The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the expression of God's loving compassion and graceful forgiveness to a dying world. It is the story of the Son's death, burial, and resurrection, as well as the promise of His return. It is "the Power of God for Salvation to all those who believe."
The Gospel states that Man was created in God's image, in a state of perfect union with Him. However, Man rebelled against that union, choosing instead to seek knowledge apart from God's provision. This resulted in a cessation of the unity between Creator and Created, and a divide was formed between Man and God.
On his own, Man is unable to bridge that gap by any action or inaction, since the fallen nature is applied *a priori* from birth. The natural and necessary result of this fallen nature is eternal separation from God. Only the sacrifice of a perfect Savior could pay this debt and restore unity with the Creator.
The Son of God, being fully God, was born as a man, but being without the sinful nature of Man, came to Earth and died at the hands of men in order to serve as that perfect sacrifice. Upon His death, He made satisfaction for the debt of humanity, by taking on our sin. He made atonement by freely offering Himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice before God. He truly died and was buried, as the prophets foretold, but Death was unable to hold Him for long. The Son was raised up and glorified by the Father, receiving all authority and power to Himself. This act — the only thing that cost God anything, and which cost Him everything — resulted in the subjugation of Death, and effected a reunion with God.
Those who accept Him as Lord and believe in His Salvation will be saved. When they make such a confession of faith and are baptized with water, in the name of the the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are given new life from the Father, through the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ blood covers them, and His righteousness is imputed to them. When God looks down on the Saint, He sees only the blood of Christ. This is called Justification. This new life in Christ enables the believer to love and obey the Master, through faith, by the working of the Holy Spirit.
This divine life can be damaged or lost by an act of the will, rejecting or rebelling against the Lord, but nothing outside the individual's free will choice can harm the unity they have in Christ. As a Good Shepherd, Jesus pursues those who stray from the flock, and invites them to return, seek absolution for their rebellion, and demonstrate a genuine faith and submission to His holy will, with is Love and Mercy itself.
As a sign and a seal of their Salvation, the soul of the Saint is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who interprets the prayers of the Saint, counsels and edifies the Believer, and empowers and equips them for every good work. The Christian then must pursue a life of devotion to God, through love of God and neighbor; and being nourished by the Sacraments, the gifts from the Lord that both symbolize and effect His graces, they should strive to attain unto perfect obedience. This is the process of Sanctification, by which a believer lives out the Christian life.
At some future date, the Son will return to Earth. The dead in Christ, who's souls now worship before the throne and intercede for the good of the Church, will be resurrected bodily, and all who are alive in Christ will be raptured into Glory. These who believe and love Him will live in perfect Unity with God for eternity. Those who refused to accept the gift of Salvation will be banished from His presence, and spend eternity separated from Him.
Christ left us His holy Church, led by His apostles and their successors. It is only by uniting ourselves with His body and bride, the Church, that we can fully realize the power of God for salvation, and worship Him in spirit and truth. The institution of the Church, though imperfect and made up of imperfect members, is Jesus' plan for salvation of the world. The purpose of this Age is to prepare the Church, worthy to be the mystical bride of Christ, in all holiness. She will wear white, the righteous acts of the Saints, and will spend an eternity in perfect unity and submission to the King who bought her with His precious blood.