Christians and the Gospel
Being a Christian is about a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. At its core, Christianity is not just a religion but a relationship. It means:
· Believing in Jesus: Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose again.
· Seek God in repentance: God…commands all people to repent (Acts17:30)
· Trusting in His grace*: It's not about earning salvation through good works, but receiving it as a gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
· Following His teachings: Living according to what Jesus taught—loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40).
*In biblical context, grace is God's undeserved favour, love, and kindness given freely to humanity, in relation to salvation. It's receiving what we don't deserve, an act of generosity and mercy from God.
The Gospel
A Call to Repentance and New Life
The Gospel—literally "Good News"—is the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. At its heart, the Gospel is not just an invitation to believe but a command to repent and turn from sin to God.
1. God is Holy and Just
God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1) and is perfectly holy (Isaiah 6:3). He created humanity to live in fellowship with Him, in obedience and holiness. But His justice demands punishment for sin.
· For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
2. Humanity is Sinful and Deserving of Judgment
Every person has rebelled against God. Sin is not just wrongdoing; it is a wilful rejection of God. Because God is just, He will not overlook sin.
· The soul who sins shall die. Ezekiel 18:20
· For the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23a
This death is not only physical but eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:14–15).
3. God Calls All to Repentance
God, in His mercy, calls sinners to repent—to turn away from sin and toward Him. This repentance is not merely feeling sorry, but a radical turning of the heart and life.
· Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19
· God… commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30
· Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8
4. Jesus Christ: God sent Jesus to save sinners
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. He bore the punishment we deserved and rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.
· But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
· Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
Galatians 3:13
· "...that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day..."1 Corinthians 15:3–4
5. Salvation is Through Faith and Repentance
Salvation is a free gift from God, received by grace, by trusting in Jesus through faith, but this faith is never alone. True saving faith is always accompanied by repentance and a changed life.
· Repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:15
· For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
· Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.". 2 Corinthians 5:17
6. A New Life of Obedience
Those who turn to Christ are not only forgiven but made new. They receive the Holy Spirit and begin a life of obedience, holiness, and devotion to God.
· Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19
· Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
· If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15
Conclusion: Repent and Believe
The Gospel is a call to forsake sin and follow Christ. God is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Yet the time is short. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
· Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36
· If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
A simple prayer is the start. "Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I know I have sinned. I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died and rose again for me. I want to follow You and make You Lord of my life. Come into my heart and change me. Amen."
Summary:
. God created us for a relationship with Him.
. God is holy and Righteous and hates sin.
. We all have sinned and are separated from Him.
. Therefore, all humanity is under God’s Righteous judgement.
. Jesus died and rose again to bring us back to God.
. Jesus Christ, the saviour, has paid the penalty we are all due.
. By grace, through faith in Jesus, we can be forgiven and saved.
. We are all called to repent, believe, trust and follow Him.
. Time is short, You are a sinner separated from God.
Next steps in the journey of following Jesus
If you prayed the prayer. Life and its meaning has changed. To be a Christian means to be a follower of Jesus Christ, believing in Him as the Son of God, accepting His death and resurrection as the way to be forgiven of sin, and committing to live according to His teachings. Becoming a Christian involves a few key steps:
Reading the Bible. God’s Word teaches, guides, and shapes your understanding of Him and how to live (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Memorise scripture. This helps in understanding God on his ways.
Praying regularly. Prayer is how you connect and communicate with God—giving thanks, asking for help, confessing sins, and listening.
Being part of a church community. Fellowship with other believers helps you grow, stay encouraged, and serve others.
Living out your faith. This means loving your neighbours, forgiving others, showing kindness, seeking justice, and living humbly.
Sharing your faith. Christians are called to share the good news of Jesus with others (Matthew 28:19-20).
Growing in spiritual maturity. Faith is a journey. As you walk with God, you’ll grow in character, understanding, and purpose.
Some helpful Websites.
https://gideons.nz/pdfs/bible_reading_plan.pdf
https://www.gideons.org.au/help-in-the-bible/
https://gideons.nz/character1.html
https://www.blueletterbible.org/
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/
https://www.emmausnz.com/
With thanks to Adrian Mitchell