receive His gift of salvation from our sin and the eternal life in heaven He has provided for each of us through His Son Jesus Christ! So jump in with me to explore THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAN: THE GOSPEL OF JESUS.

Let's begin with a detailed explanation of what is meant by "THE GOSPEL OF JESUS". In the Bible we also find the terms, THE GOSPEL OF GOD, THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! They all mean the very same thing, The GOSPEL simply and literally means THE GOOD NEWS! It comes from the Greek word, "euanghelian". This word appears 89 times in the New Testament. Most of us can benefit from some good news these days, so keep reading! The GOSPEL OF JESUS (the good news of Jesus) is the central message of the Christian Faith! It is the affirmation that God has provided a plan and way to rescue humanity from the penalty and power of sin through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Make no mistake! JESUS CHRIST is the ONLY WAY TO KNOW GOD AND TO BE FORGIVEN OF SIN AND INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE! I know . . . our culture wants to believe there are many paths to God, take your pick, just be sincere. No loving God would be so restrictive. Just be a good person, help others with their needs, make moral choices, be a great parent, be a faithful spouse, etc. Even many who embrace Christian beliefs think going to church, reading the Bible and even saying prayers will make them "good enough to make it". While all these activities are extremely important, they do not provide any avenue to redemption, salvation or eternal life. "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through Me" (John 14:6). "And this is the true testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (Jesus). Whoever has the Son (Jesus) has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life (eternal)" (I John 5:12). Jesus "is the true God and eternal life" (I John 5:20). If we should think we don't need Jesus to have eternal life, our thinking is absolutely futile and wrong! By-passing Jesus means we will spend eternity in hell!

But there is more to know and understand! The Bible is THE authority; it is the standard by which we are called to live, AND the standard by which we will all be judged at the end of our life on earth. "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. . . ." (Hebrews 9:27). Let us now realize that GOD AND HIS WORD ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY! Listen to this: "In hope of eternal life, which God, WHO CANNOT LIE, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:2). "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of His promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE. . . ." (Hebrews 6:17-18). And Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away" (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31 and Luke 21:33). This truth begs the question: Are we going to take the Word of God as authoritative, infallible and trustworthy? We need to, for sure! Why? Keep reading!

And again, there is more. First, there is BAD NEWS! And it applies to ALL OF US! Here it is from the Scripture. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This means we have all missed the mark for what God requires; we didn't just miss the bullseye; we lived our lives missing the entire target! And we are held accountible by God Himself, our Creator. "For the wages of sin is (eternal/spiritual) death" (Romans 6:23). "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned - everyone - to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). "We have all become unclean, and all our righteous deeds are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned away; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Read the rest of the chapter, Romans 3:10 ff). The bad news then is that if we continue in our rejection of God's Redemptive Plan until our life ends, our eternal home will be in hell, in everlasting darkness, torment and out of God's presence, love, forgiveness and grace forever!

There is more. Second, there is GOOD NEWS! God Himself, our Creator, has made it is available to all of us! "We are justified (found completely innocent as though we had never sinned) by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. . . ." (Romans 3:24). ". . .but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "God has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity (sin) of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). "Since we are justified by faith in Jesus, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). "For while we were still weak (helpless), at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6). "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have been justified by His blood (shed on Calvary's Cross), much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God" (eternal residence in hell). "For if while we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life" (Romans 3:10). "For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). "God so loved the world (you and me) that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). ". . . says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool (white)" (Isaiah 1:18). These truths are extremely GOOD NEWS!

And even more! Third, EACH OF US CAN COME AND FIND JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD, BE REDEEMED, SAVED FROM SIN AND LIVE IN EXPECTATION OF ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH GOD FOREVER, TODAY! Remember these two truths: 1) this salvation is a free gift, 2) we are responsible to ACCEPT it! What must I do? you might ask. "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. For with the heart one believes and is then justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:9, 10 and 13). That is what we must do! "Yet even now," declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, with mourning; and rend (tear) your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love" (Joel 2:12-13). The Apostle Peter told the large crowd on the Day of Pentecost what they must do to be saved, "Repent (turn away from sin and turn to God - a complete change in life's direction) and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). I am reminded of an old Gospel Song, used at every Billy Graham Crusade titled "Just As I Am", written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835.

"Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about, with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come."

If you have not yet given your life to Jesus, I pray and hope that today you will come to the only ONE (JESUS) who can and will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve and forgive you and give you eternal life in place of pending spiritual death! You will be able to sing along with the lyrics of another Gospel Song:

"Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come; into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my sickness (sin) and into Thy Health (salvation), out of my want and into Thy wealth, out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come; into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love, out of despair into raptures above, upward for 'aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee."

I invite you to sincerely pray this with me to receive the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior!

"O God, I know that I am a sinner and that You sent Jesus to save me from sin. He died in my place and took my shame, guilt and eternal hell. I repent and turn from sin and to You God. I ask you in Jesus name to forgive and cleanse me. I receive Jesus now as my Lord and Savior, and with your help I will live for you the rest of my life. I will read the Bible and pray, trust You, obey You and walk with You every day in love, serving You and Your Kingdom. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer, I would love to hear from you. Just go to the comment section on my web site: SoaringEagleInspirations.com Blessings, Ken