First Steps

The Gospel

Do you feel like you live in the dark? Do you keep struggling to find a purpose and meaning in life, but you come up empty? Are you constantly searching for truth? Are you seeking ways to find peace and happiness in life?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you’re not alone. You’re living in spiritual darkness—a human condition that’s the result of a broken relationship with God. It is evident from what we see around us that we live in a broken world and that we are in need of a Saviour who can shine light in the darkness. God is the solution and only He can fill in the emptiness of our hearts.

1. Man was separated from God by sin:

We were all created to live in harmony and in relationship with God. The Bible explains that because we’ve all sinned (turned our backs on God and chosen our own way), we are separated from God. We can never fix the problem or bridge the gap through our own efforts toward good works.

Consequently, our sin leads to death and eternal judgement. The penalty of sin is eternal separation from God.

Scripture references:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
There is none righteous, not even one. Romans 3:10
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:9
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

2. Man’s need for salvation:

Scripture calls us “objects of wrath” because God has to exert his wrath on those who break his law. The law demanded a sacrifice for the remission of sins through shedding of blood. Without someone stepping in to correct this situation, we cannot have the relationship with God that he intended. God in His divine mercy sent his only Son Jesus Christ to be that sacrifice because He loved you and me. He paid the price for our salvation with His own blood thereby saving us from the penalty of sin.

Salvation is God’s way of forgiving our sin and providing a means for man to receive eternal life now and in heaven. Salvation is by grace and a free gift for all. You can’t earn it, you can’t buy it and you can’t get it any other way other than simply receiving it.

Mark 8:36 says ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul’. Death is inevitable and invades everyone regardless of age, gender, popularity or race. The wealth, fame, possessions that man has achieved including all pleasures of life will only last till the grave. All that matters is ‘if you die today, will you spend your life in eternity with God’? No matter what your background is or how grave your sins are, God loves you unconditionally. He is eagerly waiting to forgive and accept you just as you are with arms open wide.

Scripture references:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ. I Timothy 2:5
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12

3. The greatest gift for you:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. John 3:16

“For God”………………………………………….The greatest Lover
“So loved”…………………………………………The greatest degree
“The world”………………………………………The greatest number
“That He gave”………………………………….The greatest act
“His only begotten Son”…………………….The greatest gift
“That whosoever”……………………………..The greatest invitation
“Believeth”………………………………………..The greatest simplicity
“In Him”.……………………………………………The greatest Person
“Should not perish”…………………………..The greatest deliverance
“But”………………………………………………….The greatest difference
“Have”……………………………………………….The greatest certainty
“Everlasting life”………………………………..The greatest possession

Jesus Christ died on the cross paying the penalty for our sin thereby bridging the gap between man and god. God, out of His great love, created a way for you and me through Jesus so that we have direct access to the Father which we were previously unworthy to enter. That way has only been made possible through Jesus who paid the price in full. There is no more separation. Jesus, who was perfect and sinless, became sin for us so that we might become His righteousness.

Jesus endured pain, rejection and shame, that we might have the acceptance with the Father! He became a curse for us so that we might be redeemed from every curse of sin.

a. Jesus died for our sins : His death proved the power of God’s love over our sin
b. Jesus was buried : His burial proved the power of God’s justice over the flesh
c. Jesus rose from the grave: His resurrection proved the power of God’s righteousness over

Scripture References: 
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12,13
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-4 
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13
Anybody who calls on his name have the right….John 1:12

4. Our Response:

The best part is that God invites each one of us to this life changing eternal relationship with Him. In order to know Jesus personally, we must do three things: Repent, Believe and Confess. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve come from, or what you’ve done—everyone is invited to accept God’s free gift of salvation. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. 

If you’ve never made the decision to follow Jesus and receive Him into your heart, then today can be your day. Right now, in this moment, you can become part of the family of God, you can have your sins forgiven, and you can have your life changed forever. Don’t gamble that you have time or can respond later. The Bible says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near”. Isaiah 55:6 

Believe: Believe with your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is able to forgive and cleanse you from all your sins. Receive the gift of salvation. 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

Repent: Admit that you have sinned and need forgiveness and reconciliation with God.  Repent and make a deliberate decision to turn from all your sinful ways. There is no sin too deep that God cannot forgive. The Holy Spirit will convict your heart and help you in the process. 

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19 

Repeat this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. Your blood was shed for my sins. I believe you died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead on the third day. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and saviour of my life. 

I choose to trust in you and I want to fully surrender my life to you. I invite you to come into my heart now to take complete control and be the Lord and master of my life. Fill the emptiness in me with your Holy Spirit and make me whole. Thank you for saving and accepting me into your family. Amen

We are excited that you have accepted Jesus as your personal saviour and have now decided to follow Him. Welcome to God’s family! More than anyone, heaven is rejoicing over you today. There is no greater life lived than the one following Jesus. You can count on Him as He remains faithful to you till the very end even when situations change in your life.