Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Gospel in a Nut Shell
(I Corinthians 15:1-9)
Sincere Christians sometimes worry about sharing their faith with unbelievers. Some Christians feel inadequate in their Bible knowledge or self-conscious about their lack of theological training. They fear “making a mistake,” and thereby damning an unbeliever to Hell forever.
Such fears, though sincere, are unfounded. The Bible teaches that unbelievers are “condemned already” (John 3:18). A condemned man can not become more condemned by anything you do or say. Of course we should not add unnecessary reproach to our witnessing by engaging in foolish antics and questionable practices. But the truth still remains: Unbelievers are condemned already—they can not become condemned more because of our inadvertent mistakes.
In addition, the Gospel is, by divine design, simple. Many fundamentalist believers are familiar with the little tract God’s Simple Plan of Salvation. It was that little tract that first introduced this preacher to the saving Gospel of Christ. I read it as 12 year old boy—and I understood it because it was simple.
Simply stated, the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:3, 4). Christ died for our sin, was buried and rose again. That’s the good news—the Gospel. And ever since that time all who believe—trust, rely upon—that Gospel are saved. It’s as simple as that!
