What Is the Gospel and How Can We Explain It More Clearly?
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Because the enemy is active in this world, many people encounter false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20). The gospel is not “Jesus plus.” What I mean by this is that we are only saved by Jesus. Anything we bring to the table is not good enough to defeat our own sin. False teachers share that we have to live up to a standard to get into heaven, that the good that we do needs to outweigh the bad, but that is a fake salvation. If we rely on our works and do not accept Jesus’ work on our behalf, we miss the whole gospel.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
The gospel is not that all religions lead to heaven. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus is the only way to be reunited with God and forgiven of our sins. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” The Bible warns us that there will be false teachers in the world who tell us what we want to hear. Yes, I would love for everyone in the world to go to heaven, but sin exists and God is gentle. He is going to give us all the opportunity to be forgiven, but if people reject Jesus, they reject the gift of eternal life with Him. We must be careful not to believe the teachings of those who tell the world what it wants to hear.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
I love the description of the Grand Canyon. Imagine that our sin is the separation from us on one side of the Grand Canyon to the other side where God would be. The Grand Canyon is 18 miles wide. If you tried to run and jump against your favorite athlete to get to the other side, neither one of you would make it to “God’s side.” The gap is too wide, it would be physically impossible. The athlete might get further than you, but you both would fall short. We all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Nothing that we can do in our own might can get us to the other side. This is why Jesus had to come.
Sin is the barrier that separates. Like the canyon, we would need a bridge to get to God. Jesus bridges the gap between us and God. Jesus is the only one who defeated sin. He is the way to forgiveness, freedom, and wholeness. If you or someone you love has not ever accepted Jesus’ gift, make that decision today. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross and forgiving you of your sin. Tell Him that you want Him to be the Lord (in charge) of your life. Acknowledge that He is the only God. Romans 10:9 says, “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.”
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