"The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Gospel." ~Mark 1:16

The Gospel is not just the ABC's of the Christian faith, it is the A to Z. It is the full story of God's rescue mission for his creation. Yet most of us have a reduced version of it pieced together from the History Channel and Newsweek cover articles. Its as if we have shrunk it down to fit into our carry on bag. These truncated versions of the Gospel are about as helpful as half a flu shot. The exciting job of the church is to share the untruncated Gospel in all its fullness and power. Here is what we mean by the Gospel (the unedited version).

GOD

The Gospel begins with God.

"I am the LORD and there is no other. Apart from me there is no god. I will strengthen you though you have not acknowledged me. It is I who made the earth and mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; and marshalled their starry host. Turn to me and be saved all you ends of the earth. For I am God and there is no other." ~Isaiah chapter 45

CREATION

God made everything and called it good.

"God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." ~ 1 Timothy 6:17 "Do not be deceived my dear brothers, every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." ~James 1:16-17

FALL

Our first parents rebelled against God and now

creation is under a curse and we are sinners by nature and choice.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" ~Romans 3:23         "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." ~1 John 1:18

REDEMPTION

But God in his love comes as the man, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross as a substitute for our sin to reconcile us and forgive us

"Here is a trustworthy saying, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example to those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." ~1 Timothy 1:16

 "For God so loved the world that he gave his One and Only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16

RESTORATION

Jesus will return to reconcile all of creation and create a new heavens and a new earth. Those who believe in Jesus will live forever with God and those who reject Jesus will spend eternity condemned.

"It is done, I am the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." ~Revelation 21:6