The Good News
"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that God, in His mercy, has provided salvation for sinners through the person and work of His Son. This is what we preach at Heritage Baptist Church.
What Is the Gospel?
The word "gospel" means good news. But to understand why the news is good, we must first understand the bad news - the condition of man before a holy God.
The gospel is not merely a self-improvement program, a moral code, or a set of religious duties. It is the announcement of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save sinners who could not save themselves.
The Holiness of God
"Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." - Isaiah 6:3
God is perfectly holy - utterly without sin, entirely righteous in all His ways. He is the Creator and Sovereign of all things, and He is the standard by which all things are measured. His law is a reflection of His character: perfect, just, and good.
The Sinfulness of Man
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
Every person born into this world is a sinner - not merely by individual acts of wrongdoing, but by nature. We inherited a fallen nature from Adam, our first father. We are born spiritually dead, unable and unwilling to seek God on our own. Our sin is not merely a mistake; it is a moral rebellion against the living God, and it carries with it a just penalty: death and eternal separation from God.
The Grace of God in Election
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." - Ephesians 1:4
Before the world was made, God - in His sovereign mercy - chose a people for Himself. This election was not based on anything foreseen in man: not his faith, his works, or his worthiness. It was based entirely on the free and sovereign grace of God. This is humbling news: salvation originates not in the will of man, but in the will of God.
The Atoning Work of Christ
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, took on human flesh and lived a perfectly righteous life - the life we could never live. He then went to the cross, where He bore the wrath of God in the place of His people. He died as a substitute, satisfying the justice of God on behalf of sinners. Three days later, He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. His resurrection is the guarantee that all He accomplished is accepted by the Father.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8
Because man is spiritually dead, he cannot come to God on his own. God must first give him life. The Holy Spirit regenerates - gives new birth to - all whom God has elected, opening their eyes to see their sin and their need, and drawing them irresistibly to faith in Christ. This new birth is entirely the work of God; man contributes nothing to it.
Faith and Repentance
"Repent ye, and believe the gospel." - Mark 1:15
The fruit of regeneration is faith and repentance. The one who has been born again turns from sin and trusts in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. This faith is not a meritorious work; it is the gift of God, the evidence of new life within. The believer rests entirely on Christ - His righteousness, His blood, His resurrection - and not on any work of his own.
The Security of the Believer
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:28
All whom God has truly saved will be kept by His power to the end. Salvation is not a probationary state that can be lost through failure or sin. The same God who chose, redeemed, and regenerated His people will also preserve them. This is not a license for sin, but a foundation for assurance and a motive for gratitude and holy living.
A Word to You
If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, we urge you to consider these things carefully. You are a sinner before a holy God. You cannot save yourself. But Christ has come to save sinners - and His invitation is to all who hear.
Cry out to God in prayer. Confess your sin. Trust in Jesus Christ alone - His death, His resurrection, His righteousness - as your only hope before God. And come, worship with us, and hear the Word of God proclaimed.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13