“In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth… God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:1,27Genesis 1:1,27
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Story of Creation ^{1 1} In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. a the heavens and the earth: “The heavens and the earth” stood for the universe. ²⁷ . ; . So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women.

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“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”(Romans 3:23Romans 3:23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.

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“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23Romans 6:23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
23 Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16John 3:16
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
16 God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

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“This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3John 17:3
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
3 Ws . Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent.

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“Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage … the only thing that matters is the faith that expresses itself in love.”(paraphrase of Galatians 5:1,6Galatians 5:1,6
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Christ Gives Freedom ^{5 1} Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again. ⁶ If you are a follower of Christ Jesus, it makes no difference whether you are circumcised or not. All that matters is your faith that makes you love others.

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The gospel is not about “salvation.” Many say it is. Others say the gospel is about “loving and accepting others as they are” and doing away with social and political evils. That is not what Jesus says it is though. Granted both of these have much to do with it, but these are really cursory, “added benefits” so to speak. The gospel is about the new availability of the Kingdom of God, the access that we now know and have by reliance on the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ, His life, death and resurrection. The Kingdom is at hand. It is here and you are welcome to enter. Forgiveness, freedom, grace, righteousness (YES! The two together!) and life eternal are ours, because they are His. Turn from that dead end road and believe in the good news!

Given life, called to die and rise again.

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