A Clear Biblical Gospel Presentation

(If you prefer to listen to the gospel in a video format, watch this video from the Youtuber "Onorato Diamante" whom I strongly recommend.)

There are many different "gospels" being taught in modern churches, such as the Lordship salvation "gospel," the prosperity "gospel," the Calvinist neonomian "gospel," and the liberal social "gospel," among others. However, none of these represent the true biblical gospel.

Many today teach that if we are simply good enough, submit enough, or perform enough religious rituals, we might earn our way into heaven. However, the Bible teaches that we can have full assurance of our salvation:

1 John 5:13

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

But how can this be? Humans are imperfect, so how can we have absolute assurance? The problem for anyone who asks such a question is that they assume that humans even can be good enough to enter heaven. However, this is not the case. The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and are worthy of condemnation, none of us are good enough to ever have any hope of earning salvation ourselves, since God's standard is perfection, and we have all failed it:

Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Ecclesiastes 7:20

20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Galatians 3:10

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

The wages of sin is death, and we all have sin, thus deserving of eternal death in the lake of fire. We have no hope of saving ourselves, and if salvation was dependant upon our own efforts, we would all go to eternal damnation. This is why the Bible repeats many times that salvation is not by our own works:

Titus 3:5-7

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 1:12

12 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: 

Since we are all sinners, if we trust on our own works to enter heaven, we are trusting in a sinner. And if we are trusting in a sinner, we will not enter heaven.

However, there is good news. Jesus, who is God in the flesh (John 1:1, John 1:14) was born of a virgin and came to the earth to die and shed his blood for our sins on the cross, be buried and rise again for our justification (Romans 4:25). Jesus lived a perfect life, and he did not sin even once, however he came to die in our place, taking the punishment for our sins on the cross, satisfying God's wrath:

Matthew 26:28

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Romans 5:9  

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Hebrews 10:14

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

John 1:29

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

The gospel of our salvation is defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, which reads:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Thus, we receive salvation only by trusting in what he did for us, as Paul says that we are justified by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:25

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Salvation comes by placing our trust in Jesus' sacrifice — his blood atonement, burial and resurrection, depending upon Jesus alone for our salvation.  If we mix any of our own efforts for salvation, we are effectively saying that the blood of Jesus is not enough. When we are saved, we are sanctified forever as Hebrews 10:14 affirms. This is why when we believe in Jesus, all our sins (past present and future) are forgiven, thus our salvation is secure:

John 5:24

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:37

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 6:39

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

John 10:28

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 11:25-26

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Because our salvation does not depend upon us, but on the blood of Christ, we can have full 100% assurance that we are going to heaven. Thus, if we have trusted in what Jesus on our behalf, we can have full assurance of our salvation:

 1 John 5:13

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Faith is the means by which we receive salvation, which is why we use the language of "by grace through faith". If you want to receive salvation today, just believe in the blood atonement for our sins on the cross, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for your salvation!

Acts 16:30-31

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.