Why did Jesus have to come into the world in the first place? Because you and I have a problem. God is our Creator, and we are loved by Him. But God is perfect and holy, and we are imperfect and sinful and don’t love God. While God has a permanent, perfect nature He can never change, we also have a permanent, sinful nature that we can never change. This leads to permanent relational brokenness between a God who wants to love and care for us, and us, who would rather live in rebellion against God and His will.

The reason this is important is because every human has a soul—which is part of the image of God in us and the location of our moral nature and decisions— that will exist forever. It is this rebellious soul that needs to be changed and transformed. Without God’s forgiveness and reconciliation, we will remain sinners forever and be judged and removed from His presence after death.

All unforgiven sinners end up in a state and place called hell because they refused to accept the grace of God. Our situation is hopeless without God reaching out and offering to repair our relationship. So, God did this through sending Jesus, where Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, and was punished for our sin so we wouldn’t have to be.

When we believe in God's solution to our separation through Christ, the perfect life of Jesus is then graciously credited to us, repairing our relationship with God. We are then “born again” inside, as our souls are transformed and we become children of God. While our sin separates us from God, God can separate us from our sin! When we turn to Jesus, we now have new life, light, and love from God, and are given eternal life in heaven after death.

This reality is called the gospel, which means “good news.” The good news is that God is willing to forgive every sin that a person has committed and give eternal life to all who believe in Christ.

God’s beautiful mission is encapsulated in John 3:16, which is the whole Bible in one verse—“For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.” This transformation happens when we repent—which means to change our minds so it affects how we live—and believe in Christ. God then gives us a new heart, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us to help us live to honor God.

This was the first thing Jesus preached and set the foundation for his future ministry in Mark 1:14, 15—“Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. ‘The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!" It is important to realize that Jesus didn’t come to start a religion about God, but came to repair our relationship with God. This means there are not many ways to God, there is only one way to God—through His Son that He sent to save us.

So, becoming a Christian is not about joining a political party or becoming a religious person or making a better “you.” Christianity is about becoming a different you—a person with a new destiny, new desires, and new dreams.

1. Repenting of your sin by acknowledging and turning away from what you’ve done against God.

2. Accepting the grace of God by Jesus taking your punishment on the cross and believing he resurrected from the dead, saving your soul.

3. Becoming a new person by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

God then regenerates the heart, making you spiritually “born again,” able to follow Jesus. Are these three things true of you today? If they are not, you are not a Christian and need to become one. The Bible says,  “Today is the day of salvation!” If you know you do not have a forgiven heart and right relationship with God, today is your day to accept His forgiveness, become a follower of Christ, and receive eternal life! Here are the 'ABCs' of the Gospel—