Menkato V Awomi
Dimapur
When we hear the word Gospel, what image or name comes to mind? For many of us, the immediate answer is Jesus Christ and rightly so. Others might say Good News, Salvation, Redemption, or Grace. All these are biblical and correct. But one thing is sure: where there is the Gospel, there is also a sinner who needs a saviour. Why? Because the Gospel is not preached to the righteous, but to the lost. Jesus Christ came for sinners. That is the very heart of the Gospel.
Who Is a Sinner?
The word sinner is a term we are all too familiar with. It is commonly understood as someone without God, someone apart from God and this definition stands true biblically. In fact, Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All means all, no exceptions not even babies. Why? Because sin entered the world through one man Adam (Romans 5:12). And through Adam, all became sinners. This inherited nature of sin is not something we earned by our actions it is something we were born with.
Misconceptions in Our Preaching
In many parts of the world and particularly even in Nagaland when evangelists, pastors, or missionaries preach the Gospel, the conversation often starts with sin and sinners. This is not necessarily wrong, but there’s a tendency to overemphasize external behavior and moral shortcomings: adultery, stealing, lying, homosexuality, addictions, not going to church, not paying tithes, and so on. The message that gets conveyed is: “You are a sinner because you did this or that.”
But this is not the message the Bible teaches.
We are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are sinners. (A tree produces fruit according to its nature. An apple tree bears apples because it is an apple tree, not the other way around. Similarly, we sin because we were born with a nature that is already corrupted by sin.) Our sinful nature was inherited. The moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the human race like a genetic curse. And from that moment on, every child born carries the seed of sin by default, by nature.
This foundational truth is rarely preached today. And because of that, many people are trying to earn salvation by doing good works. They were wrongly taught that they became sinners by their bad works so now, they try to become righteous by their good works. This mindset traps people in a cycle of religion, not relationship.
What the Bible calls sin is indeed sin and no arguments . Murder is a sin, theft is a sin, lying is a sin. Porn addiction, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are sins as well, and people need to be aware of this truth.
But what’s the point of preaching against sin if we don't point people to the Savior? We inherited sin from Adam; we didn't choose it or earn it—it was passed down to us. And because of that inherited sin nature, our lives manifest sinful actions.
The Simplicity of the Gospel
Let’s look at what the Bible really says. Romans 5:8 declares: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Notice, still sinners. It does not say “after we became holy,” or “after we kept the law.” God didn’t wait for us to get our act together. He came for us in our worst condition.
Ephesians 2:4–5 says, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” And in Genesis 3:15, right after the fall of man, God already prophesied that Jesus would come to crush the head of the serpent. God’s plan of redemption was not an afterthought it was always the plan.
Yet today, many pulpits still preach human effort as the key to salvation. They emphasize moral reform instead of heart transformation. They focus on behavioral correction instead of spiritual rebirth. This is not the Gospel. This is religion, and religion binds people. The devil’s oldest trick is to keep people focused on themselves so they never look to Jesus. If the devil can make you believe you’re not good enough, he will also make you believe that you need to fix yourself before you come to Christ. That is a lie from the pit of hell.
What Jesus Really Offers
Everyone knows John 3:16 but few grasp John 3:17: “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened…” is not a judgment; it’s a call of love. In Luke 19:10, Jesus Himself says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
And yet, while churches are filled with sermons on how to live morally, raise children right, or behave religiously, many neglect the essential truth: you cannot do any of that without Jesus first. Many well meaning people in our churches, especially in Nagaland, are trying to earn their way to God. But the truth is: Jesus did it all. It is finished.
How to Receive the Gospel
Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life is not a reward to be earned, it is a gift to be received. And gifts are received, not bought. That is why Jesus paid the price in full so we wouldn’t have to.
And how do we receive it? By faith, not by works. Romans 10:13 says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Go back with me to Sunday school especially in our Nagaland context. John 3:16 is memorized by every child. But do we really understand it? God didn’t just love a few people, He loved the world. That means Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians every single person. He gave His only Son for all.
But does that mean all are going to heaven? No. Why not? Because belief is the key. The verse continues: “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Forgiveness has been made available to all, but salvation is received by personal faith. Not by family background. Not by church attendance. Not even by knowing the verse. The decision must be made personally.
What Is Our Part?
Our part is simple:
1. Admit you are a sinner (1 John 1:8 says if we claim we’re not, we make God a liar).
2. Acknowledge your need for a Savior.
3. Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead.
4. Confess it with your mouth. (Romans 10:9–10)
Too many people come forward at altar calls, shed tears, feel guilt, and even ask for forgiveness but leave without receiving by faith. They stop at emotion and never move into confession and reception. Salvation is not just about repentance of sins, it’s about receiving new life.
Once you believe and confess, you are saved. The Bible is clear: there is no Jesus + good works, no good works + Jesus. It is Jesus + nothing = salvation.
And when you believe by faith, truly believe, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. You are no longer a “sinner saved by grace.” You were a sinner saved by Grace. Now you are righteous and holy, not by your own doing, but by the righteousness of Christ in you. As 1 John 4:17 says, “As He is, so are we in this world.” Sadly too many people have gone to hell even after residing this scripture because they never knew the truth in here.
Why This Matters for the Church in Nagaland
It is important to know Scripture even if you attend church because not every pulpit preaches the truth. Many are unaware, and others are compromised. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” In His day, it was the religious Pharisees who tried to stop Him from preaching the truth. Satan isn’t afraid of religion, he’s afraid of truth.
The truth is: God has done everything needed to save mankind. Our only role is to believe, receive, and confess. (Note: Confession here means confessing your faith, not repeatedly confessing your sins. Hebrews 8:12 says, “I will forgive their sins and remember them no more.” Why keep reminding God of what He has already chosen to forget?)
A New Nature, A New Life
When you receive Jesus, you are born again in spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you. The old sin nature is no longer dominant. The imperishable seed of God now lives in you. And this new nature will begin to bear fruit, righteousness, peace, and holiness. Not because you’re trying harder, but because His life now flows through you.
The Gospel is not about trying, it’s about trusting. It’s not about religion, it’s about relationship. It’s not about behavior modification, it’s about spiritual transformation.
Shalom.
