A Simple Summary

Someone asked me this: “Can you summarize the gospel for me?  I have trouble evangelizing.”

Those who know me well, know that I have a passion for evangelism.  That is, sharing the good news, or the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. I am a sinner and I know the mercies and joy of the forgiveness of my sins, the freedom in Christ, and I want you all to know them as well! I even struggle at work to keep my mouth closed sometimes –  rather than work I want to talk about the gospel of the redemptive work of Jesus and the life you can have through faith in Him! So, here is the gospel of Jesus in 6 easy to remember points, with some scripture to back it up.

1. God Created Us for His Glory

God made all of us in his own image so that we would reflect his character and moral beauty.

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:6-7).

2. Every Person Should Live for God’s Glory

The way to live for the glory of God is to love him (Matthew 22:37), trust him (Romans 4:20), be thankful to him (Psalm 50:3) and obey him (Matthew 5:16). When we do these things we reflect the image of God.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 3. All of us Have Sinned and Fallen Short of God’s Glory

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“Although they knew God they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him…but exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images…” (Romans 1:21-23).

4. We All Deserve Eternal Punishment

“The wages of sin is (eternal) death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Those who did not obey the Lord Jesus “Shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). “They shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

5. In His Mercy God Sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to Provide for Sinners the Way of Eternal Life

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

“Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

6. Eternal Life Is a Free Gift to All Who Will Trust in Christ as Lord and Savior

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

“By grace are you saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8).

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).