Part III: The Gospel

the greatest story ever told...

Gospel: a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news.

What is this "good news"?

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Timothy 1:15)

How about that for "good news"! The problem I mentioned in my last post...you know...about you being a wicked, vile, wretched, totally depraved sinner...well, problem solved! Jesus came to save sinners.

Approximately two thousand years ago, the Son of God was born into this world, he lived 33 years, the last three years being in full time ministry, and at the end of this time, by wicked hands, He was crucified. What does that have to do with Christ saving sinners? Everything!

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12)

"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a)

Death, both physical and spiritual, is the chief consequence of sin. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, so they were put under the curse of sin, which is death. All of us, as their descendants, are in the exact same boat. I know, we've covered this...but ask yourself: why did Christ die? The Bible is clear that the Lord Jesus Christ was without sin:

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

So why did He die?

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:28a)

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust" (1 Peter 3:18a)

This is Christ's substitutionary sacrifice. The word says it, Christ died as a SUBSTITUTE on the cross of Calvary. Christ took the sins of every one of God's people upon Himself, and suffered the wrath of God in their stead. These "saved" people are therefore clear of all condemnation, the price has been paid.

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:9)

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1a)

So there you have it, some GOOD NEWS! Christ has come to save sinners!

Only one question now...(to be continued)