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In this sermon, guest speaker Carleton Maybell delivers his first message at Agape Love Word Prayer and Faith Family Ministry, focusing on making the gospel plain and understandable. He explains both the bad news of humanity’s separation from God and the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Drawing from scripture, Carleton highlights why Jesus had to die for our sins, the significance of His resurrection, and how these truths provide assurance and hope for believers. This teaching helps listeners articulate the gospel clearly, understand its biblical foundations, and encourages everyone to develop a personal relationship with the Lord.

1. What is the bad news

We cannot do or be good enough to earn eternal life. We cannot save ourselves.

Romans 3:19–20 (KJV 1900) 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

What caused this bad news?

When Adam sinned, he caused separation between us humans and God. Now we live in a state of sin and we all deserve to die for it.

Through one man, sin entered the world, bringing death to all because all are considered to have sinned in him.

When Adam sinned, it caused humanity to become unclean. And this why we all naturally die.

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV 1900) 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities (immoral behavior), like the wind, have taken us away.

Summary of the bad news

We deserve death.

2. What is the Gospel (evangelion) – Good news?

The Bible makes this very plain

1 Corinthians 15:1–5 (KJV 1900) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Notice how this message is “According to the scriptures”

The Gospel didn’t just come out of no where

The Old Testament scriptures consistently talked about and hinted at the death and resurrection of Christ, but now in hindsight it’s much clearer as to what they were talking about. Paul is affirming that in his simple breakdown of the Gospel.

1 scripture explaining that Christ would die for our sins

Isaiah 53:5–6 (KJV 1900) 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

According to what scriptures did Christ raise on the third day?

Well, Christ himself continually stated that he would be raised on the third day (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22–23, Matthew 20:18–19, Mark 8:31, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:33–34, Luke 9:22, Luke 18:31–33, John 2:19–22, Matthew 12:40)

But it’s thought that the Gospels weren’t written when 1 Corinthians was written, so that’s probably not the scripture Paul is referring to.

However, the old testiment lays out patterns and signs that in hind site we can say describe Christs third day resurrection.

The biggest example being Jonah, who was in the belly of the whale for 3 days. Even Jesus points to this as being a sign of how He must also be “in the heart of the earth” for 3 days and then be resurrected.

Importance of “according to the scriptures”

Paul is rooting this message (the Gospel) in the Word. He’s citing his source.

3. Why did Christ have to die for us to be saved, Why couldn’t God just forgive?

Forgiveness has a cost

In simple terms, forgiveness is not free. It has a cost.

It’s the same way in America, if you break the law, you have to pay whatever the cost is. If I come to your house and break your TV, and you say it’s okay I forgive you. That’s cool, but somebody has to pay to fix the TV. If you decide to pay for it then you covered the cost.

Now the cost for sin is death. And so Christ dying is, God stepping in on your behalf and covering the cost.

If God doesn’t cover the cost, He’s not just

The scriptures tell us that He’s just.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV 1900) 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.

He doesn’t show favoritism

Deuteronomy 10:17 (KJV 1900) 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

Example (Judge and the guilty): If you commit a crime and the judge decides to forgive you and let you off, that judge is not right.

Christ dying for our sins is the judge stepping down and servicing our sentence for us.

This allows God to be both just and merciful.

4. What’s the importance of Christ raising from the dead?

The importance of Christ rising is that we will also rise as he rose and proof that his testimony is true.

1 Corinthians 15:12–22 (KJV 1900) 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In summary: Christ rising from the dead gives us proof that we will also be raised from the dead. He’s the first example of his own testimony. If he never rose, it would show that sin and death had not been defeated. Death would still reign and we would still be subject to paying for the original sin.e

The fact that Christ rose is very important. So important that he appeared to the apostles and to 500 people at one time. He proves this to us that we may believe.

1 Corinthians 15:5–6 (KJV 1900) 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

John 3:16 (KJV 1900)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

5. Summary

Romans 5:17 (KJV 1900) 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

So where do you go from here? Spend personal time with Christ, get to know him, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and he will change you.