The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Salvation is found in no one else, 

for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind

by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

  • The Character of God

    The Holiness of God

    Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

    – Habakkuk 1:13


    But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you,so that he will not hear.

    – Isaiah 59:2


    The Justice of God

    For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

    – Psalm 11:7


    But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by his righteous acts. 

    – Isaiah 5:16


    God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.
    If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.

    – Psalm 7:11-12




  • THE DEPRAVITY & CONDEMNATION OF MAN

    For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

    – Romans 3:23


    All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags… 

    – Isaiah 64:6


    For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written:
    “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

    – Galatians 3:10




  • THE GREAT DILEMMA

    Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent —  the Lord detests them both.

    – Proverbs 17:15


    Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked,
    treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you!
    Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

    – Genesis 18:25




  • GOD’S ACTION

    While maintaining His holiness and justice, the Bible also affirms that God is love, and that in love He has responded to the plight of man.


    Motivated By Love


    God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

    – 1 John 4:8-10


    The Cross of Christ


    For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, m through the shedding of his blood — to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 

    – Romans 3:23-26


    The Resurrection of Christ


    He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. 

    – Romans 4:25




  • MAN’S RESPONSE

    Repentance 


    Repentance begins with a recognition and confession that what God says about us is true – we have sinned.


    For I know my transgressions,  and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;  so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 

    – Psalm 51:3-4


    Genuine Recognition


    A genuine recognition of our sinfulness and guilt will also lead to genuine sorrow, shame and even hatred for what we have done.


    I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

    – Romans 7:15


    What a wretched man I am!   Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 

    – Romans 7:24


    Sincerity of Confession


    Apparent sincerity of confession alone is never definite evidence of genuine repentance.  It must be accompanied by a turning away from sin. 


    Wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.

    – Isaiah 1:16


    ...every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 

    – Matthew 3:10


    Faith Defined


    Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. 

    – Hebrews 11:1


    ...being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 

    – Romans 4:21


    Faith Based on the Promise of God


    For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16


    “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”

    – Acts 16:31


    Example of a Believer


    …we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh… 

    – Philippians 3:3


    Genuine Assurance of Salvation


    True conversion: A true Christian is a new creation and will live a life that reflects God’s radical work of re-creation in his/her life.


    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

    – 2 Corinthians 5:17


    By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 

    – Matthew 7:16


    Self-Examination


    Assurance is based upon self-examination in life of Scripture


    Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
    Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? 

    – 2 Corinthians 13:5


    Tests of Biblical Assurance


    1 John 1:5-7 – Walking in the light

    1 John 1:8-10 – Confession of sin

    1 John 2:3-4 – Obedience

    1 John 2:9-11 – Love for Christians

    1 John 2:15-17 – Hatred for the things of the world

    1 John 2:24-25 – Perseverence in doctrine

    1 John 3:10 – Righteousness

    1 John 4:13 – The Spirit’s Testimony

    Hebrews 12:5-8 – Disciplined by God