The Greatest Story Ever Told

Have you ever had questions about the gospel?  Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to die on the cross? Let me tell you about the Greatest Story Ever Told. (Read: Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:16, and Hebrews 11:3)

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Then after creating all the plants and animals to inhabit the earth, God made man and woman. He called them Adam and Eve. Then He placed them in a beautiful garden called Eden for their home. God loved them and made them rulers over the entire world.  (Read: Genesis 1:26-28)

God told Adam and Eve that they could eat of every tree in the Garden. But the tree in the middle of the Garden was forbidden, it was called the Tree of the Knowledge Of Good and Evil. One day Satan used a serpent to tempt Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve did eat and also gave the fruit to Adam. By eating the fruit and disobeying God, Adam and Eve had become sinners. God had told them the penalty for sin was death. Now all men that would be born into the world would be sinners because we took on the nature of our father Adam. (Read: Genesis 2:15-16, and Romans 5:18)
 
No one has the right to disobey God because He is the creator and we are part of His creation. God still loved Adam and Eve, so He designed a plan to bring man back into a full relationship with Himself.

Before the Son of God came to earth to die, God wanted a picture of this terrible price that had to be paid for sin. The people would be required to take a lamb without spot or blemish and sacrifice it on an altar and offer the blood before God as a picture of the sacrifice someday to be paid by God Himself. The Old Testament sacrifices could never take away sin, but they showed the faith of those who sacrificed in a future Redeemer, a Savior that would come someday. (Read: Exodus 29:38)

Then nearly 2,000 years ago, the Son of God came to earth and became a man by His birth. He could not have a human father because He would take on the sin nature that was passed down to man through Adam. He must fulfill prophecy and be born of a virgin. God chose a humble girl name Mary. She was engaged to Joseph but never knew him intimately until after Jesus was born. Mary questioned the angle when he told her that she would have a Son. The angel told her that the baby was a miracle from God and that she should call His name Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.

Nine months later, Jesus was born in a lowly manger. We celebrate His birth each year at Christmas.(Read: Matthew 1:21-23)

Jesus lived a sinless life. He never once did anything that was wrong! (If Jesus had ever sinned He would be like other men and could not die for the sins of the world.) He lived for 30 years and then began His ministry of teaching and healing. He chose 12 disciples and helped many people in Israel to understand things they had never understood about God.            

Even though many people loved Him, there were those of the religious leaders who hated Him, because they thought He threatened their positions.  (Read: II Corinthians 5:21)

After three years God finally allowed the religious leaders to take Him. They falsely accused Him in court. Then after spitting upon Him and torturing Him, they led Him up to a hill called Calvary and crucified Him between two thieves. It looked as if all was lost. Jesus the Savior of the world was dying! How can He help us now?

But, it was all God’s plan. Jesus, God’s son, would come to earth and live a perfect life and die for the sins of the world! He was the perfect spotless lamb; the one the Old Testament people looked forward to. He was God taking on human flesh, so that He could die for all mankind.

Three days later He arose from the dead, death could not hold the sinless Lamb of God. He was truly the perfect sacrifice! (Read: Colossians 2:13-15 and Acts 2:24)

You see, all along God was thinking about you and me! You’re probably asking now, “ How can I receive Jesus as my Savior? How can He come into my life?”

Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in me shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Jesus said you must believe in Me! That means you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. It also means that because you believe that He is the God you must surrender you life to Him, ask Him to forgive you, and accept His sacrifice on the cross for the payment for your sins. (Read: Romans 6:23 and Romans 10:9-10)

Jesus reminded Nicodemus about a story that he had learned as a little boy. It was about the Hebrew people in the wilderness with Moses. They had been bitten by poisonous snakes and were dying. God told Moses to make a snake out of brass and hang it on a pole. Then lift it up so that all the people could see. If they looked at the snake they could get well. If they refused to look at he snake they would die!

Jesus told Nicodemus that He too would have to be lifted up. Jesus took upon Himself the very thing that was killing mankind, SIN!  All those who repent and look to Jesus for their Salvation would be saved from the penalty of their sin. (Read: John 3:14-15)

This is why this is the Greatest Story Ever Told, because it’s a story of God’s love for you, me and all mankind. Would you like to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? You can, right now! (Simply ask God to forgive you and tell Him that you know that Jesus died for you.) Tell God that because He loves you and He is the Creator, you want Him to come in and be the Lord of your life.

Receive Jesus Christ right now as your Lord and Savior, and let the Gospel of Jesus Christ be the Greatest Story you have ever known!

If you have just ask Jesus to come into your heart please contact us at jason@truthtoall.com we would love to send you a free gift called Understanding The Gospel.  Understanding the Gospel is a free DVD that will help you better understand your relationship with Jesus Christ. We would also like to pray for you and help you get established in a local Bible believing church, which is vital to your spiritual growth in Christ.