Idea & Reality

Through a process of reading multiple authors, watching videos such as the two below, and reading the Bible itself I have come to what I think are the essential points of any good Gospel presentation. I would like to give you a couple of layers of complexity.

The basic Gospel message is that Jesus has died on the cross for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.

So far so good, but why is this necessary? Why is the death of Jesus good news? Why is it important that he was raised? Why should I even care?

These questions point us to a larger, yet still simple Gospel message. This is an expansion of the basic Gospel message that fills in the background and contextual information that is missing from the lives of most people today. Point by point:

1. The reality of God: There is a Creator God. He is good and created all things good. He is loving, just, perfect, holy.
2. The reality of sin: Adam, made in God’s image, decided to rebel against God. He disobeyed God’s command and thus plunged the human race into sin. All men are sinners, separated from their Creator. The consequence of sin is death and eternal punishment in hell for sin.
3. The reality of Jesus: In his great mercy and love God the Father sent Jesus, who is the Son of God, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus substituted himself for us in dying for our sins, he has turned away God’s holy and righteous wrath. God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit raised Jesus in testimony that he is the Messiah, the Saviour of the whole world.
4. The necessity of response: Now a free offer of forgiveness goes out to all the nations: if you would be forgiven of your sins you must repent of your sins and believe the Gospel. You must trust in God’s provision of salvation from sin by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When you do trust in Jesus you stand before the Judge clean, forgiven, declared righteous.
5. The purpose of the Gospel: Jesus died to bring us to God. We are forgiven for a purpose: so that we might know and love and rejoice in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In other words, we are not forgiven so that we can go on ignoring God without a fear of judgement or without guilty feelings.

While I am always working on the wording, the main points are in bold face.