The God who created the universe created man in His image (Genesis 1:27) with a spirit by which man could be alive unto God and enjoy a loving relationship with his Creator. But man sinned against God’s perfection (Romans 3:23), incurring the punishment of death, or spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23). Man has tried to restore his relationship with God by his own efforts including religion, but he is unable to do so because he can do nothing of himself to take away the sin that separates him from a holy God.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus, God’s Messiah, died for our sins in our place (Romans 5:8) and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) so that those who trust in Him alone as their only God and Savior receive forgiveness of sin, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the righteousness of Christ in exchange for their sin to enable them to begin an eternal, personal relationship with God (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12).
God’s salvation is a gift that we cannot earn – but Christ has earned it for us through His death and resurrection. We receive that gift by faith in who Jesus is and what He has done for us. The Bible says that you can express that faith by calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus to save you. In Romans 10:9 we read “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Refusing God’s salvation in this life results in eternal punishment in a place the Bible calls hell. You cannot save yourself. Only Jesus Christ can save you. Trust in Him today for your salvation.