Humanity's Brokenness
- We are all separated from God by our sin. (For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23)
- Sin carries consequences, including death and eternal separation from God. (For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23)
God's Redemptive Plan
- God’s love for humanity compels Him to offer a way back to Himself. (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16)
- He sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to pay the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross. (But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8)
- Jesus’ resurrection signifies His victory over sin and death. (Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: –
1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Salvation Through Faith
- We cannot earn salvation through good works; it’s a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ. (For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Faith involves trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord, believing He died for our sins and rose again. (That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
– Romans 10:9-10)
Transformation and New Life
- Accepting Jesus brings forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name – John 1:12, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. – Romans 8:9)
- We are transformed by the Holy Spirit, empowered to live a life pleasing to God. (This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. – Galatians 5:16-25)
The Hope of Eternity
- Believers have the hope of eternal life with God in heaven. ( In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. –
John 14:2-3)
Key New Testament Passages
- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23
- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 6:23
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. – John 3:16
- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name – John 1:12
- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
- This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5:16-25