The gospel in a nutshell

There are many ways to summarize the good news of our inclusion in God's life through our union with Jesus. Here is one from Paul:

"Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right" (Romans 5:18-19, The Message, Eugene H. Peterson).

The good news is that all humanity has been "put right" with God. Though once condemned because of the disobedience of Adam (Romans 5:18a) "all men" now have "justification that brings life" (5:18b, NIV) through the obedience of the second Adam, Jesus.

And now the call goes out to all to repent (change their thinking about God and themselves), embrace Jesus (join their faith to the faith of Jesus) and live the life that is theirs in Jesus. This is the life of the Spirit that delivers them from life controlled by the sinful nature (8:15-16). It is a life of glorious freedom (8:21), hope (8:24) and abiding security (8:31-35).