The Gospel, as revealed in the Bible, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It is a message of hope, redemption, and eternal life through Jesus Christ. On this page, we will explore the essence of the Gospel, our appropriate response to it, and the dire consequences of rejecting this divine truth.
The Gospel, according to the Bible, is the good news of salvation for all humanity. It is centered around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The apostle Paul succinctly captures the essence of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV):
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
This pivotal event, Christ's sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, opened a way for mankind to be reconciled with God and receive eternal life.
Our response to the Gospel should be one of genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Acts 16:30-31 (KJV) conveys the crucial step of faith:
"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who bore our sins on the cross, is the cornerstone of salvation. Romans 4:24-25 But for us also, to whom it (ed note: His Righteousness) shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Receiving this free gift of Eternal Life involves acknowledging our sinful state, turning away from our sinful ways (repentance), and surrendering our lives to Christ in faith. Placing our faith in Christ for our own salvation is the way we accept this gift then we show our belief is true by living according to His commandments. Jesus declared in John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." He emphasized this again when he repeated it in 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Without accepting the Gospel, there is no redemption from sin. Hebrews 9:22b (KJV) emphasizes this truth.
"...and without shedding of blood is no remission."
Jesus' sacrificial shedding of His blood on the cross is the only means by which we can receive full and permanent forgiveness and cleansing from our sins.
Belief in the Gospel brings about a spiritual transformation, but rejecting it results in a lack of spiritual renewal. Romans 12:2 (KJV) illustrates this contrast:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Without faith in Christ, the transformative work of the Holy Spirit cannot take place within us.
Rejecting the Gospel leads to NOT receiving Eternal Life. This is what some who would soft-pedal the truth to you will only call "eternal separation from God." In 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (KJV), we can see that the consequences are dire :
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."
Those who reject the Gospel will face the wrath of God and eternal DEATH.
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The Gospel is a divine message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Our response should be one of sincere belief, leading to repentance and surrender to Christ. The consequences of rejecting the Gospel are severe and eternal, underscoring the urgency of accepting this life-transforming truth. May we heed the call of the Gospel and experience the abundant life it offers through faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
If you find SabDay7.org or totw.org to be a useful site, please help us make others aware of our service by placing a link on your website. For SabDay7 please use the graphic on the right and link to http://www.sabday7.org.