What an extraordinary blessing to be called a son or daughter of God because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice! As we grasp and experience the mind-blowing, selfless, and inexhaustible love of our Lord, it becomes natural for us to pray for opportunities to witness for Jesus. As God places us into various situations to share the Gospel, whether it is a one-time encounter or maybe in someone’s journey of encountering Jesus, the Scriptures tell us that we always need to be ready to share our faith as believers (1 Peter 3:15).

As we begin to pray, “Lord, what is your purpose for me in this person’s life?”, we seek for his clear leading and say, “Where are they up to in their journey toward you? How do you want me to be involved for this person to take the next step in their journey toward you?” and lastly, we say, “Use me, Jesus to lead this person to put his faith in you”. When we have this mindset of availability to God, we’ll find ourselves in diverse encounters because he sure loves answering those prayers!

Having known our purpose and that Jesus has sent us:

• into every encounter
• with every person
• in every circumstance
• in every day of our lives…

… are we ready to share the one unchanging message of salvation and hope? How do we say it in the simplest form? I used to complicate the message of the cross when sharing. I used to throw in words or religious terms that a lot of people don’t understand. I must have ended up confusing them instead of helping them understand the Gospel.

So, how do we say the Gospel in the simplest form?

The Apostle Paul puts it simply in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6.

3 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

“I delivered to you as of first importance” Paul says. In a way he is saying that there is NOTHING more important in the Christian faith than this. This is the essential truth you must not get wrong. This is the gospel boiled down into two great truths.

Christ died for our sins, and he was raised. That’s it!

The evidence that Jesus died is that he was buried. The evidence that he rose again is that he was seen by many (Cephas, the twelve, more than 500 brothers, James, the apostles, Paul himself). This is our one unchanging message. This is the gospel—two truths:

“Christ died in our place, for our sins, and he was raised again, he is alive today and we can know him personally.”

Every gospel conversation you have with people will be different, but every gospel conversation can revolve around these two simple great truths.

“Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Through repentance and faith, Jesus’ simple message has the power to transform lives, break bondages, heal deep feeling of inadequacy, brokenness and misery, restore relationships and families, unite communities and heal nations.

Billy Graham said, “The way of salvation has not changed. All these centuries the way to the kingdom of God is exactly the same. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. He will never change, but you MUST CHANGE.”

Pray this today:

Pray that God would give you grace to live a godly life and that he would open doors of opportunity for you to share these gospel truths with the people in your life that need Jesus. When God gives you those opportunities, be bold and keep it simple!