THE GOSPEL IN FIVE SECONDS
By David Holder and W. Frank Walton
If the title caught your attention, you must be in hurry! You perhaps feel the rush of our fast-paced,
instant world -- along with the rest of us! There's never enough time to do everything, but there is always
enough time to do what matters most. Although the following few paragraphs will take more than five seconds
to read, the next few minutes can be a spiritual turning point in your life.
The Gospel in Five Seconds is a pun (a play on words), since the word ‘second’ may mean second in sequence
as well as second in time. In fact, the gospel God’s saving Good News to us has five features that occur
"second" in sequence.
We may summarize the entire gospel in five seconds. The gracious God the Bible has even been called "the
God of the second chance"! We don't get many second chances in this life. Yet, God is ever willing to receive
us back to Himself. This is good news!
1. THE SECOND COVENANT
A major Bible theme is that God wants people to be His people and for Him to be their God
(2 Corinthians 6:16-18). "God made the human machine to run on Himself" (C.S. Lewis). We are fitted for a
spiritual relationship with the God who made us.
This purpose describes the covenant or testament, which is a relational agreement God desires with people.
God’s covenant was expressed in two primary ways the Old Testament given through Moses to the Jews
(Deuteronomy 5:2-5) and the New Testament given through Jesus Christ to all who truly believe (Hebrews 8:6-13).
The first covenant, the Law God gave through Moses, helped define sin and men as sinners (Galatians 3:19).
It pointed people to the Savior as the only solution to our sinfulness (Galatians 3:24). Jesus came to the
world, fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17-18). He brought out its true meaning, lived under it perfectly, and
fulfilled its Messianic prophecies. He then superseded it, by His death on the cross, with a second and better
covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 9:15-22; 10:148). Jesus took away the first covenant to establish the second covenant
(Hebrews 10:9).
In our time, under the New Testament or Covenant of Christ, we are
directed to act by Jesus’ authority (Colossia 3:17). The New Testament Scriptures are all the word or law of
Christ (Colossians 3:16; Galatians 6:2). It is the "perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25), which guides us to
freedom from sin unto becoming all God wants us to be. This is good news!
2. THE SECOND BIRTH
Nicodemus, a religious ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus saying, Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as
a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him (John 3:2). Since Nicodemus
understood Jesus was from God, it was time for him to think about radical changes in his own life. Jesus
pointedly turned the conversation to this subject.
Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
Again Jesus said, Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
the kingdom of God (3:5). Jesus described a spiritual, second birth placing one under God’s rule, a birth
effected by baptism (immersion) into Christ (see Romans 6:3-4). Baptism is an act of faith in Christ
(Colossians 2:11-4). Faith that draws you to the crucified and risen Christ prompts you to see your sin as God
does and to repent of it (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38). Also prior to baptism, we make the good confession of¥C¥C Jesus's
divine Sonship, that "Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9-10).
Jesus said, You must be born again (John 3:7). This spiritual new birth is essential to securing your
spiritual destiny. Jesus holds the key to a new you. He graciously offers it to one and all. This is good news!
3. THE SECOND COMING
Jesus came into
the world as a man, died on the cross to save the world from sin, was raised from the dead by God’s power, and
ascended to heaven to God's right Hand, reigning now on His throne as "King of kings and Lord of lords"
(Revelation 17:14). Yet, Jesus will one day come again. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die
once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall
appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him (Hebrews 9:27-28).
The fact of Jesus’ coming is certain, though the time is unknown to anyone but God (Matthew 24:36). So,
don't pay attention to anyone who says they know exactly when He will return! We must be ready at all
times. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night
(1 Thessalonians 5:2). He may come at anytime, when we least expect it! So, do you not feel a sense of
urgency to listen, learn, and obey the gospel of Christ now?! He will return to judge all "who do not obey the
gospel" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Yet, the second coming of Christ can be a day of great joy and reward for the
faithful Christian. We can look up in the sky when we see Jesus returning to take us home to God. We will be
forever triumphant in heaven's bliss. This is good news!
4. THE SECOND DEATH
The world is full of evil, yet Jesus overcame the evil of men and Satan through His death on the cross.
Satan, the diabolical power of evil, has not conceded defeat, although Jesus has already won the victory!
Whether people know it or not, Jesus is "the ruler of the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5). He rules
providentially in the affairs of men, in the rise and fall of nations. More importantly, this verse says "He
is One who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood." Anyone can be released from the penalty of
their sins. This is good news!
King Jesus promised that with Him we may overcome and "not be hurt by the second death" (Revelation 2:11).
Listen carefully to this sober warning: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers
and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). The glorious gospel promises Jesus' second
coming for salvation to believers and warns of a second death for unbelievers. Will you accept the good news
and escape "the wrath of God to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:10)? It is squarely up to you!
5. THE SECOND LAW OF PARDON
God understands that though a person has been born again and is a Christian, he
or she may fall away. One New Testament writer cautions, Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any
one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12). The deceitful,
false doctrine of "once saved, always saved" gives false hope and false security (see Galatians 5:4).
The second law of pardon for the erring child of God is: "repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the
Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you" (Acts 8:22). Listen to this good news:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God will never give up on you as His child, if you will not give up on yourself.
You can always return home to God. In the famous story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24), a young man woke
up one day in a filthy pigpen, far away from home. He had squandered every good thing his father had given him.
He had only one thing left -- the memory of a good and gracious father that he had so rebelliously spurned. He
came to his senses and humbly returned to his father, begging his forgiveness. The father had been looking and
longing for his son to come home. He compassionately forgave his long lost son. He restored him to the family
again with great celebration. Jesus illustrates the tender heart of the forgiving God of heaven with these words
of the son's father: "Let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was
lost and has been found!" (Luke 15:23-24). The height of God's mercy is far greater than the depth of our sin.
Circumstances, attitudes, and feelings change, and may cause us to be unfaithful to God. We should avoid this
situation and know the way back can be very difficult. Spiritual success is not quick and easy. Yet, we also
need to know that God provides for us to come back to Him! We can always find forgiveness and a fresh start in
life. This is good news!
OBEY THE GOSPEL!
These "five seconds" prove that God’s timely "Good News" is the very best news ever considered in the heart of
man. Why do you delay? This free fer may expire at anytime, for when Jesus returns, the day of grace if past
and the day of judgement has come! The Northside church of Christ is here to help people, who are looking for
some "good news" of a better life. Let us help you know and follow the "good news" of Christ! We'd love to hear
from you. Contact our evangelist at WFrankWalton@juno.com.
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