SHARING THE GOSPEL:
GOD'S GOOD NEWS FOR MANKIND

What is the Gospel? How is it defined in the Bible?

Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 1:15-16 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The commission for us to share the Gospel with others;

I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Mark 16:15 And he (JESUS) said unto them, {Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.}

Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

How are we to share the Gospel with others?

Bible scriptures can be used to demonstrate man's need for a savior and God's plan of salvation. The scriptures below are examples of verses you can share from God's Word to bring His light to those in darkness.

Man's Problem: A sinful nature that separates him from his creator.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.

We must confess our sins, ask God's forgiveness, and repent.

Repentance means to turn away from our sinful lifestyle and turn towards God. We cannot change ourselves but God will give us the power to change as we submit our life to Him.

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.

I John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, {The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.}

God's Substitute: According to God's mercy, grace, and love, Jesus, the promised Savior, came to earth and died in our place so that we might live through faith in Him.

John 3:16 {For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.}

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Romans 5:6-10 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

I Peter 2:24-24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

I Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

John 10:10 {The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.}

We must acknowledge and believe God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and receive it by faith, trusting in God who made the promise.

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

II Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

John 10:9 {I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.}

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, {I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:} {And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?}

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, {I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.}

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 6:40 {And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.}

Mark 16:16 {He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.}

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If a person receives Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, the Bible gives the following assurances about their eternal future:

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

I John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 10:27-28 {My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:} {And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.}

Titus 3:5 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus makes an open invitation to all who will come; no one is disqualified. He will receive anyone who calls on him. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30 {Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.} {Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.} {For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.}

Revelation 3:20 {Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.}

After sharing God's plan of salvation, ask if there is any good reason why the listener cannot receive Jesus Christ right now. Review the important points and lead them in the sinner's prayer.

What you must do:

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).

2. Be willing to turn from your sins (Repent).

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life.

(Receive Him as Lord and Savior.):

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust you as savior and follow you as Lord of my life. I receive you now by faith, believing your promises. I thank you for coming into my life and giving to me the gift of eternal life.