What is the Gospel?

The Gospel

It's a term many of us are aware of, and most of us have heard used countless times through out our lives. But what is the Gospel exactly? What is this good news that has been handed down for thousands of years, surviving persecution and the test of time; this message of hope so powerful that untold millions have been willing to lay down their lives so that future generations might hear it?

That you are completely known by God, and are completely loved by Him. No matter who you are, or where you have come from, the creator of the universe knows you by name. He knows everything about you, every detail of who you are, good and bad, and He loves you. But our sin--the bad things we have done--separates us from God and his love and leads to brokenness in our lives and evil in the world around us. People try to fix the brokenness we feel with other things; religion, drugs, alcohol, relationships and possessions, but nothing will ever satisfy the emptiness in our hearts--the longing to be made whole. Ultimately our sins lead us all to death. But God loves you and I so much that He was willing to die in our place so that the death penalty for all our sins would be paid in full--paid with His own blood.

Not only that, He rose from the dead three days later to prove to you and I that He is God and to show us that through faith in Jesus Christ we too can have the assurance--the absolute, beyond a shadow of a doubt promise--that we will live forever with Him when we die. All you have to do is trust Jesus and give him control of your life.

It's not about the good that you do. Eternal life isn't your reward for a good life or religious piety. Salvation is a free gift for those who will simply say yes to it.

That is the Gospel: the message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ, the savior of man-kind.

So now that you have heard the Gospel, what will you do with it? Will you believe?

See Also: 

What Makes a Person a Christian?

Amazing Grace


Religion or Relationship: What Must I do to be Saved?

What is Most Important

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

      Have you ever felt that our faith in Christ gets more complicated the more people you talk to? I know I have. There are so many questions and what-ifs in the world today that it is easy for us to get distracted by things that really don't matter. Indeed, hardly a day goes by without someone bringing up an obscure peripheral theology or hypothetical quandary aimed at derailing our faith in Jesus. But all of these things are a bit pointless in the grand scheme of things.

     Don't get me wrong; I love discussing peripheral things. I find them fascinating. But that's all they are to me: fascinating topics of discussion. They don't change my faith in Christ. And they certainly aren't the foundation of my relationship with him. If my hope were built on anything other than the promises of God and what Jesus has done for me personally, then my hope would not have a very strong foundation. The same goes for anyone who believes. If Jesus is not the center of your faith, then you are on very shaky ground. He alone is the Rock of our salvation—the cornerstone of the Church. Anything else is unstable and will eventually fail.

     Furthermore, if we allow ourselves to be distracted by theoretical theology and what-if questions, we are effectively putting spiritual blinders on ourselves. We get “tunnel-vision” and can't see past whatever peripheral topic we've decided to fix our eyes on. When in reality, the only thing we should fix our eyes on is Jesus Christ. After all, how can we tell people what Jesus has done in our lives when we're focused on other things instead? 

    Jesus is what is most important—Jesus and our relationship with him.

    Do you believe that Jesus was God the Son, sent to die in your place on the cross? Do you believe that he was buried for three days and that he rose again in a physical body so that anyone who believes in him can have eternal life; and that he has promised to return for us some day?

    If your answer is yes, then that is all that really matters. You are a brother or sister in Christ. Everything else is peripheral and really isn't worth obsessing over or arguing about. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

~ Hebrews 12:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Amazing Grace

     Have you ever stopped to consider just how blessed we who are living in the Church Age truly are? I'm not talking about physical or financial blessings—though these are certainly evident. No. I'm talking about the spiritual blessings God has poured out on those of us living in the “last days.”

     Think about it. Before Jesus, mankind lived in fear and dread of God's punishment; struggling to earn His favor through ritual and sacrifice, all the while missing the greater issue that was—and still is—our sinful, human hearts.

 “And so the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.’”

~ Isaiah 29:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

     God never wanted religion. He didn't require laws and rules, nor did he desire them. What God wanted was obedience born out of a changed and repentant heart.

“You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.

     You do not want a burnt offering.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.

     You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

~ Psalm 51:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

     Even on our best days, all of our righteousness is worthless in God's eyes. (Isaiah 64:6) Which is why God sent His own Son to die in our place as a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. (Hebrews 10:1-18)

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

~ Romans 5:6-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

     Don’t get me wrong; God was always merciful. Throughout the Old Testament He continually spared those who would repent and obey. But there is a difference between mercy and grace. 

     For example, suppose a man was sentenced to die for his crimes, but on the day of his execution the king decided to pardon him. The man receives his life back, but nothing else. This is mercy.

     Grace, on the other hand, would be when the same man—having been tried and convicted—is brought before the king to face judgment. But rather than ordering the man's execution, the king instead comes down off his throne, frees the man himself, has him dressed in royal clothes, and claims the man as his own son and co-heir to his throne. 

     This is exactly what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Because of His grace we are no longer His enemies; we are His friends; adopted children, and co-heirs with Christ himself! This alone is incredible, but it gets even better! Not only are we accepted as God's children and free from condemnation, we are also filled with God's Spirit—that is to say, God Himself is dwelling within us!

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory...”

~ Romans 8:15-17a New Living Translation (NLT)

     This Spirit that has joined with our spirit is the Holy Spirit Himself, the third member of the triune God-head, and the “advocate” Jesus promised to send to us in John 16.

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

“‘There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’”

~John 16:5-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

     The Holy Spirit came into the world on the Day of Pentecost; fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead and only ten days after his ascension to heaven. (Acts 1-2) Until that point in time, God's Spirit had only come upon certain individuals for a limited time. (i.e. the Judges of Israel and the Prophets.) But now, everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord and believes in Him has received the Holy Spirit, and can therefore live in the Spirit. And, as the scriptures say, it is only when we live in the Spirit that we can truly obey God. (Galatians 5)

     Therefore, we are free from sin and are under no obligation to the Old Covenant, with its rituals and regulations, because God's Spirit dwells within us, teaching us His Law by writing it on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34)  The Old Covenant was meant to show us our sins and to provide us with a temporary solution until the Messiah came. Now that Jesus has come, he has fulfilled the Law, and has made salvation accessible to everyone who believes in him through his death and resurrection. (Galatians 3, Hebrews 8-10)

    In short, salvation has always been a heart issue, not an obedience issue. And it is only by accepting Christ—who seals us and fills us with the Holy Spirit—that our hearts can be truly changed.  

“God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

“May God give you more and more grace and peace.”

~1 Peter 1:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Survival Plan

“'I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.'”

"Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

“'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.'

“'I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.'"

~ John 10:1-16New Living Translation (NLT)

Have you ever stopped to wonder why it is that God referred to us as His "Sheep"? I mean, have you aver really stopped to think about it? True, sheep are soft and fluffy, and their lambs are adorable to watch; leaping around, frolicking and  playing with each other. But they are also docile and completely defenseless. They have no sharp teeth, no claws, spikes or armored hide; and are easy pray for wolves and other predators.

Sheep are also herd animals who tend to follow their leader wherever it goes, even if the leader has no idea where it is going. Not only that, they often wander off on their own and get lost. Furthermore. if a sheep falls into a ditch--even a shallow one--it will be unable to right itself and will eventually die of heat-stroke or suffocate under its own weight. 

In light of this, I think it's about time we were honest with ourselves: being compared to sheep is not a compliment. God knows we're completely lost without Him, with each person wandering off to do whatever their heart desires. (Isaiah 53:6) That is why God sent us a Shepherd. 

A sheep--even a flock of sheep--is vulnerable without a shepherd to protect it from wolves, thieves, and the occasional ditch. Likewise we are vulnerable to sin and to the teachings of false prophets--"wolves in sheep's clothing"-- when we wander away from our shepherd, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:15) A sheep knows that its only chance at survival is to stay close to the shepherd--the one who feeds it and protects it from harm. So maybe we should follow the example of our wooly namesakes and learn to recognize our shepherd's voice so that we can safely follow him wherever he may lead us.  

“The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

    He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

    bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

    forever.”

~ Psalm 23 New Living Translation (NLT)

Related Articles: 

Beware of False Prophets

B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Context is King

The Call to Repent

If you've been around churches for any length of time, then you've probably come to realize that the topic of repentance is a reoccurring theme in the Christian community. And while it is true that we are to repent of our sins, I feel that far to often our focus drifts away from the grace and mercy of God  and instead lingers on the promises of hell-fire and eternal damnation for those who refuse to confess their sins and repent. What is even more disturbing to me, is that we then turn around and justify ourselves by attaching verses like John 3:16 to signs, bumper-stickers, and sermons condemning the people around us —the very people that God loves and died to save. (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-11)

Indeed, most Christians can quote John 3:16 by heart—many nonbelievers also know what it says. But very few people take the time to read what Jesus goes on to say in the following verses.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

~ John 3:16-21New Living Translation (NLT)

Do you see what Jesus is saying here? It is not through repentance that we are saved; is is through faith in Him alone! Salvation is not the result of repentance; repentance is the result of salvation. (1 Peter 1:13-25)

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we are to continue living in sin. Nor am I trying to downplay humanity's need for a savior or the existence of hell. What I am saying however, is that we need to remember what it is that saves us. It isn't the good things that we do. It isn't our own righteousness. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ; not our repentance. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  And while it is true that all sin, great or small, leads to death (Romans 6:23), I want you to look very closely at what Jesus said in John 3:18-19. 

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."

~ John 3:18-19New Living Translation (NLT)

What sin is the world going to be judged for? 

Rejecting Jesus Christ. 

That is the only sin that cannot be forgiven: blaspheming the Holy Spirit by ignoring His convictions and rejecting what Jesus has done for you. (John 16:8, 1 John 5:1-12) 

So then, how are we to reach people for Christ? We could focus on repentance and condemnation. But that can lead to legalism and self-righteousness, which would do more harm than good.
Remember: the Holy Spirit is our helper. It is He that teaches us to follow God and reveals the sin in our lives. Without Him we are blind. So how can a person who has never accepted Christ be expected to see their sin as anything other than normal human behavior? (Jude 19) 
When we make a habit of pointing out the sins of strangers we become Pharisees and hypocrites. We push them away from God, and reinforce the negative stereotype of Christians, the Church, and ultimately Jesus himself—who is the head of the Church. 

That being said I feel that the best way to show people God's love is through actions—following the example given to us in 1 Peter 3:8-17.

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil."

"Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!"

~ 1 Peter 3:8-17New Living Translation (NLT)

Get to know the people you are trying to reach. Be friends with the unsaved people in your lives. Don't join them in doing the things you know are sinful. But take the opportunity to tell them about your faith gently, without attacking them. Remember, they have been blinded to the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:3-5) You can't help a blind man to see by beating him with a stick. The same is true of unbelievers. We can't force people to see the sin in their lives by beating them over the head with a Bible. The only way for them to truly repent is for God to soften their hearts and change them from within. If they are receptive to His truth and repent of their original sin—denying Jesus—then they will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Their eyes will be opened. They will see their sin for what it truly is and begin to repent as a result.

That is the mistake that far too many Christians make. Repentance isn't a once-in-a-lifetime event: it's an event that takes a lifetime, and ultimately ends with our sanctification. A righteous life isn't a sprint; it's a marathon. And the only way to finish strong is to have Jesus running along side you. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[ awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

~ Hebrews 12:1-2New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

"Excuse me, but do you know that you're going to hell?"

One Year of Evidence

March 29th, 2015 will mark the one year anniversary since God put it in my heart to begin writing down my thoughts and musings. It has been an interesting adventure to say the least, with thousands of hits pouring in from all over the world: from The United States to China; to Poland and Russia.  God has even used this blog to take his truth as far as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. 



It is at times like this that I remember what God's Word says:

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

~ Isaiah 55:10-11New Living Translation (NLT)

And in another place:

"We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

~ 2 Corinthians 10:3-5New Living Translation (NLT)


One year has passed; a new year begins. And I am curious to see where God will do next.

What Should Christians Do?

Should I drink alcohol?

Should I watch TV?

Should I listen to secular music?

Should I let my children play video games?

Should I only eat organic food?

Should I read the NIV or only use the King James Bible?

Is it okay for Christians to date, or should we use courtship instead?

These are just some of the questions Christians are asking these days. And, as you can probably guess, the answers are not going to be found in the Bible.

So what should Christians do when they encounter a problem that isn’t spelled out for us in the Scriptures?

The Apostle Paul has the answer for us in 1 Corinthians 8.

“Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that ‘we all have knowledge’ about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

“So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God. There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.

“However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.

“But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.”

~ 1 Corinthians 8  

Now I’m going to assume that idol worship is not an issue in your life—but it may be, depending on your culture. That being said, the principle here remains the same.

We have freedom in Christ. So if something is not listed as openly sinful in the Bible, then it probably isn’t. However, if you personally feel that God wants you to live a certain way, or wants you to abstain from certain activities, then do what ever you feel He has called you to do. You have that freedom as well.

But we should all be considerate of one another, lest we cause a brother or sister to sin against their conscience. (1 Corinthians 8:9-13, Romans 14:13) And above all, we should remember not to judge others based on our own standards. If they love Jesus, then that is enough. Let God judge their actions.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

~ Matthew 7:1-5 

"Excuse me, but do you know that you're going to hell?"

We’ve all experienced this scenario before: A professed Christian, on fire with holy zeal, walks up to you and says, “Excuse me, but do you know that you’re going to hell?”

The person usually means well enough, of course. Many Christians might even see this as an act of love. But most people interpret it as a scare-tactic meant to terrify the weak-minded into converting. And it has been my own  experience that the very mention of hell and God’s judgment of sin is usually more than enough to put even the best conversationalist on the defensive.

     That being said, I do believe that there is a right way of presenting the truth about hell and God's judgment, and that is to bookend God's righteous judgment of sin with His offer of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ. To offer any other means of salvation aside from God's undeserved grace is to preach a gospel other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. (I cover this in greater detail in the article entitled: The Call to Repent)

Now I realize that you may have a different opinion about this than I do, but I personally believe that we who profess to follow Christ should avoid condemning the world of sin in the public arena on the grounds that it generally pushes people away from Jesus and paints Christians in a negative light. No one likes to be told that what they believe is wrong, that they’re a sinner, and that they’re going to hell. I don’t like it when people I’ve never met condemn me, and I’m sure you don’t either. Even though it is true that everyone has sinned and is guilty before God, the Bible tells us to win people over through our actions and life testimony, and to be respectful of others when answering their objections to the truth. (1 Peter 2:12, 3:15-16, 1 John 3:18-20)

Furthermore, the Bible teaches us that it is not our job to convict the world. That responsibility belongs to God and God alone.

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate (The Holy Spirit) won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”

~ John 16:5-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

When we force ourselves into someone’s personal space—whether that is going door-to-door or preaching at them from the street corner—we are, in essence, trying to do God’s job for Him. But it is not our place to play judge, jury, and executioner. God will judge the world. Not us. (Acts 17:20-31, Psalms 9, etc.) And when we go around pointing out the sins of strangers without first recognizing and repenting from the sins in our own lives, we make ourselves hypocrites before both God and men. (Matthew 7:1-5)

God will convict the world. Not us. He is already doing it. People are looking for answers and meaning in their lives. Most turn to religion; whether that is Buddhism, Atheism, Humanism, or any other religion from among the plethora of religions out there—people will always seek to fill the void they feel in their souls with something. 

They are asking questions. 

They want to know why they’re here, where they came from, and where they’re going. 

Is there life after death? 

Is there any meaning to our existence?

God is moving in their hearts, revealing Himself to them through all that He has made, and convicting them of their own sinful condition. (Romans 1:20, John 16:5-11)

It is not our job to condemn the world. 

It is not our job to convict the world of sin. 

Our job is to answer these questions when asked—to tell people the good news about Jesus and show them that there is life, liberty, and hope through him.

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My (Jesus) purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

~ John 10:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

~ John 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

* See also: 

                                                         The Call to Repent

God of Wrath, or God of Mercy?

One of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Christianity, is when they group the Old and New Testaments together without any understanding of the significance of the two. This simple oversight is what gives rise to many of the so-called contradictions we see between the God of the Old Testament, and the God of the New Testament. 

One is a God of wrath and vengeance; raining down death and judgment. 

The other is merciful and patient; the giver of everlasting life.

So what is God really like? He can’t be both, can He? 

God established early on in the Old Testament that the penalty for sin is death. (Genesis 2:16-17) But Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They plunged the world into sin, and death spread to all things. (Romans 5:12) This, of course presents a problem, because God cannot look upon sin. (Habakkuk 1:13) 

Furthermore, if any sinful thing came into the presence of God, it would be instantly killed. Which is why people in the Old and New Testaments repeatedly fall to the ground and shield themselves from God whenever He speaks to them. Not even Moses, one of the most godly men who ever lived, could see God face-to-face. (Exodus 33:17-23) When we compare this fearful relationship to what we see in Genesis 1-3—when man and God could walk together in fellowship—we can clearly see how far things have digressed. 

By the time of Noah, man’s sin was so great that God regretted having ever made man. (Some translations say that God was “Grieved that He had made man.” ) Humans were pure evil. The Bible says that every intention of their heart was evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5) And so, being completely just in His hatred of evil, God wiped them out. He had given them over 1,000 years to repent, and they still rejected Him. However, God does not destroy the righteous with the unrighteous (Genesis 18:23-26) and so He spared Noah and his family. (This character trait is something we will see again and again with God throughout the Bible.)

God further exemplified His hatred of evil many years later, when He gave His Law to the Nation of Israel through the prophet Moses. (The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) But the Law was only a temporary solution; an imperfect system designed to show us how far we had fallen, and to provide us with some protection against God’s judgment through animal sacrifice. However, there was no guarantee that God would even accept the people’s sacrifices when offered. They could still offer them. But if the people were not truly repentant—following the Law religiously without actually turning from their sins—God could reject their sacrifice. Over time the Law became very one-sided and religious; not the intimate, personal relationship God intended for us. 

After the death of Moses, God lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan, where He then used them to enact His judgment upon the wickedness of the people living in the land. As with the people of Noah’s day, God had given the Canaanites 400 years to repent. (Genesis 15:13-16) But they refused. 

And so, at last, the Day of Judgment came. The Israelites were ordered to drive out the people of Canaan and to take possession of the land. However, God warned the Israelites that if they broke His law and began living like the nations around them, He would use other nations to do to Israel what they had done to the Canaanites.  (Deuteronomy 8)

This is inevitably what happened. God pleaded with Israel to repent and turn to Him; to choose life. But the Israelites chose to abandon God instead. And so in 586 BC, God handed Israel over to king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. 

But God had promised that He would never abandon Israel. (1 Kings 6:13)

In Babylon, the people remembered God. They repented and turned from their sins. So God brought them out of captivity. The Jews rebuilt Jerusalem and vowed to always serve God and to obey all of His Laws. (Nehemiah 9:38)

This was the last recorded event of the Old Testament. It would be another 400 years before the events of the New Testament came to pass. 

During this time the Jews became extremely legalistic in their religion. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to power and abused God’s Law; using God's commandments to manipulate the people and secure their positions as the political and spiritual rulers of Israel. 

And then came Jesus—that upstart from Nazareth—with his ideas of mercy, and kindness; destroying 400 years of tradition, legalism, and fear all in the span of just three years. 

This is the point that is most often missed by biblical skeptics. The arrival of God’s Chosen Messiah—the one who’s coming was foretold in Genesis 3:15— changed everything.

No one could ever hope to meet every requirement of the Old Law, and the animal sacrifices only provided a temporary solution for sin. That’s why God’s judgment was so swift in the Old Testament—considering the fact that He still gave people hundreds, if not thousands of years to repent and turn back to Him. 

But Jesus did away with the Old Law. (Romans 7, 8:1-16, Hebrews 8-10) We don't have to struggle to follow the Law and offer endless sacrifices in the hope that God might forgive us. He already did. 

Our sins were transferred to Jesus when he died on the cross. He died to pay the price for our sins, now and forever. We don't need priests to intermediate between us and God. Jesus is our High Priest forever and we are now the adopted children of God. We don't need to go through another person to speak to our Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16, Romans 8:15)

The purpose of the Old Testament was to show us how far we had fallen and to encourage us with the promise that one day God would send a deliverer who would fulfill the requirements of the Law and restore our relationship with Him. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

So does that mean God has changed? Is He no longer a God of wrath? 

Not at all. 

All this means is that God has given us the opportunity to be saved from what is to come. God cannot abide evil. He will judge the world. But He is being patient for our sake, because He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed. He wants everyone to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)

Jesus is like a lifeboat. The world—the entire universe in fact—is a ship. 

The ship is broken and sinking. But God has provided a way to escape. 

We are living in a “Grace Period.” God will save anyone who is willing to turn to Him. But eventually the last lifeboat will be full. And when that happens, God will judge the world. He has held off for 2,000 years, but the signs of His Return are all around us. (Matthew 24:3-14) 

So then, is God a God of Wrath or a God of Mercy? 

The truth is: He is both. 

He is completely just and will punish all evil. But He is also merciful and has provided the entire world with one last chance to escape the coming judgement. All that He requires is that you put your faith and hope in Jesus Christ and follow Him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~ Romans 6:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

“I (Jesus) tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.”

~ John 5:24  New Living Translation (NLT)