Our Message: The Gospel
The Christian gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for us and now offers Himself as Saviour to all who believe. This is a profound message, but it can be explained in simple terms as being:
1. A message about God
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)
Christians believe that humans are not just a product of time, chance and biological trial and error, but the intelligently crafted design of a loving God. We were created to be dignified personal beings - distinguished from all other animals by our morality, rationality and spirituality - and ultimately designed to enjoy an intimate relationship with our Creator.
2. A message about Sin
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
Shamefully though, by our lives we show that we do not honour the God who created us. We all have good qualities but none of us are perfect and even the smallest sin disqualifies us from a relationship with a pure and holy God. We have failed to live up to the purpose for which we were made, and by failing to honour an infinitely glorious God we commit an infinitely heinous offence. So God, as the perfect judge of this world He created, tells us that we deserve to die and be cut off from Him forever.
Thankfully, God does not leave us in this miserable state - His plan from the beginning was that He would show His glory by personally intervening to save errant sinners.
3. A message about Christ
"For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)
The good news of the Christian message is that anyone can be saved and brought back to God - no matter what sort of life they have lived. God sent his Son, Jesus, to the earth as a man to restore everyone who will believe in him to a relationship with God.
"God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:25)
Surprising though it may seem, Jesus' did not come to live a good life and be a wise teacher - he came to die. Although he did live a perfect life, he was executed on a cross like a criminal. It looked like Jesus' life had been a failure, but this was actually part of God's mysterious plan. God the Father chose to punish Jesus His son for the offensive lives of humans past, present and future; and Jesus willing chose to die in our place. Amazingly, he died so that we don't have to.
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witness of the fact" (Acts 2:32)
Jesus really and truly died; yet he did not stay dead. After three days, he rose again, and was seen by many people. By his resurrection he proved that he was God and Christians believe that he is alive in heaven now. He promised that he would return again - not as a poor carpenter - but as Lord, and judge the earth. At that time, only those who have trusted in him will be saved from judgement.
"For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for things done while in the body" (2 Corinthians 5:10)
4. A call to faith and repentance
"The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)
The reality is that each of us has an individual responsibility to repent and believe. Each of us must accept that we are not 'essentially a good person', but rather an outcast before God. We must acknowledge that we are helpless to make ourselves better and accept that we simply cannot save ourselves from God's punishment. We must then pray to God for help and trust that Jesus, who died in our place, has the power to give us eternal life with Him in heaven.
There are two ways to live. Which will you choose?
If you would like more information about how to become a Christian, or any other information about Christianity, contact your College Reps or any member of the Executive Committee.
