Barnoldswick Gospel Mission - The Gospel in a Nutshell

The Gospel in a Nutshell

The Gospel

We believe what christians have believed for 2000 years. The Apostle Paul put it in a nutshell in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15:

"...I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." I Corinthians 15 vs 1-4 (NIV)

This is the gospel, or good news, which we believe.

Holy God and Sinful Man

In order to understand the significance of the Gospel it is important to understand what the Bible tells us about God. The modern world has a generally dismissive, even irreverent view of God but the Bible tells us that God is awesome in his power, his holiness and his love. By his power he made the universe and he made men and women to know him and love him. But the first man and woman rebelled against God and as a result sin and death entered the world. Because God is holy, man's sin has placed a separation between man and God. But we also know that God is love, and he so longs for humanity to be restored to himself that he sent his only Son to bear our sins and their consequences by dying in our place.

We can now see the significance of what Paul says: it is "of first importance... that Christ died for our sins." We can try to follow Christ's example but our sinful nature will always mean that we fail. The first step in becoming a christian is to accept that Christ died for you, a sinner, and to receive him as your Saviour. Only then can a person start following Jesus.

The heart of the christian message does not only contain the death of Christ; it also tells us that Christ rose from the dead. It's important to notice that Jesus really did die. But death could not hold him and he rose to life. The resurrection is at the heart of what christians believe and it assures us of many things:

• that Jesus' claim to be the Son of God and Saviour of the world is true.
• that this work of salvation in overcoming sin and death is completed. Now he shares that victory with all who come to him and believe in him.
• that Jesus is alive today.

God's Offer and Man's Response

We do not share an empty philosophy or words alone, but a living person who can and does transform lives by giving new birth and coming by his Spirit to live in all who trust him. This is the power of the christian Gospel. It offers:

• Freedom from guilt and sin through the death of Christ.
• Freedom to live how God intended through the new birth and Spirit of Christ.
• Freedom from the fear of death through the resurrection of Christ.

It remains for us to believe that we can do nothing to deserve such love only receive it as we are. The Apostle John says, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16 (NIV)

If you have received Christ as your Saviour or if you just want to know more, please contact the church on 01282 814705 or email to info@barlickmission.org.uk and we will be glad to give you any help you want on a confidential basis.