It’s All About Jesus

At Anthem, you will hear the word “Gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The word "Gospel" means "good news," and it truly is the best news humanity could ever receive. It is the story of God’s love for us, His plan to save us, and the lengths He went to bring us back to Himself.

The Gospel is the good news that through Jesus Christ, God has made a way for humanity to be restored to a right relationship with Him. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans. 3:23), and our sin separates us from Him. Despite our sin, God loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to take the penalty for our sin by dying on the cross (Romans 5:8). Jesus’ resurrection is proof that death and sin have been defeated, offering forgiveness and the gift of eternal life to anyone who believes in Him (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.) (Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” ).

The Gospel calls us to repent—turn away from our sin—and trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord (Mark 1:15 -and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[a] repent and believe in the gospel.”) (Rom. 10:9-10 - because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.). This relationship with God begins now and extends into eternity, transforming our identity and purpose. In Jesus, we receive forgiveness, new life, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in freedom from sin and in obedience to God (John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.); (Rom. 8:1-2 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.). The Gospel is not only about personal salvation but also about God’s plan to restore all of creation, making all things new (Col. 1:19-20 - For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.); (Rev. 21:5 -And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ).

The Gospel calls us to respond. It is not enough to know about Jesus—we are invited to repent, turn away from our sins, and place our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord (Mark 1:15 - and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[a] repent and believe in the gospel.”). This means trusting in what Jesus has done for us and surrendering our lives to Him. It’s not about trying harder or being "good enough" to earn God’s favor. Salvation is a gift we receive by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.). When we place our trust in Jesus, we are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and given the Holy Spirit to help us live out our new identity.

A real relationship with God begins with Jesus. He invites you to trust Him—not just to know about Him, but to surrender your life to Him completely. This isn’t about trying harder or being “good enough.” It’s about receiving the forgiveness and new life only He can give (Mark 1:15; Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus invites you to be His disciple, to walk in His ways, and to experience the fullness of life He has for you (John 10:10; Matt. 16:24).

When you place your trust in Jesus:

• Your sins are fully forgiven—every mistake, every regret wiped clean.

• You are welcomed into God’s family—loved, accepted, and never alone.

• You receive a new life—one that starts now and lasts forever.

• You begin a journey of transformation—learning to walk with Jesus and experience His love every day.

Jesus doesn’t just offer hope for the future; He offers life today. He invites you to turn to Him, to trust Him, and to follow Him into the life you were made for. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. It means making Him the center of your life—allowing His teachings to guide your decisions, relationships, and priorities. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24).

The first step in following Jesus is repentance—turning from life apart from God to the forgiveness found in Him. Simply ask God, as if He is right there with you, to forgive you. If repentance is the turning point; belief is the new direction. To believe is to trust that Jesus is who He says He is—the Son of God who died for your sins. Faith means placing your trust in Him alone as your Savior.

One of the first steps of obedience for a new believer is baptism. Jesus was baptized (Matt. 3:13-17), His disciples were baptized, and He commanded His followers to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19-20). Baptism is a celebration of new life—a public declaration of the work of Jesus Christ and the Spirit in our lives. Baptism is an outward expression of your inward faith, symbolizing your identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). Going under the water represents dying to your old life, and coming up out of the water represents being raised to new life in Christ. Baptism does not save you, but it is an important step of obedience that shows the world you belong to Jesus.

The rest of your life is now different, You have God with you through the Holy Spirit. That means you are never alone and your life has new meaning and purpose. As you step into life with God reading the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Ps. 119:105, Js. 1:22), praying regularly (Phil. 4:6-7, Matt. 6:9-13, 1 Thess. 5:17), joining the church (Acts 2:42-47, Heb. 10:24-25), walking by the Spirit (Jn. 14:26, Gal. 5:22-23), and sharing your faith (Mk. 5:19, Matt. 28:19-20) are essential practices to help you grow and live your life with God and his people.