What is the Gospel? Is it a prayer we say to receive Jesus as our Lord and
Savior? Is it a walk down the aisle at church after an altar call? What does it
mean to be saved? Saved from what?
PREPARE
In The Word:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16 ESV
A Real-Life Pocket Testament Moment:
While waiting for my cancer surgery follow-up doctors appointment, I saw a
gal alone and sad in the waiting room. I walked over to her and said "You look
like you could use a love letter" and gave her a Gospel of John. I found out
her husband just lost his job so we prayed together.
I was called in and started talking to the nurse about her life. She does not
know anything about God and felt there is nothing beyond this life. I gave
her a Gospel and asked her to please read it and get to know Jesus and His
great love for her.
My doctor came in who is a Mormon. I shared the Gospel, the message of
salvation by grace and not works, with him.
~ Mrs. Darlene Taylor from Battle Ground, WA
Dig In:
What compels a woman dealing with cancer to share the Gospel with every
person she meets three times during one doctors appointment? She knows
the saving power, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
For someone to understand the depth of any good news, they must first grasp the
full extent of the bad news. The bad news is, apart from Jesus Christ, every one
of us is destined to spend eternity in Hell. We all have fallen short of Gods
perfect standards and there is nothing we can do within ourselves to make it right.
Now for The Good News. Jesus made a way. He did for us what we could not
do for ourselves. He took our punishment upon Himself when He was nailed to
the cross. He suffered, died and was buried. Three days later He rose from the
dead.
As followers of Jesus, He is the reason for the hope that we have within us. We
know that it is not enough to just know about the Good News. We must respond
to it. To receive the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ is to call Him our
Savior and Lord.
...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
~Romans 10:9-10
A person that truly believes and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
has a new heart. The Bible calls this becoming a new creation.
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
A new creation bears fruit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit in us is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
(Galatians 5:21-23)
The Gospel is recognizing there is the only one way to God (John 14:6).
Jesus invites us and warns us in John 3:36, 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.
Jesus said in John 5:24, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me
has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to
life.
If someone asked you what they can do to have a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ, share with them from the Word:
1. Admit that you are a sinner (see 1 John 1:9)
2. Believe (have faith) that when Jesus died on the cross he took the
punishment for all your sin and He rose to life again to conquer death (see
John 1:29)
3. Open your heart and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. John
1:12 says But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God.
ACT
In The Word:
Read 1 Peter 3:14-16 ESV.
Now with a highlighter or pencil, highlight or underline these key ideas in your Bible:
Take Action:
In order to be prepared to share the reason for the hope within us, select several
pocket-sized Gospels of John that you could give to different people. Before you leave
your home, make sure you have one with you and pray specifically that God will give
you an opportunity to share it with someone.
Pray:
Father God, thank you for Jesus and the Good News that He gives us. May my life be
a testimony to the hope that Jesus has given us. Please give me the courage to share
the Gospel message today with someone in need of hope. In Jesus Name, Amen.