Following Christ’s resurrection from the grave, and prior to His ascension to the Father, the Scriptures declare that Christ was seen by many for forty days and that He spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. Among those things He spoke of, we find that Christ commissioned His church. In Matthew 28:19-20 we read,
“Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
In the “Great Commission”, Christ made it clear that as we go – in our daily going – we are to share the Gospel message with every man, woman, boy, and girl that we meet. For in Mark 16:15 we read,
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Many have asked the question, “What is the Gospel message?” Luke 24:46-47 provides a summary in that it declares,
“And he said unto them, Thus it is written and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Many a preacher has stood in obedience unto the Lord and proclaimed the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
And from the Lord’s Gospel message we find that:
1) We are all sinners.
Romans 3:10, 23,
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
2) We all need a Saviour.
John 3:16, 36,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Acts 4:12,
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
3) God’s salvation was paid for by the shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood on the cross of Calvary – for our sin debt.
1 Peter 2:22, 24,
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth…Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Romans 6:23,
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
4) Christ’s salvation is immediately bestowed upon us when we repent of our sins, placing our faith, trust, and confidence in Jesus Christ to forgive us – to save us and to cleanse us.
John 5:24,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
John 14:6,
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
5) We are eternally secured and have a home in heaven the moment we trust in Jesus Christ to save us.
Ephesians 1:13-14,
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
6) Rejection of the Gospel message and God’s salvation through Christ will have eternal consequences.
John 8:24,
“I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
The question must now be asked, “Have you personally responded in obedience unto the Gospel message?” In Acts 16:30-31 we read that the Philippian jailor asked, “What must I do to be saved?” The apostle Paul responded with, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Have you repented of your sin and asked Jesus to save you? If not, why not do so right now?
