What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a Nutshell?

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To understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, let us first consider the attributes of God and man.

Who is God?

Some attributes of God are:

1. Eternal (Revelations 21:6, Luke 1:33, 1 Peter 1:25, Matthew 28:20)
2. Omnipotent (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 17:14, Acts 10:36)
3. Omniscient (Mark 2:8, John 2:24-25)
4. Omnipresent (Matthew 28:20)
5. Creator of Heaven and Earth (John 1:2-3) and so much more.
6. God is just and righteous (Psalm 89:14).

Who is man?

Human beings are a Creation of God, made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27).

Unfortunately Adam and Eve fell for satan’s deceptive ways and sin entered into the world. They were the first human beings to be created and who disobeyed God.

God’s One Rule to Man and Man Disobeyed It:

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

Since they didn’t listen to God’s instruction, all of mankind are born with a sinful trait.

➡ All of mankind are born as sinners (Romans 3:23).

We have this sin nature causing us to act in jealously, selfishness or in disrespect – to name the least.

What is Punishment?

The Bible teaches us about the Day of Judgement.

This is the day when God separates His sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-34). This means that only those He finds righteous, can enter into God’s Kingdom.

➡ Question to ask yourself:

1. The nature of God is righteous and pure, so how do we as sinful human beings enter God’s Kingdom?
2. The next question then becomes, how do we correct our sinful nature before the Day of Judgement?
3. How will God judge us and what is His standard to be accepted into Heaven?

The Standard for Heaven

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) were given by God as His moral standards, to understand right from wrong.

Unfortunately, there is no man on earth who is (or has been) sinless (Romans 3:23) except Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 3:5). Who though being God became man – read Philippians 2:6.

Romans 6:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the the glory of God. So bottom line is that all of us are sinners.

So how are we reconcilled to God?

The Sacrifice for Sin

We see the way that sin was forgiven in the Old Covenant was through animal sacrifice (Leviticus 4:35). It was the blood of a spotless animal that covered people’s sins (Hebrews 9:22). But God promised a new way – a New Covenant – (Jeremiah 31:31) through the blood of Jesus Christ.

➡ Jesus confirmed this at the Last Supper, when He broke Bread and gave His cup to drink

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:27-28

By offering Himself as a living sacrifice, Jesus’ blood is the atonement for our sins, which allows us to enter into eternal life. So it is not by doing good deeds alone that we enter Heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is why Jesus says,

 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

Good works are the fruit of the Spirit which is a result of following Christ. Once we accept Jesus, His Holy Spirit guides us into doing good works that glorify His name.

It is Finished

Have you ever wondered why the last words of Jesus were, It is Finished (John 19:30)?

Have you asked yourself what did He finish?

Jesus came to earth in the form of a man for a mission and He foretold His death and resurrection multiple times.

His purpose was to die for our sins – He was our ransom and He paid the price for our sin (Mark 10:45, Revelation 5:9). Acts 20:28, puts it even more powerfully, stating that God purchased us with His own blood, proving the deity of Jesus.

To a bystander at that time, it may have seemed like Jesus lost the battle and hung on the Cross, but it was quite the opposite. It was mission accomplished for Jesus (Colossians 2:15).

This is the wonderful Story of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16)!

In the Name of Jesus

Now how do we accept this gift of Salvation to enter into eternal life?

It is by believing in Jesus who sacrificed His life for us and rose again from the dead, by repenting of our sins, we are accepted into the Kingdom of God. Not by performing our good works here on earth, but believing in Him who died for us – a gift from God. Again, good works are the result of the presence of God in our lives, not what results in salvation.

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

This Does Not Mean…

This does not mean that after we choose to believe in Jesus, we carry on walking in ways that are not pleasing to God. Instead, we continue to walk with Christ (although we are not perfect) by studying the bible and understanding His true nature. Once we learn who God is, we begin to draw closer to Him as He begins to change our hearts.

It is not about saying that we believe in Jesus, but it is a continuous walk with Christ that changes our hearts and minds, bringing about repentance. At times God disciplines us, corrects us and guides us so we don’t fall back into our old ways.

Although we are not perfect human beings, and even if we tend to make mistakes, it is important to repent and continue walking with Christ, knowing that we are already forgiven.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

So Now We Understand Why We Need Jesus

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the only way to the Father as written in John 14:6. And the important part is that Jesus says, no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Apostle Paul’s Explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a Nutshell

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:2-5

How are we saved?

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Further Bible Study on the Gospel Message:

1. Why is it only by the blood Jesus?

In one word, He was sinless.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

This reveals the true compassionate nature of God.

By making Jesus take on our sins, we are made righteous before God.

Reading the Bible you will come across many prophets committing a form of sin at some point in their life. But not Jesus.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19

1 Peter 2:22 also says this about Jesus,

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

2. The Purpose of Jesus on Earth

When Christ being pure and sinless was nailed to the Cross, with it was also nailed our sins.

So now we are made to become righteous children of God, because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

3. Why did Jesus have to die?

This is more like a recap question to what we have already covered – backed with bible verses.

God’s gift of life to save us from our sins is Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

4. What is Significant about His Resurrection?

Many may argue that there are stories of people who had come back to life after being declared dead.

So what is significant about Jesus’ death and resurrection?

There is a BIG difference between the two scenarios.

Most people came back to life without realising it, but Jesus was able to foretell His death and resurrection even before it happened.

In John 10:11 Jesus declares,

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

In another passage Jesus says,

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days. John 2:19

5. Did Anyone see the Risen Jesus?

Paul Declares,

And that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:5-9

6. Why is it Important to believe in the Gospel?

If the words of Jesus are true, we need to look closely at the statements of Jesus, like this one;

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus states that He is the only way to God the Father.

If you read the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible, the one resonating statement that Jesus makes before healing people was – your FAITH has saved you.

Ultimately, it is by putting our faith in Jesus that we are all saved into eternity.

7. Pathway to Heaven

The Bible teaches us that when we declare that Jesus is our Lord, and follow His ways we receive salvation leading to eternal life.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Asking Jesus to be our Lord does not require a well scripted prayer, but a sincere request that comes from a change of heart.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

8. What is the Purpose of the Gospel?

That all mankind may be saved.

Jesus said,

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16

It is the compassionate heart of Jesus that everyone in this world are to be saved through His Gospel message.

9. How Do We Know We are Saved and Have Eternal Life?

If you believe that Jesus is the sinless blameless Son of God whose word is true, then this is what Jesus declares,

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

10. Jesus’ Second Coming

Jesus came to earth over 2,000 years ago as the sacrificial Lamb.

He is coming back again – soon – as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). But no one knows the day or the hour of His arrival.

The day and the hour of His coming is not known, as the Bible tells us it will come as a thief at night. (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

Hope Amidst trials on Earth

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14 (ESV)

Last But Important to Note

The Bible tells us that good works on earth are not what gain us entry into Heaven, take a look at this Bible verse,

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is a gift given from God, through Jesus’ sacrifice.

Good works are indeed important when it comes to the way we are to live on earth. God tells us that above all, we must love one another and do good.

But salvation on the other hand, is only through His sacrifice on the Cross as the Bible explains.

We do good works as a result of being saved. Unfortunately, the inverse in not true.

Final Recap

The Problem:

Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

The Answer:

Romans 10:9: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Remember these questions from earlier in this post?

Question 1: Have you ever sinned?

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 (NLT)

Question 2: How does God Judge us sinners?

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)

Question 3: What is the only way to be cleansed from these sins?

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

Question 4: Can our good works erase the bad we’ve done to be allowed into Heaven?

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. Ephesians 2:8-9

The Gospel Of Jesus Christ infographic to Share

God Became a man – Jesus Christ – to save us from our sins. Though Jesus was sinless, He took our sins so that we may stand sinless before God. Once we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, the Bible tells us that we will be saved.

Repentance is confessing to God of our sins and changing our way of living by turning to the Lord.

The above information is compiled into this free infographic, to share with friends and family so that all may hear the good news and be saved.

Jesus Christ – the source of our peace – says,

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

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