What is the Gospel?
Let this primer be just the starting point of your growing in the knowledge of the gospel. Also, consider memorizing these Scripture verses and “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …” (Colossians 3:16).
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Note: much of this content was taken from www.9Marks.org.
1) God is both our sovereign creator and righteous judge. God therefore has the right of ownership over us by virtue of creating us, and he has the right to punish or reward us by virtue of his justice. And because God is both our Creator and Judge, therefore, we are doubly accountable to Him for all our behavior - word, thought, and deed. (Nehemiah 9:6; Ps 98:9).

2) Man was created by God, in God's image, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. But man sinned against God by disobeying His holy law. Man therefore separated himself from God's holy and satisfying presence, and incurred His wrathful displeasure. (Gen 1:27; Rom 1:18, 3:23)

3) Jesus Christ's life and death was the substitute payment for the penalty that we deserved for our sin. His life and death is God's only provision for the forgiveness of man's sin and the appeasement of God's wrath against sin. (Isa 53:6; John 3:36; Acts 4:12)

4) God calls us to Himself enabling us to hear and understand the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 8:30; 1 Peter 2:9)

5) God graciously grants those who He calls the free gift of repentance and belief (2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18; John 15:16; Acts 16:14)

6) We are called to respond to this good news in repentance and belief - turning away from our sin and self-sufficiency toward God, and trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the substitute penalty that we deserved for our sin. (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:46-47)

7) A Changed life is the mark of genuine salvation and is evidenced by the regenerating work of God in our lives (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Titus 3:5; 2Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24)

• Repentance -  1 John 3:9 (Note: some translations use the word “continue” which is better translated “continues” or “practices” as in repeatedly practicing sinning. This Scripture is not advocating absolute perfection but rather the fact that a genuine believer will not go on trying to sin.)
• Growth - 1 Peter 2:2
• Obedience - 1 John 2:3-6; John 8:31-32
• Fruit - John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-25
• Love - John 13:35

8) All true Christians will persevere - A true believer can never lose their salvation and will persevere to the end. (John 6:38-40; John 10:27-29; 1Peter 1:3-9)

Just a heads up to those of you who want to add a comment to the blog...the comments are a little goofy. First click on the link to "comments" under the text. It will look like the page reloaded but nothing really changed. Then click on the same spot again which is now called "Submit your comment." That will allow you to post a comment.

~Happy Posting! =)

In The Beginning...
This is the beginning of the blog for YEFC as a whole and for the Youth Group too. This category in the blog is where I will post news and musings about the youth group, devotionals, book reviews and links to other blogs. The web is a tool that is ever increasing in it's use and usability. My hope and prayer is that this is a place were we can talk together about the Word and the world around us. Please feel free to post comments, join in on discussion threads about any particular topic.

~For the sake of the gospel (1 Cor 9:23)