The Gospel

IT IS LIKELY THAT, as you have been visiting our website you have noticed that we speak much of “the gospel”. Indeed, we are all about Christ and His gospel here at CFBC. But perhaps that word is unfamiliar to you so allow me to just take a few minutes to explain.

The word “gospel” comes from an Old English word for “Good News”. But in this case, before we can understand the “Good News”, one must understand the “Bad News”.

We begin with God for God is the creator of all that we see and don’t see. Anything and anyone that exists does so because God created them. And thus, as the Creator, He is also the Ruler of all. And what a wonderful Ruler, He is. For He is good and righteous and loving, absolutely holy in all His ways. And having created humanity, He made them to rule and care for creation under Him as the ultimate ruler and in ways that honour Him. So far so good. So far good news. “Where does the bad news come in?”, you ask.

The bad news comes in because humanity rebelled. The first humans Adam and Eve rebelled and disobeyed God. That is, they “sinned”. And ever since then, that has been the direction each one of us has taken. Rebellion against God and selfishly seeking our own desire. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” And elsewhere it says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way”.

And that bad news gets even worse, in this way. Because God is absolutely holy and just, he must judge sin. Scripture says, “The wages of sin is death.” Eternal death. We all will stand before Him some day, and He will judge sin, bringing eternal and just condemnation, destruction and punishment upon the guilty. And all of us would be guilty apart from the “Good News”.

And the Good News is that God is not only holy and just, but He is also loving and gracious and merciful. And He has provided salvation, salvation even from His just condemnation. And that salvation, comes through Christ. Through Jesus, the Son of God. For God the Father sent God the Son into this world of sin. He was born and became human. And He did what no human has or can ever do: He lived a perfect sinless life.

But there’s more: He went to the cross and gave His life there for us. He was my substitute on the cross. He bore my sin on Him, and as a result, He bore the punishment that was due me. And God the Father accepted that sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross. God raised Him from the dead and in so doing, death and the grave are conquered and instead, eternal life comes to those who receive the gift of salvation that comes through Jesus.

I say “gift” because there is nothing we can do to earn this salvation. So how ought we to respond to this good news, to the gospel? By faith. Confess and believe. The bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Also, the apostle Paul was asked by one terrified man, “What must I do to be saved?” And Paul replied, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.”

Pray to God, confessing your sin, your need of His mercy and grace. Your need of a Saviour. And trust in Christ. Trust in His death on the cross for your salvation. Embrace Him, and follow Him, as Your Lord and Saviour, as your “only hope in life and death”. And you shall be saved.

If you would like to talk more about this, I would be most happy to do so. Just contact me at the church and I would be happy to point you to Christ. Or, come to our Sunday morning services, every Sunday at 10:30 and join us as we worship Christ and proclaim His gospel.