The Gospel – Our Precious Treasure
When visiting First Lutheran, the thing we hope you hear most clearly is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! But what is the Gospel and why is it so important?
The Gospel is about Jesus Christ—it’s the story containing promises given us because of Him. The content of the Gospel is summarized in the second part of the Apostle’s Creed concerning Jesus Christ who was:
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day, He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
But the Gospel isn’t Gospel without seeing who we are under the law. The law is God’s revealed desire and command of good works of thought, word, and deed. It says we are to live holy and blameless lives, just as God our Father created us. More specifically, the law tells you to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. The law also tells us of God’s wrath and punishment for being unloving and wayward from His will and ways.
How are you doing? What does your own conscience tell you? Are you living and loving God and your neighbor as you should? Or better yet, compare your life to God’s revealed law in Scripture—summarized by the Ten Commandments. When being honest, we all know (and Scripture tells us) that we do not keep God’s law as we ought, perhaps not even close. Even if we think we can keep it outwardly, then we struggle (and fail) to keep it inwardly. Scripture tells us that we are by nature unable to do what the law demands; therefore, everyone falls short. “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Gal. 3:10).
The Gospel, therefore, becomes important when we hear the promise from God that salvation and eternal life comes apart from the law.
“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). And: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).
God, out of pure love, offers salvation as a gift because of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins in His name. The good news is that God freely offers you forgiveness and life on account of the perfect life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus. All your sins and debts are paid in full.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have God’s blessing and assurance of His love now and for eternal life. Repent, believe and be baptized, every one of you, and you will be saved. Because of this Gospel we proclaim, the glory of God is here for you right now.
Want to know more? We encourage you to take a class at First Lutheran. Call (865) 524-0366 or visit us soon.
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Philippians 4:23).
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