NEXT STEPS

In Genesis 1:31 says, "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good." The pinnacle of God's creation is people. Unlike the land, the sea, the sky, or animal life, the Bible says of people, "So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female (Genesis 1:27)." It's a wonderful thing to know that every human being on the earth is created by God and made in His image. Like God we each have a personality, intellect and will. In this we are unique from God's creation yet like Him. His purpose is for us to be with Him forever and glorify His wonderful Name.

As much as it is God's desire that we be with him forever and glorify His name, sin is an ever present reality in every person's life. Sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve chose to not take God at His Word and give in to temptation. Once sin entered the world God pronounced a curse. It's not that God is unloving, He most certainly is as we shall see in this GOSPEL presentation. It's that God is Holy and cannot be tainted by sin. Therefore, our sin separates us from God. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Think for a moment about your sin. The Bible also says, "If we keep the whole law (of God) and stumble in just one point, we are guilty of them all." The idea here is that sin is sin. We cannot compare ourselves to others we feel are 'worse' sinners. God is just and therefore cannot overlook anyone's sin. Therefore, while His desire is that we glorify His name and be with Him forever, our sin separates us from Him.

One thing that separates Biblical Christianity from every other religion or philosophy of the world is the belief that no matter how hard a person tries, he or she cannot do enough good to erase the penalty of sin. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift - not from works, so that no one can boast." In actuality, the Bible speaks much about the necessity of good deeds/works, not as the way of salvation, but rather, as a result of salvation. Might you be trying to be made right with God through what you are doing? If you were able to achieve salvation through good works you would be able to boast.

The shortest way to state the Gospel message is as follows: Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. Those 10 words are simple yet so profound. While it is true that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)," it is also true that, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)."
If a person were to offer you a gift, let's say a nice pen, it would not be yours apart from receiving it. The offer is real and right there for you to hold, yet unless you receive it, it is not yours. Similarly, God's offer is available to you right now. How do you receive that gift? John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." You receive God's offer of salvation by believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior, that He died for you and rose from the dead. This is an act of faith (faith can be defined as: believing having not yet seen). Romans 10:8-9 says, "This is the message of faith that we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Even now, you can pray and tell God that you believe. One simple prayer follows the idea of: ABC. In your own words Admit to God that you are a sinner. Tell God that you Believe in His Son, Jesus, as your Savior. Confess to others that you believe.

"Everyone" speaks of the individual. This includes you, personally. If you have believed, then you have the promise of everlasting life. The truth is, every person will live forever. Whether or not it is with eternal reward or eternal punishment is simply a matter of what a person does with Jesus Christ. The promise of God's Word is that belief in Jesus results in everlasting life in heaven. 1 John 5:13 says, "I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God (Jesus), so that you may know that you have eternal life." 

This GOSPEL presentation began with Genesis 1 with the truth that God's creation was good; however, sin entered into the world. The wonderful truth of Scripture is that through belief in Jesus Christ, a person has the promise of being with God forever. The last book of the Bible is Revelation. Revelation 21:3-4 says, "Look! God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away."