The Good News of Jesus Christ

Who is God?

The Bible tells us that God is our Creator (Gen 1:1; Neh 9:6). Thus, He owns and rules everything (Ps 24:1; Ps 50:10-12). God is holy, which means that no one compares to Him, and that He is completely set apart from all evil, uncleanness, and impurity (Ps 18:30; Matt 5:48). He is also perfectly righteous and good – His judgments are always right and without error, and He only does what is good (Ps 7:11). As the holy, righteous, and good God, He demands perfect holiness from His creatures, and absolute submission to His supreme Rule as King.

 

What is Man’s Problem?

Here is the problem. Every human being falls desperately short of God’s perfect standard, and is guilty of sin (disobedience) and mutiny against his Maker, “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). What is sin? At its core, it is every person’s failure to love God perfectly and supremely with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deut 6:5). This failure is then shown in our blatant breaking of His commands in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. God created humans so that they might live for Him and enjoy sweet fellowship with Him, treasuring Him above anything and anyone. However, every human is a sinner, and has failed to love God as he or she should. Not one person can claim to be innocent before God, “there is none righteous, not even one, there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless, there is none who does good, there is not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). The sad result is that every human being stands condemned and guilty before God. The fate that awaits those who die in rebellion against God is eternal punishment and separation from Him (Matt 25:46). This is a problem that you and I cannot solve on our own.

 

Is There Hope?

Because of His great love and mercy, God has provided a solution to the problem of our sin and hopeless predicament. The Bible says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)! God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to accomplish what no human being could do. The Lord Jesus, who is fully God, lived the perfect life of loving obedience and submission to God’s commandments that no person could live, satisfying God’s demands for complete holiness. Because of His amazing love and mercy, He Himself suffered the just punishment for those who believe in Him (2 Cor 5:21). Christ lived and died in order that you may be forgiven and reconciled to your Creator, if you believe in Him (Rom 3:26). This same Jesus rose from the dead three days later, victorious over sin and the result of sin, which is death! He then ascended to the right hand of God, the exalted place of prominence! One day the Lord Jesus will return to earth to reward those who have submitted themselves to Him, but will punish those who did not turn from their sins and put their full trust in Him alone.

 

How Should You Respond?

You must repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. To repent means to turn away from your sins and rebellion, agreeing with God that you are a sinner who deserves His just punishment for your sins. It means abandoning your sinful lifestyle, and making a willing choice to turn from your wickedness (1 Thess 1:9). You must then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and confess Him as Lord of your life, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9).

Salvation from your sins is a free gift of God, found only in Christ Jesus. You cannot earn God’s favor by your own good works, “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” (Eph 2:8-9). Is there another way to be saved? There is no other way to be saved, apart from the Lord Jesus, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). Only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can you be made right with a perfectly holy and righteous God, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

If you have any questions or want to talk to someone, please contact us at 818.556.4840 x200 or send us an email.