The essential meaning of the cross is this: “Jesus took my place.”  It reveals the very heart and soul of the Gospel.

First, the cross reveals our need for a Savior.  When we see Jesus at the cross, we can understand how offensive our sins are in the eyes of a holy God.

Second, the cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).

Finally, the cross reveals our eternal victory.  When we are crucified with Jesus Christ, we can look forward to spending eternity in heaven with God because Christ gave His life for us.

When we come humbly to the cross, we can hear the words of Jesus, receive His forgiveness, and experience His indescribable love.  And there we can gain renewed motivation to tell others about the riches and glory of His grace.

People love to hear about dramatic rescues. We eat up stories about people being saved from fiery car crashes or capsized boats.  But God places the highest priority on rescuing you and me and others from the terrible consequences of sin.  He wants to save us from the punishment of hell and place us in his eternal kingdom.

But the Bible teaches that salvation is “by grace through faith” [Ephesians 2:8]. It is by grace because it is a free gift given by God.  It is not earned by our effort. Salvation comes through faith because we must rely on a trustworthy Savior-the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don’t slip into thinking that salvation is optional or that Jesus Christ is one of many ways to God. The Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven…by which we must be saved” [Acts 4:12].

Value your salvation.  And never forget that many men, women, and young people in this very area still need to be rescued from the greatest danger of all-eternity without God.

What does it mean when we tell someone that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus Christ is one with God. Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one” [John 8].

At the same time, Jesus is also fully human.  He took on human flesh as a real man, not just some human-like manifestation of God. He was born just like the rest of us. He ate and drank, worked and slept, hugged little children, and cried with friends.

Jesus was also tempted by sin.  But unlike our first human parents, Jesus withstood temptation. He lived out his entire life in perfect submission to the will of God.  As the perfect human, Jesus is able to be our perfect Savior.

The Bible says, “The Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him” [1 John].

So let’s be clear, when we talk with others, about who Jesus is.  What you or I or anyone else believes about Jesus Christ makes all the difference in the world.

I think many times we put pressure on ourselves to come up with some great word picture or some impressive analogy to explain the Good News. While it’s true that those things can be helpful, often times they aren’t what make the difference when it comes to someone accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ.

I was at an event not long ago where a friend shared his testimony. He had a powerful story of how God changed his life. He finished by asking if anyone wanted to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. When I asked one of the men who gave his heart to the Lord why he made that decision he said, “it wasn’t the story he told but the verse he quoted.”

The Word of God has the power to convict people of sin and bring them into relationship with Jesus Christ. Isaiah says, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

So, if you don’t feel like a gifted storyteller, or a creative orator, don’t let that keep you from sharing the Good News! Simply open the Bible and lovingly sharing a verse with a friend. It may be all that person needs to give their heart to Jesus.