Gospel

Disciple Squared: A Plan for Disciple Multiplication Square 1 - The Gospel The Gospel is the good news that God is redeeming people for himself and restoring his good creation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This document aims to be a simple and clear presentation of the good news of Jesus using a square illustration. The squares and information below will help you understand and remember the Gospel for your own spiritual benefit, and you can draw out the square illustration and use it to share the Gospel with others.

 

God

Everything begins with God. We humans are like him—created in his image—but he is not like us. He is altogether higher and greater. He is the first and greatest being and there is none other like him. God is Holy (Isaiah 6:3). He is perfect in every way and set apart from his creation. God is Just (Psalm 33:4-5). He cares about right and wrong because he is the true standard of right or wrong. God is a perfect judge cannot tolerate the wrong, evil, and sin that goes against him and his law. God is Love (1 John 4:7-8). Although he is greater and higher than his creatures, he loves his creatures and wants a true personal relationship with us.

God is Creator and he created everything for his glory, especially mankind.

 

 

Man

God created mankind according to his perfect design. He created humans to bring him glory. We are supposed to love, honor, serve, obey, exalt him because he is our creator and worthy of all glory and praise. Sadly, we do not always love, honor, serve, obey, or exalt him. Instead, we sin. We love, honor, serve, obey, and exalt ourselves. We go our own way, do our own thing, and follow our own will. Every human being is a sinner (Romans 3:23). Because we are sinners, we are separated from God and do not have a relationship with him (Isaiah 59:2).

Our lives are filled with brokenness and messiness (Romans 5:12; 6:23). We are never satisfied with what this world has to offer (Psalm 32:2-4). We are eternally guilty. If we leave this world and enter eternity separated from God, we will spend eternity separated from God, not enjoying him, but fully experiencing his just judgment because of our sin (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46).

Because we are sinners, mankind needs to be rescued. We cannot save ourselves. We need a savior; we need Jesus Christ

 

 

Christ

Jesus Christ came to eternally save sinful human beings. Jesus was sent to the earth by God the Father (John 3:16-17). He is fully and truly God and fully and truly man (John 1:1;14). Jesus lived a perfect sinless life for us (1 Peter 2:22). He did what we could not do and succeeded where we failed. Jesus died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24-25). He died in our place as our substitute. On the cross, Jesus endured the eternal punishment we sinners deserve. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day, after his death, he rose again (Acts 17:31). With his resurrection, Jesus claimed victory over all sin, death, and hell and he proved once and for all that he is the king, judge, and savior of the world.

Yet, the salvation Christ offers is not automatically given to a sinner.

 

 

Respond

Jesus calls us to respond. Human beings are always responding to Jesus whether we know it or not. The common response is to reject Jesus. We reject him by continuing to go our own way in our sin. To receive his salvation, Jesus calls us to himself to a grace empowered response. Jesus calls us to love him, to repent of sinfulness, and to believe upon him. By grace, we come to Jesus with deep love, admiration, and affection (Matthew 22:37; John 8:24; 14:15-24; 21:15-17). When we truly love God, our love looks a certain way (John 14:15). We approach God in loving repentance and faith. We repent from our sinfulness and believe upon him (Mark 1:15). By grace, we must deny ourselves, stop going our own way, acknowledge we have broken God’s law and resisted his design (Luke 9:23-24; 13:3). Then we turn to Jesus in faith—we believe what the Bible teaches about him, we lay everything at his feet and acknowledge he is Lord, King, and our only hope in life and eternity (Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 10:9-10).

When God transforms you by his grace and you respond to Jesus with loving repentance and faith, you are made right with God.

 

 

In your sin, you are separated from God. In Christ, you are at peace with God and reconciled. Your salvation is a gracious gift from God you receive through your grace empowered faith and not a result, in any way, of your works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Though you were once a sinner and a rebel against God, now your relationship with your creator has been restored and renewed. You are given the Holy Spirit, and, by the Spirit, you are born again (John 3:3), given a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), freed from your sin (1 John 1:8-9), and made like Jesus little by little day by day so that you can live for God’s glory (Romans 8:10-11). You are given life—abundant, peace-filled, and joy-filled life amid the troubles and tribulations in this world, and eternal life forevermore in perfect relationship with God through Christ in God’s eternal kingdom (John 10:10; Romans 5:3-11; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Where do you stand in the sight of God? One day soon you will stand before him and give an account. Would you like to be in right relationship with God through Jesus? Do you feel Jesus drawing you to himself to respond in love, repentance, and faith? Call upon the Lord right now (Romans 10:13). Admit and confess your deep sinfulness. Deny yourself and turn from your will, your way, and your sin. Turn to Jesus and give everything to him. Believe upon him alone and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).