The Biblical Story of God’s Work in the World

…often referred to as “good news” or the Gospel.

God created us in His image to have relationship with Him and others.  He created us to be cultivators and caretakers of His Kingdom.  We were created for relationship and work.

(Genesis 1:28; 2:15)

However, humanity rebelled against God by listening to the voice of our enemy, the devil.  From then on, every aspect of the world has been marred by sin.  All that is wrong with the world is a result of the collective sin of all humanity…conflict, slavery, hatred, decay, racism, and death itself are but a few of the examples of the impact of sin.  Throughout history, humanity has tried to right the wrongs they created, but found the task to be impossible.

(Genesis 2:16-19; 3:1-24; Romans 3:9-19; 5:12; 8:7-8)

Knowing that man could never save himself, God purposed at the beginning of time that He would send Jesus, God in the flesh, the Messiah, and Savior of the world.  The life of Jesus shows us what it means to be human.  He loved mercifully and unconditionally; he was kind and compassionate.  He denied Himself and served others.  He taught and modeled for us the pathway to life, as the meek one who came to die.  He is perfect, without sin, because He is God. Through His death and resurrection, He demonstrated His divinity, paid for our sin, and paved the way to eternal life.

(Matthew 5-8; Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23)

The resurrection of Jesus also ushered in what is referred to as the Kingdom.  All that has been marred by sin will be restored.  Jesus will make all things new, redeeming a broken world, redeeming decaying cultures, and redeeming the lives of those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus.

(Ephesians 1:5-6; Titus 3:7; 2 Corinthians 5; Revelation 21:5)

This work of Jesus demands a response from us.  We can refuse Him or we receive Him.  The word receive is necessary here.  Salvation is not a work to be accomplished by us.  We cannot summon up the strength to be perfect.  We must acknowledge our inability, our weakness, our helplessness, and our need.  We must bow at the foot of the cross, believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.

(Romans 10:5-13)