“LIFE 101”
Discipleship Training
THE BASIC GOSPEL
(Lesson 1)
Memorize (John 20:31)
“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
by believing you may have life in his name.”
The word “gospel” comes from an Old English word “god-spell”, meaning “good news” and “glad tidings”. The original
Greek word with the same meaning is euangellion where we get the word “evangelical”. By “Gospel,” the Bible refers to
the saving work of Jesus Christ, the knowledge necessary for saving faith, and the sum total or parts of its redemptive
message. The gospel can be outlined in just few verses, and it can also be studied throughout the entire Bible. It is
simple enough for all people to discern, and inexhaustibly profound even for the most learned.
According to the Bible, there are 4 aspects of faith that are necessary for Christian salvation:
1. Belief in the Creator God—that there is God who made all things according to His will.
2. Belief in God’s story according to the Bible, chiefly, the story of humanity’s relationship with God.
3. Belief in Jesus Christ as God’s only provision for salvation.
4. Trust in Jesus Christ as one’s personal Lord and Saviour by grace through faith.
The following study will investigate the above 4 aspects of faith in order to understand why Jesus is “good news” for us!
A. The Creator God
1.
According to Hebrews 11:3 and Acts 14:15b, what can we understand by faith?
2.
According to Psalm 14:1 and 53:1, what does the Bible say about unbelief?
3.
What is the meaning behind Proverbs 1:7 (also 9:10)? Can we truly know anything without knowing God?
B. The Biblical Story
1.
What is your understanding of the beginning of Universe and life? What stories and theories have you heard?
2.
Who is the source of creation and life according to Genesis 1 & 2?
3.
What particular privilege did God bestow on the creation of mankind (Gen.1:26; 2:7)?
4.
What did God allow Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen.1:28-29; 2:15-16)?
5.
What did God forbid, and what was the warning (Gen.2:17)?
6.
What happened in Gen.3:1-7 (particularly in v.6)?
7.
What is the consequence of their disobedience according to the following passages?
a.
(Genesis 3:23-24; Isaiah 59:2)
b.
(Romans 5:12; 3:23)
The event recorded in Genesis 3 is called “The Fall”. It explains the strained relationship between God and man, and
demonstrates what a “sin” is in its essence. The “fallenness” or “sinfulness” refers to the consequence of our broken
relationship with God.
8.
What is the definition of sin and what are its effects?
a.
According to (1John 3:4), SIN = L__________________. What are some other words and concepts to
describe sin, and why?
b.
What is the result of sin according to (Romans 3:23a)?
c.
We all know that everybody will physically die one day, but where do we currently stand spiritually if we do
not know God (Ephesians 2:1)?
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“LIFE 101”
Discipleship Training
God loves His creation because He made them—especially people, because He uniquely created them in His image.
However, the holy God must also punish sin. It would be contrary to His just nature to allow sin to go unpunished, or to
simply forget. He is at a crossroad, caught between love and justice. This is called the “Divine Dilemma”. But God in
His infinite wisdom and love has a solution.
9.
Is there any hope for the mankind, to be reunited to its Creator?
a.
The “First Gospel” (proto-euangellion) is hinted in (Gen.3:15). Consider its meaning in light of what is
unfolding in the garden at the time. Now, what is happening through Jesus and the Church (Rom.16:20)?
b.
That “First Gospel” hint is fully expressed in the most famous verse in the Bible (John 3:16). Write it below:
Unlike forgetting, which is amnesia, a mental disorder, forgiveness always bears a cost on the one who forgives. For
example, to forgive the one who breaks your window, you would have to pay for the new window yourself. For God, the
great cost of sin is born on Himself, by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our sins and their consequences.
C. Jesus Christ
1.
Throughout the Bible, God’s people have been waiting for the Saviour (or the “Messiah” or “Christ”), and when
Jesus appeared according to all the prophesies, God Himself announced His approval. (read Matt.3:16-17)
2.
The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the only Mediator between God and man: (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
3.
Jesus’ saving work involved two very important aspects:
a.
ONE: Living a sinless life by perfectly obeying the righteous requirements of Holy God. This is called the
“active obedience” of Christ. (Heb.4:15)
b.
TWO: Enduring the punishment on the cross on behalf of all the believers. This is called the “passive
obedience” of Christ. (Heb.12:2)
D. Saving Faith
1.
According to (James 2:19), why is knowledge of God simply not enough?
2.
What is necessary to become saved, according to (Rom.10:9)? What is at the heart of saving faith?
3.
When you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, two very important things happen. It is
called “double imputation” or “double swap” or “double transfer”. It is important for Christians to know this.
a.
Our sin and curse are transferred and nailed to the cross in Jesus Christ, as if we are sinless. (Gal.3:13)
b.
The righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited unto us, as if we are perfectly righteous. (Rom.4:24; 5:19)
4.
The above is also called “justification,” because you are “justified” before God due to the finished work of Jesus
Christ. And this justification is by grace through faith, not of our own efforts/works (Rom.3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9).
5.
If you would like to be saved, you must commit to following Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour
(Mark 8:34-35). This is not an easy decision. Your life will change. But it will make an eternal difference!
PRAYER OF FAITH:
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want
to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died for my
sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I now submit to Christ as the Lord of my life, to rule
and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me know and obey you for the rest of
my life. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!”
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