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Sadly, one of the things churches do most poorly is to explain the Gospel itself. They often
give the impression that "the Gospel" is a set of outmoded beliefs written on a
page, or a spiel to be sold to unwitting customers.
But we have found through personal experience that the Gospel is not only Good News (the
meaning of the word "Gospel"), but it is truly relevant:
- Encounter with the living PERSON of Jesus Christ
- The dynamic for Life as originally intended
- Grace and Mercy — not just a list of Do's & Don'ts or man-made Laws
"The Law was given through Moses, but Grace
and Truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
Yes, the Gospel truly has content, and it calls urgently for your Repentance and Faith,
just as preached in many other Evangelical churches. But don't lose sight of the fact that
what God offers is truly GOOD, and good for you.
[see the
Content of the Gospel]
- But the Bottom Line is this:
- All people must Repent and have Faith in Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.
- Here's what that means:
- Repentance — Admitting to your Sin before God, and turning from it.
- Faith in Jesus Christ — Trusting in the Truth of what Jesus said & did — casting your
hopes upon Him.
- Taking Christ as your Savior — Trusting what He did on the Cross, receiving the benefits
of His death for you.
- Taking Christ as your Lord — Taking Jesus as the new master in your life — a master who
loves you! It's like falling in love and wanting to get married.
Yes, there's lots of theology in all of this. But all you really need to know is this —
YOUR NEED, AND GOD'S PROVISION.
- You don't need to be a theologian to be
saved, but you need this:
- "Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so!"
- For further study:
- Our church adheres to the Reformed faith, as expressed in the historic Westminster
Confession of Faith (1648). But we do so because we have found it to be the best expression
we can find of that doctrine and life presented in the Scriptures. The Scriptures are our
only infallible rule of faith and practice. But the Confession and Catechisms are GREAT
tools for studying Scripture, full of references you can look up and study for yourself.
"Study, that you may be approved of God, a
workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." |