Sharing the Gospel: The Essentials

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For some, sharing the Gospel to friends and family may be easy. For others, it can be difficult, awkward, and even scary. When you do get the chance to share your faith, it is important to get all the essentials across for you never know when you may get another chance to share God's love and plan of salvation for them.

What are essential Gospel truths a person should understand and realize?

1. Man is bound for hell because he carries a sinful nature.

A person will never see his need for Christ if he doesn't realize that he carries the sinful nature he inherited from the first human parents, Adam and Eve. God can never look upon sin and His abode (heaven) can never permit sin to enter. (Romans 6:23). One must realize that sin has doomed him to hell and if he doesn't address this problem, he will end up in that real place one day, for all eternity.

2. Christ came to rescue us from the penalty and power of sin.

John 3:16 tells us that God sent His Son to save us. 1 Timothy 1:15 says He came to save sinners, to rescue those who need saving. He came specifically for you and me, sinners in need of deliverance from hell. He will save us from our hopeless doom and He will be there to ensure victory in our new life with Him. 1 Corinthians 15:3 says that Christ came to die for our sins, to face the penalty of sin in our stead. Romans 6:10 says Christ died for our since, once for all.

3. Salvation comes by faith (full trust and reliance) in the finished work of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8,9 says that our salvation comes by grace thru faith. It is a gift God gives to us and He is able to do so because Christ has sacrificed Himself as our deliverer and we accept and trust the sacrifice Christ has made for us. We must understand that no amount of what we do can add to this salvation. Doing charitable deeds and self-reformation do not grant plus points towards assurance of salvation and heaven. Faith means we place 100% trust in all the Christ has done on our behalf. There is no contribution of sacrifice or personal efforts  required of us.

4. Faith in Christ as God-Man, our Mesiah and Redeemer is all that is required to get saved.

The day you realize this is the day salvation dawns upon you. No need to hesitate, no need to turn your life around first and make a lifestyle change. Agree with God about your sinful and hopeless state now and Accept God's free gift of salvation, and He will save you. Then thru the indwelling Spirit and the power of Christ at work in your life, let Him turn your life around.

Remember, the Gospel is God's plan of salvation from the penalty of sin (hell and separation from God for eternity) not the sinful lifestyle. It is a plan to change our future destination. The Gospel is not a plan to make us a better person or live a better life. It is not a plan to change our way of life. Although all these come as benefits to a new life with Christ and is the work of Discipleship; these are not the primary work of the Gospel. The message of the Gospel is that Christ came to set us free from sin and death. The Gospel is a quickening of the dead to life.