The gospel is simple. Thank God it is!
In the beginning, God created everything, and it was good (Genesis 1). Mankind was (and is) His special creation (Genesis 2). Adam, Eve, and God spent time together face-to-face (Genesis 3:8). It was very good (Genesis 1:31).
Unfortunately, that goodness was messed up by sin. Sin is when you break God’s commands or laws (1 John 3:4). For Adam and Eve, it was just one command – to not eat from a specific tree in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15-17) – that they could not keep. They were tempted with the fruit and, knowing fully what they were doing, ate it anyway (Genesis 3:1-7). This event is known as the Fall, and its consequences continue even today.
The Fall introduced sin into the world. And sin brings forth death (Genesis 3:22, Romans 6:23). Every man and woman, boy and girl from the Fall to now and beyond are sinners (Romans 3:23). And, just like with Adam and Eve, that sin is going to bring us death one day.
BUT GOD.
“BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved….”
Ephesians 2:4-5
“BUT when the goodness and loving kindness of GOD our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy….”
Titus 3:4-5a
God knew all along that His special creation would sin against Him. He could have scrapped the whole plan. He would have been just and right to wipe out Adam and Eve when they sinned. But, instead, we are offered grace. Like I said, God knew all of this would happen, and He had His rescue planned from before the beginning, too (1 Peter 1:20-21)!
God’s rescue plan is something no one would expect. You see, people expect religion. They expect to work hard to be good and try to do right, but none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). No, God knew that the only way for us to be saved was for Him to leave Heaven and come to Earth to save us; He left His glorious throne and came down to live in the muck and the mire and the fallen world where we live (John 1:14). He came not just to make a way for us but to be our Way (John 14:6).
“…but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We do not have to work or earn or try to get there. We simply need to call out to Him.
“…because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
It really is just that simple. All we have to do is cry out to Him in repentance (turning from our sin), faith (belief in Him as who the Bible says He is), and following Him (confessing Him as Lord). All you have to do is call on Him and you will be saved (Romans 10:13).
That’s what we’re singing about this Sunday: the Gospel, plain and simple!
Here are our songs:
- Nothing But the Blood (This isn’t the version we do, but it’s fun!) – Without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, there would be no gospel hope – no good news! But He has made a way for us through His blood! Through it we find hope, peace, righteousness, goodness, and an eternity with our Savior.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: 1 Peter 1:19, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7, Zechariah 13:1, Hebrews 9:22, Psalm 51:2, 2 Peter 1:9, 1 John 1:7-9, 1 Samuel 15:25, Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 25:11, Matthew 6:12, Micah 7:8, Psalm 103:12, Romans 15:13, Romans 5:3-5, Colossians 1:20, Philippians 4:4-7, 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Jesus Loves Me – Just as the children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me” is a benchmark to our faith, the truth that Jesus loves us is foundational in the gospel. Because of His great love, He died for us, rose from the grace, and is intereceding for us even now! This is not a teaching that we outgrow: “Jesus loves me, He is for me”.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Luke 15, Luke 19:10, Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 2:1-2, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 10:11, 1 John 2:28, Psalm 139:7-12, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 8:37-39, Galatians 2:20, Psalm 39:3, Luke 9:23-26, Luke 14:25-33, John 1:4-5, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 8:3, Ezekiel 14:5, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 Peter 1:3
- Who You Say I Am – Once we turn to Christ in faith, we are free! This is something that is so hard to believe. The world tells us that we will never be good enough and the enemy reminds us of all of our sins and failures. But who Jesus says we are matters most. If He calls you His, the world nor Satan have any bearing on your status!
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Psalm 8:4, Luke 15:3-7, John 8:36, John 1:12-13, Romans 8:23, Colossians 2:14, John 8:34-35, John 14:1-3, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:31-32
- Resurrecting – The same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in us through His Holy Spirit. The victory against death, hell, and the grave has already been won! Fear does not get to rule in our hearts. We have new life and eternal life through Jesus Christ alone!
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: John 19:2-5, Hebrews 2:9, John 13:1-17, Philippians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 93:1, Matthew 4:16, John 1:4-5, 1 John 4:18, John 8:12, Acts 4:8-12, Isaiah 25:8, Hebrews 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Psalm 145:1, Romans 6:23, John 14:27, Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Galatians 2:19-20, Matthew 27:65-28:4, Acts 4:33
- (inv/closing) It is Well – As we move from the preaching of God’s word to responding to what he would have us to do, it is tempting to sit back and not listen to what He is telling us. So many things are pulling us in so many different directions. This is the time where we decide to put all our fears and troubles in the hands of Christ and recognize that all is well when we trust it with Him.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Joel 3:16, Luke 8:22-25, Hebrews 12:2, 3 John 2, John 20:29, James 1:12, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7
Just Keith Harris 