Simply, the Gospel is the “good news” of God's redemption of mankind. It's a story that has been unfolding since mankind's rebellious, defiant decision in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve deliberately disobeyed God, and as a result, suffered the consequences. This is what we call “The Fall.” It was mankind's fall from a place of close communion with God. It was and is the fall into darkness, misery, and ultimately eternal death; for every cause has an effect, and the result of disobedience is death. The Gospel is the story of God's redeeming His creation from The Fall.

Instead of destroying man and starting over (as He could have justifiably done), God began raising up a people through whom He would execute His plan for saving His creation. For hundreds of generations, He was directly involved in the lives of this nation of people who we know as the Isrealites, or Jews. This nation served not only as a means through which God would solve our dilemma, but also as a microcosm of all mankind. They served as a demonstration of both God's love, patience, and justice, and of man's sinfulness and infinite inadequacy. Through this chosen community, it was vividly demonstrated that man is incapable of living up to God's demand of sinless perfection. Apart from God, humankind is completely without hope; completely lost; completely unable (and unwilling) to establish or maintain a relationship with God. In spite of man's proven defiant wretchedness, God remained faithful, speaking through the Jewish prophets of the Messiah who would come to redeem God's children from their fallen state. Jesus, the Christ. Born to a young Jewish couple hundreds of years after the prophecies.

Through this people also through this nation was God's sovereignty as He spoke through Israel's prophets to foretell things to come, the most significant of which was the arrival of the Messiah; Emmanuel, God with us. The One through whom God would save His people. The Unblemished Lamb; the One who would suffer the punishment which is deservedly ours. The One who is the zenith of this long Gospel story; to whom the story points both forward and backward.

For reasons unbeknownst to us, God has always required a sacrifice for the remission (aquittal) of sin. He sent His Son to be that sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus died so that we can live. Not only when we die, but now, in this life. But only when we die. Huh? Well, it goes like this: We can be “identified” with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection if we are willing to surrender to God our will or our “self”; in essence, to put to death our will or “self.” That is why Christians are said to be “born again;” because their old self is dead and they are new creations. They are restored to what they were always meant to be; restored back into relationship with their Creator.

Most people at one time or another, have had the feeling that “something just isn't quite right”; that “this can't be how it's supposed to be”; that there must be “more to life than this.” There is a reason for those feelings. Mankind was never meant to be on his own, separated from God, living in sin. One need only look back over the course of human history to see what a mess we've made being on our own. Or maybe just back over the course of your own life. But God, thankfully, offers a way out of despair, misery, confusion, meaninglessness and death, and into hope, joy, truth, purpose and life. It's as easy and as difficult as surrendering your will to Him. As easy and as difficult as saying, “I no longer want to live for just me, but rather for Him who made me, knows me, and can make me whole.” As easy and as difficult as admitting to Him how much you need His help. For those who have never talked to God before, there's no secret formula to it. If you talk to Him as you would anyone else, He will hear you. And if you surrender to Him, you'll never be the same again!

So there it is, a few words from the great, great story. The story which no one has ever fully understood. The story in which some people's lives are only a tiny chapter, some people's lives are a significant part of the story, and some people's lives barely even register. The story of which all other stories are a part. The story which no one has ever heard, nor ever will hear, in it's entirety! The story that is truly good news.

Copyright Mars Hill Church, 1998-2006. Used by permission.