Even many Christians don’t spend much time thinking about the Gospel. I’ve been one of those Christians before. It’s sad because sharing the Gospel is the single most important action we can take as Christians. It can be intimidating; or maybe we don’t even exactly know how to articulate the Gospel. Like, what is it and how do I share it? Well, we don’t have to be afraid we’ll sound like an old purse-clutching, lace-collared woman when we share the Gospel. It’s really very simple. (Read: Simple does not mean easy. They are not the same.)
The basics
Here’s the gospel: We were all born with a natural propensity toward messing up, failing–sinning. It’s just part of who we are when we’re born. Because of this sin, we are separated from God and going to Hell. Hell is not some huge party; it’s the place where people will experience continuous death forever. The good news, which is what “gospel” means, is that we all have a way out. All we have to do is believe in Jesus–that he came to Earth to live a sinless life and allowed himself to be brutally murdered in our place to pay the price for our innate sinfulness. When we believe in Him, we are literally saved from the eternal punishment of Hell and made right in God’s eyes so we are no longer separated from Him. And after we pass from this world or He comes back for us–whichever comes first–we get to live and reign with Him in His perfected Kingdom.
But what about that other thing?
Have issues with other topics related to Christianity? They’re all second- or third-level issues–maybe even less important than that. Hate hypocrites? They’re not exclusive to Christianity; I promise you that. Disagree with how any particular Christian has treated you? You don’t have to act like them; they fail, too. Seems too easy? Well, no. It’s simple, but not easy. There’s a difference. Too good to be true? I agree! Gosh, I can’t believe something as simple as believing in Jesus saves me from unending punishment.
I’m not that bad, though.
I’ve found that one of the biggest complaints people have about Christianity is they don’t think they’re “bad enough” to go to Hell or that they can just do some good things to make up for the bad things they’ve done. But here’s the thing about sin: even a teensy weensy bit of sin is enough to separate us from God. And since we’re born with it, we’re going to have more than a teensy weensy bit of sin in us. And even if we did have a teensy weensy bit of sin in us, I’ve got an analogy for you: If I offer you an icy-cold glass of lemonade on a steaming hot day, you’d probably be up for that, right? Well, if I put even the teensy weensiest amount of, um, well, poop in it… would you want it then? Would you happily gulp it down, click your tongue from the top of your mouth and sigh from relief? Nope. I highly doubt you would. Anyone who understands what poop is would be offended at that offer! That’s how our teensy weensy bit of sin is in the grand scheme of our life. We cannot be made justified without Jesus’ saving work removing every bit of contamination; He died just to make that possible!
DNA
We’re sinners not because of our actions but because we’re born from sinners who were born from sinners who were born from sinners… I think you get the point. It’s just in our DNA. Even the sweetest unbeliever among us has at least a teensy weensy bit of sin in us. And there’s a solution for the problem. When we believe in Jesus, we are saved, changed–not because of our actions, but because of Jesus.