Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem men from sin.

This was the opening quote yesterday and identifies the second gospel truth. We were all sold under sin and need to be redeemed.

Romans 7:14 English Standard Version (ESV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Why did God allow this to happen?

Romans 8:20 English Standard Version (ESV) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope.

What was God hoping for? If we were to read the rest of Romans 8 we would come to realize that God hoped that we would love Him in return for the love He offers us. Love is not love if it is not free to choose. “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” These words from Romans 8 identifies us as sons and daughters of adoption by faith. Why can I say by faith? Because of His next words.

“Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Hebrews 11:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The gospel message is sown in the bible. The seed of hope is scattered throughout and needs to be gleaned to understand the full context of God’s plan and promise. Understanding the gospel message requires a comprehensive reading of all related passages and not just one liners.

John 3:16-17 English Standard Version

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This is simple but not the whole truth.

Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem men from sin. His teaching, his methods, his death, and his resurrection comprise a message of God’s love and redeeming power against the backdrop of his certain judgment on sin and the unrepentant sinner. Quote for L. Nelson Bell

Mr. Bell did not stop there thankfully. These words do accurately spell out the truth of our salvation but it is a summary conclusion of other truths.

Exodus 3:15 English Standard Version (ESV) God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord,^[a] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Footnotes ^[a]  The word Lord, when spelled with capital letters, stands for the divine name, YHWH, which is here connected with the verb hayah, “to be”

This God is THE GOD and there is no other. A proper understanding of the simple gospel has to begin with who is sending this message of salvation. He is the only God who has proven Himself over and over again throughout all the generations with covenant promises. This God is the only God that has make covenants and kept them. A god is not God if he cannot keep his word. Who is the God of promise? This God who has made and kept covenant.

This is the first gospel truth to be accepted. It is important to know the author of the gospel message. If we cannot trust the author of a promise, then the promise has no value.

If we want to begin here than one more truth has to be explored and believed. Is this bible we use the inspired Word of God? For most of us, that issue was resolved before we discovered the gospel message. That might not be the case for everyone who needs to hear the gospel.