Even if you are not familiar with church, you have probably heard the word gospel. Sometimes you may hear it in phrases like “the gospel truth.” That simple statement reveals much of what the gospel is. It is truth. The word gospel in the language of the New Testament means “good news” and good news always rings with truth.
Good news is what we hope for.
In a world filled with bad news, we desperately long for news that is good and there is no better news than the gospel that is recorded in the pages of the New Testament. It can be explained by using the word gospel as an acrostic.
GGod created us to be with Him.
OOur sins separate us from God
SSins cannot be removed by good deeds.
PPaying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.
EEveryone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.
LLife with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.
The Apostle Paul gives us one of the clearest explanations as to how a person is made right with God (saved) in the book of Romans.
Romans 10:9–17 (NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
According to the Scripture, if you will place your faith in Christ (and in Him alone) for your salvation you can be saved (delivered from the consequences of sin and separation from God which ultimately ends in a place called Hell) and know for certain that when you die and leave this earth you will be with God in Heaven.
That my friend, is not only Good News, it is the best news a person could ever hope for.
If you have never prayed and asked God to save you (to be your personal Savior and Lord) you can do so at any time. You don’t have to be in a church building or in an evangelistic crusade. You can do it right where you are right now. If you have never prayed before, you may not know what to say. For those cases, evangelists (and others) over the years have used what they call the “sinner’s prayer.” This prayer is not in the Bible. It is only intended as a help to those who may need help in what to say to God.
Billy Graham’s Sinner’s Prayer goes like this: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen”
CRU (the old Campus Crusade for Christ) goes like this: “Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”
It should be stated that however you may phrase it, you are expressing your need for forgiveness of sin from God through His Son Jesus Christ who died for your sins, and that you recognize that there is no salvation apart from Him.
Please let us know if you have trusted Christ. We would love to help you grow on your journey of faith.