The Gospel is the Only Way To Real Change

In Christianity, the Gospel or the Good News, is the news of the coming of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). As Christians, we believe this to be the saving acts of God due to the works of Jesus Christ on the cross and Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, which brings reconciliation between people and God.

In John 3:16, we are told how God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Do you believe it? What does it mean to us who believe?

We believe that God is real, and the creator of the universe and all that is in it, and that Jesus was in heaven with God and came to earth at a certain time in history to reveal God’s kindness, love, forgiveness and benevolence to human-kind. How do we translate these precepts and principles into our lives?

The main focus of the Bible stories is that God has worked throughout history to save a people for Himself, and these saving acts are completed through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The belief being that, all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). And not only children of God, but as 1 Corinthians 5:17 says new creations in Christ with everything new!

The Christian mission in propounding the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that this Good News is a message for all people groups, all nations, all tribes, cultures and languages. Through this Good News of Jesus Christ, the nations and humanity are restored to a relationship with God and the destiny of nations are related to this belief.

The process by which this message comes is through the establishment of the institution called “The Church,” which should be the very centre of God’s chosen method of delivering the message of reconciliation through Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23).

The issue for everyone is not just listening and “hearing” about the message of the Gospel, but also hearing and receiving it as a true account, allowing it into your heart and mind, so that this message replaces the other messages we have received throughout our life.

Those of us who have experienced an encounter with Christ, and I personally have, know the Gospel is the only real way to change. We know some of the habits we used to have, things we used to do or say, before our encounter with Christ and how these changed after this encounter. What happened to me many years ago is that I was sitting on the floor of my sitting-room, reading a book, and I had an experience of the Lord Jesus coming to me and audibly telling me He loved me. At that very moment, my life changed and has never been the same again. It was an amazing encounter! Forty-two years later, I have grown to know His presence, His love, and His love for people more and more. The message of the Gospel is something I began to tell people about straight away, as I wanted others to experience what I had experienced.

What are we to do as people who believe the Gospel is the only way is to lasting change? We, who have experienced this change, must listen to Romans 10:14 which asks these questions: how will they call on Him on whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without being told by someone? We are encouraged to GO and TELL – Romans 10:15 talks about how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the “good news,” while Romans 10:13 states that “whoever calls on the Lord will be saved.” How will they know if we do not tell them, and often we miss opportunities to tell; and as Romans 10:11 adds that, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Give others the opportunity to choose to have their lives changed by taking courage to present the Gospel to those who have not yet heard, or are still to make a decision.

PRAYER FOR SALVATION:

Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for my sin. I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. Today, I open up the door of my heart and invite You to come in. Wash me clean. Forgive my sin and make me Your child. I believe in my heart what I now confess with my mouth – that You, Jesus Christ, are my Savior and Lord.

Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s book of life and giving me the Holy Spirit to help me live for You all the days of my life.

In Jesus’ name I pray.