The Gospel in Five Seconds

By Edd Sterchi

    The Gospel is About the Second Adam. “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:47). Jesus Christ is the second Adam.  Paul also makes the contrast between Adam and Jesus in Rom. 5:12-21. Adam is the one who brought death into the world. The gospel message is about how Jesus died for us and overcame death (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
    The Gospel is About the Second Covenant. “If the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second” (Heb. 8:7, see also Heb. 10:9). When Jesus died on the cross, He nailed the Old Law to it (Col. 2:14). In doing this, He brought in a New Law for us to live under – a law of grace (Heb. 8:8-10; John 1:17). It is a better covenant (Heb. 8:6).
    The Gospel is About the Second Birth. When Nicodemus asked Jesus about how to be “born again” a “second time”, Jesus answered with these words: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5). Jesus was referencing baptism, obeying the gospel call for salvation (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:13).
    The Gospel is About the Second Coming of Christ. “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb. 9:28). Jesus is coming back to take the faithful home to heaven with Him (1 Thess. 4:1318). The gospel message is about how we can be saved and be with Jesus.
    The Gospel is About Avoiding the Second Death. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God...And they were judged, each one according to his works...Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:12-15). Following the gospel can keep us from experiencing hell-fire (2 Thess. 1:3-8).
    The gospel of Jesus Christ may only take “five seconds” to obey, but it is designed to carry us through eternity (Rev. 14:6).

- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/