The Gospel: From Death to Life

Has God had you in mind since the beginning of creation? Yes! Today, KB takes us on a journey starting with how you were created, God's intent and purpose for you, the Cross, and Resurrection, all leading to how and where we can live forever with Him.

There is only one Jesus, and that's the Jesus of the Bible. You can know Him. He has given His life for you to know Him and have abundant life eternally with Him.

The gospel is the good news about how God saves the world through His Son, Jesus. He is the hero that not only rescues us, but He turns enemies into friends. He is a story of hope! We are like deserts, dying of thirst, yet only one thing can satisfy us. The true good news for the thirsty is water has come so we can live. The gospel is water: Living Water, Jesus Christ. See John 7:37-39.

God sets the theme for life when He started the Bible with "in the beginning, God" because He created everything seen and unseen. He created it all, and He made it not just good but "very good." Planets are in galaxies. Birds don't just fly; they sing. Fruit isn't just fruit; it's sweet and enjoyable. He created us in that same vein but with extra finesse. 

God speaks things into existence. All of creation was formed by His Word...except man. With us, He dug into the dirt. He formed and fashioned us with His own hands. He breathed into us dignity, worth, value, purpose, and life. He stands man up and tells him that he was made in His, God's, image. 

You are to be like a mirror that God is looking into that reflects Him for all to see. He clothes us in His joy, goodness, happiness, and justice. It looks so good that people want to know about your Designer. We are made by God for His glory. If that God is for us, who can be against us? But the opposite is true, too. If that God is against us, what could be for us? Our God is good. He's so much more than we can imagine, but He will not be played. 

The serpent deceived our original parents, Adam and Eve, by convincing them that God is not good enough and won't do what He says. We still fall for this today. We want what we want, but if God were to give us that, all we would get is darkness, death, and destruction. All of history is full of Adams and Eves looking for happiness outside of God. Our stories of lies, pride, stinginess, and hate all carry on the legacy of Adam's rebellion. We weren't made for that. God, being a good judge, is angered by the disrespect and destruction of the purpose of His creation. Be aware that He will stop it, even if that means stopping you.

Psalm 75:8 describes a cup of wine foaming, and the cup is God's anger. It's as if it gets stronger the more we rebel. It says the wicked will drink it to the bottom. Our name is on that cup, and we are facing God's anger.

BUT GOD!

He's not just angry. He's loving, patient, and full of mercy. He is a loving God. He sent His Son to save the very ones who deserve His judgment. 

Jesus lived 33 years in absolute perfection. Throughout his time on Earth, Jesus faced all the exact same things we face: anxiety, temptation, sickness, trauma, and depression. He never once sinned. Jesus endured it all perfectly. He wasn’t just a godly man. He was and is God in the flesh. He wasn’t just a good teacher. He was and is the apotheosis, or the highest development, of knowledge. He never needed mercy, grace, or forgiveness, but He extends it to us time and time again.

Jesus climbed the cross and took on that bitter cup that had your name on it. He crossed your name out and put His over it. He drank that bitter cup over three hours, turned it over, and said, "It is finished." The debt that you owe for all you've done to God, the debt of being separated from God, was done away with when Jesus cut the check with His life on your behalf. It's paid in full. 

Jesus lived perfectly. He died purposely. He rose from the dead, proving that everything He said was true. The resurrection of Jesus, the King, enables Him to tell a dying world to come to Him. He will redeem, forgive, restore, set free, and protect you. Even death can't hurt you anymore. It doesn't matter how low you've gone; He has more grace to give than you have sin to commit.

You'll never be good enough to deserve to be saved and yet never be bad enough that He cannot save you. It's not about you. It's all about Jesus: His life, His death, His resurrection. He has us covered forever.

Don't be fooled by misrepresentations of Jesus. The Jesus of the Bible stands resurrected, alive, and ready to save. If you want to meet the true Jesus, call out to Him in prayer. Turn from things that will keep you from chasing Him. Believe Him with all your heart, and you'll watch the gospel work.