Note: Also, click the "5 Keys" button for important insights about how to interpret the New Testament accurately. The "5 truths" on this page and the "5 keys" are the 10 basic truths taught in this website.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as the Bible teaches it, is the good news of how God’s grace brings forgiveness to all humankind and eternal salvation to those who accept the free gift of righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus as Savior. It is Holy Spirit who teaches and gives you understanding - He will open your eyes to the truth and this will cause you to grow in your Christian faith.
Colossians 1:9b-10a … that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord …
There are different ways to talk about the Gospel but all will have five truths: you are already [1] forgiven and your sins are already forgotten by God. When you trust in Christ as your Savior, God causes you to be "born again" (made [2] clean and [3] righteous); being born again, not forgiveness, is what saves you and admits you into the family of God. It is only then that can you live a righteous life as God designed it, one of [4] union and [5] faith. You live in union with Christ in your redeemed spirit and follow Him by faith in your not-yet-redeemed mortal body and human soul. ("Soul" is defined here as your human thoughts and emotions.)
Truth #1: You are FORGIVEN ... all sins of all people for all time were forgiven on the Cross of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago except for the sin of unbelief in Christ as Savior. Faith is not required for forgiveness but is required for “salvation” (that is, to be “born again”).
All sin forgiven on the Cross.
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Revelation 1:5b … To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,
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Whereas Human Wisdom Says: “Your sins are not forgiven until you are saved,” or “You must ‘receive the gift’ of forgiveness before you are forgiven.” (The Bible actually teaches that it is the gift of righteousness, not forgiveness, that must be received by faith.)
… the Bible Teaches:
· 2 Corinthians 5:19a namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, …
· John 1:29 The next day he {John the Baptist} saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
· Mark 3: 28a Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, …
· Hebrews 10:12 but He {Jesus}, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,
· Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son {this is when you were forgiven}, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His {indwelling righteous} life {this is when you were born again}.
Truth #2: You have a CLEAN heart ... upon belief in Christ as Savior, God removes your old sinful spirit (or nature) and replaces it with a new, clean heart. This is where faith is essential because God cannot save you until that last sin of unbelief is turned into faith.
God takes out your old sinful spirit.
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin {old sinful nature or spirit} might be done away with, that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
God replaces your old sinful spirit with a new, clean heart.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things havecome.
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Whereas Human Wisdom Says: “We are just sinners saved by grace.”
… the Bible Teaches:
· Ezekiel 11:19 And I shall give them one heart, andshall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
· Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
· Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin {old sinful nature or spirit} might be done away with, that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
· Romans 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin {in your spirit}.
· Romans 6:17-18 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, [18] and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
· 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
Truth #3: You are RIGHTEOUS ... the Holy Spirit comes to live in your new, clean spirit (heart) making you literally righteous by His indwelling presence - you are now “born again.” The term "salvation" as used here is the same thing as being "born again" in your spirit; it is not the forgiveness of your personal sins since all sins, except unbelief, were already forgiven on the Cross. Therefore, the only two issues in salvation are [1] a sinful heart and [2] unbelief that Jesus Christ is the only Savior. Every person is born with an unrighteous spirit (heart). The one personal sin of rejecting Jesus Christ as Savior was the only sin that was not forgiven on the Cross.
You have been made literally righteous by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17b Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [17] ... for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
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Whereas Human Wisdom Says: “We are just credited with Christ’s righteousness but we, ourselves, are really still sinners.”
… the Bible Teaches:
· John 3:7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ {in your spirit}
· Romans 5:17b … those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
· Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
· 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
· Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
· Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
· 2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
· 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Truth #4: You are in UNION with Christ ... you are complete in your spirit, redeemed fully and forever. Your life is now Christ’s life as He indwells you and lives His life through you as a member of His Body. “Union” is the term used to describe life in your new, redeemed spirit - you are in Christ and Christ is in you.
The Holy Spirit cannot indwell an unclean heart.
Even the single sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ as Savior prevents God from saving you because the Holy Spirit cannot live in an unclean heart.
But, since you believed and are born again, you now live in perfect union with Jesus Christ in your spirit.
John 14:20 In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit
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Whereas Human Wisdom Says: “The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin,” or “The Holy Spirit helps us live a life pleasing to God.”
… the Bible Teaches:
· John 14:23b … and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.
· Romans 8:9b … if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
· 2 Corinthians13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?
· Galatians 2:20a I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; …
· 2 Corinthians 6:16b … for we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
· 1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
· Colossians 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
· Ephesians 5:30 because we are members of His body.
Truth #5: You live by FAITH ... you still live in a not-yet-redeemed mortal "house" (your human body and your human soul). You do not have the ability to live righteously through your own human efforts no matter how hard you try. This is why you live in union with Christ in your born again spirit and follow Him by faith in your mortal body and soul. “Faith” is the term used to describe life in your mortal flesh, that is, the human part of you.
In your spirit, you live in union with Christ:
Galatians 2:20a I have been crucified with Christ; and it
is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; …
In your mortal body and soul, you follow Christ in faith:
Galatians 2:20b … and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.
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Whereas Human Wisdom Says: “God will help us live a godly life,” or "We must do our part ..."
… the Bible Teaches:
· Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received {by faith} Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him {by faith},
· John 15:4-5 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
· 1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
· John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
· Philippians 3:3b ... who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
· Hebrews 12:2a fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, …
