What Is The True Gospel?
Begin by watching this video, where members of the OGGM team give a break down of what the true Gospel is.
How Did the Fall of Man Affect Our Relationship With God?
Adam was made in the image of God. He distorted that image and forfeited his original blessedness – for himself and all his progeny – by falling into sin through Satan’s temptation. As a result, all human beings are alienated from God, corrupted in every aspect of their being (physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.) and condemned finally and irrevocably to death – apart from God’s own gracious intervention. The supreme need of all human beings is to be reconciled to the God under whose just and holy wrath we stand. The only hope for all human beings is the undeserved love of God, who alone can rescue us and restore us to himself (Romans 3:21-26).
What Was The Role of Jesus in Reconciling Our Relationship With God?
Moved by love and in obedience to His Father, the eternal Son became human. The Word became flesh; fully God and fully human being, one person in two natures (John 1:14).
Jesus lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, exercising in heaven and on earth all of God’s sovereignty (1 Peter 3:22). By His incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension, Jesus Christ acted as our representative and substitute (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Hebrews 4:14-15). He did this so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. On the cross He conquered sin, had victory over Satan, propitiated God and, by bearing the full penalty of our sins, reconciled to God all those who believe, bringing everlasting life to them.
Why Was it Necessary for Jesus to go to the Cross? Why Him?
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ, by His obedience and death, fully discharged the debt of all those who are justified. By His perfect obedience, He satisfied the just demands of God on our behalf. Those who have been saved by the grace of God through union with Christ by faith and through regeneration by the Holy Spirit enter the kingdom of God and delight in the blessing of the new covenant: the forgiveness of sins, the inward transformation that awakens a desire to glorify, trust and obey God, and the prospect of the glory yet to be revealed.
What is Your Understanding of Missions?
Missions, simply put, is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. The word “mission” is derived from the Latin verb ‘missio‘ which means to send. Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” As R.C Sproul puts it, “God sent us Christ; Christ sent the church”.
God’s sending- John 3:17 – “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him.”
Christ sending- John 17:8 – “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” Verse 18 says, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world”.
Why are Missions Needed?
Problem: Romans 3:9-18
Solution: John 3:16, Romans 1:16
Means to solution: Mark 16:15, Romans 10:14-15
The Christian Calling
The main callings of a Christian are to know Jesus and to make Him known. You can see this from the two greatest commandments in the Bible:
In the book of Matthew, one of the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Which is the great commandment in the Law?” and Jesus responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39).
Looking at these verses, we can see the importance of both loving God and loving people. In loving God, we seek to build a relationship with him. And in loving people, we realise the importance of them building a relationship with God. With this understanding, we know that the two most crucial things we are called to do as Christians, in loving God and His people, is to know God and to help others know Him too.
Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is not a suggestion but a command. As Christians we are called to evangelism, and whilst this may be demonstrated in various ways, we at Our God Given Mission are passionate about travelling to different parts of the world, sharing the Gospel and giving people the life-changing opportunity to know Jesus Christ.