The Bible tells the true story of God’s steadfast love for his stubborn people. That's us. In some ways it’s a sad story, because human beings have made the world such a sad place. But ultimately, it is a great story of hope and victory. At the center of the Christian story is the good news that God so loved the world he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Some people have heard of John 3:16, but fewer people know the rest of the story. It goes something like this…

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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth . . . And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. -- (Genesis 1:1, 36a)

• There is only one God. He is good and glorious, loving and holy.
• God made us in his image, to worship him, be in relationship with him, and reflect his character.
• God made the world perfect, a paradise where we could enjoy God and his gifts.

See Genesis 1:1-2:3; Job 38-39; Psalm 104; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 11:1-3

Therefore, just as sin came into the world though one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… -- (Romans 5:12)

• Adam, the first man, disobeyed God’s command. He wanted to choose good and evil for himself. He disregarded God’s authority and rejected his love. As a result, Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise.
• The world is cursed because of Adam’s sin. Things aren’t the way they are supposed to be. The world is now full of suffering, pain, and evil.
• We sin every day in thought, word, and deed by disobeying God’s commands and not honoring God like we should. We live to please ourselves rather than to please the God who made us.
• Our relationship with God and others is broken. We actually fall under God's judgment.

See Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24; Romans 3:9-20, 23; 5:12-21; Galatians 3:10;; Ephesians 2:1-3

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And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” -- (Mark 2:5-7)

• Jesus is fully human. He had a real body, desires, and emotions.
• Jesus is fully God. He was more than a prophet and moral teacher. He demonstrated his divine status and authority by forgiving sins and exercising power over nature, the Devil, disease, and death.
• Jesus is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. He is the Son of God and one with God the Father. Jesus is worthy of our worship, trust, and affection.

See John 1:1-3; 8:56-58; 10:29-31; Hebrews 1; 4:15; 7:26-28; Titus 2:13

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For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… -- (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

• Jesus died on the cross to take upon himself the wrath of God so that we might be reconciled to God. God forgives us, not because of our good works or good intentions, but because of the sacrifice of his Son on the cross.
• Jesus was a kind of second Adam, fulfilling what the first Adam did not. He obeyed God in place of our disobedience and died the death we deserved.
• By his death and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated his rightful Lordship over all things. In coming back to life, Jesus showed that even death itself had been conquered.

See Isaiah 53:4-5; Mark 10:45; John 10:14-18; Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:19-21; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-2:2

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And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” -- (Revelation 21:5)

• God makes us new creations in Christ! We die to our old sinful ways and can learn to love God and our neighbor.
• Through Jesus, God has already started making a new world right here on earth. Those who follow Jesus are to be agents of change, hope, and renewal.
• At the end of history, God will finish this work of re-creation. Those who have rejected Christ will be eternally punished for their sins. Those who belong to Christ will live forever in a renewed world where we will be free from suffering and enjoy God forever.

See John 3:16-18; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Revelation 21-22

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Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” -- (Acts 2:37-38)

• God’s forgiveness is entirely an act of grace. We cannot earn it. We receive God’s mercy solely because of Christ’s work on our behalf.
• Being a Christian means we renounce our old ways of thinking and living; we trust Christ alone as our Savior, obey him as Lord, and love him as our greatest treasure.
• Following Jesus means living for him and trying to live by his example. God gives us power through the Holy Spirit and teaches us by his word (the Bible) so we can live in this new way.

See Isaiah 55:6-7; Matthew 4:17; John 20:31; Romans 6:1-14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 2:4-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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There are many possible responses to this message. Maybe you have not thought much about Jesus before, or what his message was. Perhaps you didn't consider yourself in need of God's forgiveness. Or maybe you've always felt like you were meant for something more, that there was something more to life, but weren't sure what it was.

If you want to begin to living with Jesus as your Lord, here are a few ways to respond in your heart.

• Understanding: "I know I am a sinner, separated from God, and I can do nothing to earn His favor.”
• Faith: “I believe Jesus is God’s Son, that he died for sins and rose again from the dead.”
• Repentance: “I am sorry for my sinful thoughts and actions. I turn from them and trust in Jesus alone for forgiveness.”
• Purpose: “I want to live for Jesus, be a new person, and follow Jesus in loving God and people.”
• Hope: “I will live forever with God, with joy, because of what Christ has done.”

Here are some practical steps to investigate Christianity further, and to aid in understanding what it means to be a follower of Jesus, or Christian.

• Talk to a Christian who can tell you more about Jesus Christ.
• Start praying to God. Ask God to reveal himself to you. It’s okay if you don’t know “how to do it.” Just speak from your heart. God will listen.
• Get a copy of the Bible and read it for yourself. A good place to start is one of the Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
• Join a Christian church where the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection is believed and the Bible is taught.

We love to get sincere questions. Please send us an email with your questions about God or the Bible.
Email us at urc@universityreformedchurch.org

If you are a CCalc user, please feel free to send comments or questions about this gospel message using the CCalc contact page.

To read more about Christianity or investigate its claims, the following books are recommended:
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller (belief in a postmodern world)
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (evidence for Jesus’ miracles, self-identification, and resurrection)
Can We Trust the Gospels? by Mark Roberts (the reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die by John Piper (what the death of Jesus accomplished)

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