What is the gospel? 5 points:
1. Who God is. God is holy (perfect), creator, sets the standard. God is who He is, not who we decide He is! The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to us.
2. Who man is. Rebelled against God by choice, sinner (not in a generic sense, but individually). The Law is the place to start with someone who doesn’t think they’re that bad.
Rom. 3:10, 23 [Scriptures are few & given for example only - it will be best
Ex. 20 for you to search out your own]
3. The penalty for sin. Death (eternal in Hell) is the punishment for our rebellion. (not purgatory, not annihilation, no 2nd chances with reincarnation)
Heb. 9:27
Rom. 6:23a
Rev. 20:11-15
4. What God did. Took on a body of flesh, lived a sinless life, died a death undeserved, paid the penalty due to us for our sins.
Jn. 3:16; Rom 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21
5. What man must do. Repent (change mind, see self as sinful and unable to save himself) and believe (place trust in Christ’s death on his behalf, and resurrection as promise of eternal life).
Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 10:9-10
Don’t hurry on to the next point if someone doesn’t agree with your current point. The order is important in understanding salvation.
Remember, we are not out selling people a ticket to heaven! We are warning them of the wrath that will come upon them as reasonable judgment for their sins, and introducing them to the Person of Jesus Christ.
Stress the urgency of making this decision. We won’t get a second chance to change our minds after we die & we’re not guaranteed tomorrow. We never know when our time will come to face God in judgment.
Our job is to bring people to the point of making a decision (not to make it for them). We present them with the facts of the gospel, answer their questions, point them to Christ, pray for them… but ultimately, the rest is between them and the Holy Spirit.
