The Gospel for Dummies

You will find them in any bookstore: DOS for Dummies, Internet for Dummies, Windows95 for Dummies . . . . even Taxes for Dummies, and Investing for Dummies and a slew of other titles from cooking to golf. More than 30 million copies of the books are currently in print.

One reason for the Dummies series' popularity is their ability to make the complex simple. The authors slash through the technical jargon of computer-ese, tax-lingo and other specialized language to make the complicated seem ordinary.

For some people, the gospel seems pretty complicated. Justification, atonement, sanctification and salvation sound like a different language (church-ese?) to the average person.

I've never seen a Gospel for Dummies, but until someone writes one, let me simplify what you might have heard spoken in Church-ese. The message, called "the gospel" (meaning "the good news") might be best defined by one name and through one Person: Jesus Christ.

"J" ust as we are, God invites us to come to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. He doesn't ask us to stop doing whatever it is we do that offends Him before we come. He simply invites us to come. He will help us stop whatever it is that offends Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). He doesn't ask us to learn more about the Bible before we come. He just wants us to come. He will teach us what we need to know (John 16:13). He doesn't ask us to wait until we have something more to offer Him, such as money or talent or influence. He wants us to come with all of our limitations. He will use what we have (1 Corinthians 15:58).

"E" veryone who is hungry or thirsty, everyone who needs love, or comfort, or peace is welcome (Isaiah 55:1). He places no limitations on who may respond. He invites people from every language group, every nation, every culture, every race. Scripture is clear when it tells us: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16)

"S" in's stain is forever removed from our ledger. When Jesus died on Mt. Calvary two thousand years ago, His blood became the sacrificial offering God requires for our forgiveness. When we ask God's mercy on account of Jesus' sacrifice for us, God immediately, thoroughly and eternally forgives us. Each sin, each stain, each mark is cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Though they were red as scarlet, He makes them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). As far as east is from the west, God casts our shame from us (Psalm 103:12).

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic