Wednesday, August 5, 2015

What is the Gospel?

Yesterday came another reminder of the brevity of life, I heard of two deaths.  Therefore I am compelled to post this very important topic called What is the Gospel? and I pray that you will read it in its entirety


What is the Gospel - 15 points

Romans 1:14-18 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise.  So as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

All your knowledge is divided into 3 categories:  1, things that are not important, 2 things that are important, 3 things that are absolutely essential.  You can live a happy life without knowing certain things.  Some things are interesting, some are useful, but they are not important that they are something  you must know.  Other things are very important that we may understanding, example: how to drive a car according to the rules of the road, how to use a chain saw's safety rules, electrical safety.. if you live a life without knowing important things, you might live a short life.

The gospel is absolutely essential not only for well being, but essential for your everlasting welfare.  If you are ignorant of the gospel for your whole life, you will be suffering the consequences one million years from now.  But if you understand the gospel but accept it and receive it and believe it, you will be receiving the benefits of the knowledge of the gospel in a million years time.

The gospel is the most important subject.  This is the knowledge that we most need..  this knowledge of the gospel is very lacking.  Not all of the gospel is preached, just the part about believing and you are forgiven.  What is the real gospel?  the biblical gospel.  You must know this because if we do not know the real gospel, how are we going to witness it to others?

 
What does the word gospel mean?  good news, good tidings, good message.. here are 15 points of what the gospel is:

1.  The gospel is something that is preached:..  Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…….”  Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom…..”  preaching is the predominant means of presenting the gospel.

2.  The gospel is preached about Jesus:  Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 2 Corinthians 2:12  ”Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord”   The gospel is something preached to you about Jesus, it is his gospel.

3.   The gospel is about the grace of God:  Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  It’s about God's blessing, his favor given to us that we do not deserve. It’s about God removing the punishment for our sins that we do deserve and giving us blessing that we don't deserve.

4.   The gospel is something that is heard: Acts 15:7 “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”  Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  You may hear it through your eyes as in sign language.  You may hear it in your mind from reading a book.  You may hear it with your ears from listening to a sermon, but the gospel is always heard.  The gospel is word, not pictures.  The only gospel you should ever see is a changed believer's life.

5.  The gospel is true:  Galatians 2:5 “……… that the truth of the gospel might continue with you”  2:14 “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all……..” Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world;….”  The gospel is not a nice message made up by men to help them through life, it is truth..it is real and it is factual. 

6.  The gospel is powerful to save sinners:  Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to very one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” 1 Thess. 1:5 “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;…….” The gospel is the explosion of the power of God to save men and women.  The purpose is to save sinners from sin.

7.  The gospel is something that must be believed: The whole gospel must be believed.  Mark 1:15 “..the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.”  Acts 15:7 “…Peter rose up, and said unto them, men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,but have everlasting life.” This is presently, actively believing, every day.

8.  The gospel is peace with God: Romans 10:15 “…..how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.”  Ephesians 6:15 “and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”  God gives peace..  it is the doctrine of reconciliation.. enmity is removed and we have peace with God.

9.  The gospel needs to be obeyed:  2 Thess. 1:8 “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” The gospel is not just head knowledge that doesn't affect our lives,  its obedience to God. 

10. The gospel is about fellowship and unity:  Philippians 1:5 “for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”  The gospel brings unity and fellowship because we become a part of the family when we are believers.  One family with all other true believers.

11. The gospel calls sinners  2 Thess 2:14 “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The gospel calls us to the crucified Saviour Jesus Christ.

12.  The gospel is something that is seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ:  Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  The gospel is about the crucified and resurrected Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The gospel is never a bland message that is about "God just wants to forgive all your sin because he just loves everyone." that is nonsense.  God forgives a believer’s sin only because he punished that sin on Jesus Christ in their place.  There is no forgiveness outside of Christ's sacrifice. He is punished in our place as our substitute.  There is no love of God outside the cross.  John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If you reject the cross you don't have any love of God.  Its not that God is love, love love.

13.  The gospel is hid to those who are lost:  2 Corin. 4:3 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” The lost are blinded by the god of this world.  No unbeliever will see it unless God opens their eyes.

14.  The gospel can be perverted and polluted:.  Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. The lovely gospel, the means, the only way by which sinners can be saved can be perverted until the point that it is not the gospel anymore.  The lovely gospel about salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone can be polluted by men, by liberal, by worldly evangelicals. Even if you are listening to a preacher preaching an eloquent message, even if you hear the fluttering of angel wings, and see a bright angel that appears that it came from God, if that preacher is preaching a different gospel, you are to let that preacher be accursed.   We are not to be in fellowship with those who pollute and corrupt the gospel.  Christians (so called) who deny or twist the gospel are to be considered accursed.

15.  The gospel needs defending:  Philippians 1:16-17 “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but  the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.”  Jude 3-4 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, an denying the only Lord God, and our lord Jesus Christ.” The true gospel needs to be contended for and defended from the perversions of sinful men.  The gospel needs to be defended against "easy believism"  that adds all the man made actions to the gospel  "come up to the front, raise your hand, repeat after me"   By another gospel, Paul means one into which the inventions of men are added.  Man's traditions added are twisting the gospel.

You have been hearing the answer to the question What is the Gospel.  It’s absolutely essential for you forever, but just knowing the answer to the question is not enough. You have to believe it, you have to trust in it, you have to obey it, you have to receive the Jesus of the gospel.  Head knowledge of what the gospel is, though essential is not enough.  You can know the gospel and still go into outer darkness, but you can't know Jesus and still go into outer darkness.  The gospel is not an end, it is the means to the end.  It leads us to the person of Jesus Christ, to know him, and that is salvation, to know him.  Will you receive the Saviour?  Will you obey the gospel?  The Lord Jesus is going to be revealed from heaven.  There is eternal separation from the Lord if you do not obey the gospel.  It is not enough to know about it, you have to believe, obey and do it.  You have to receive Christ.  You don't have to be good enough because that is the point, none of us are good enough, that is why it is by grace.  We are all sinners and no one is good enough.

The gospel is a heavenly mystery that cannot be comprehended by the most intellectual of men.  It is contained in Christ, nothing else but repentance and faith.  Anyone who is not saved, here is what Spurgeon says:  "I beseech you that you rest not your head on your pillow tonight unless you know that if you die this night you will open your eyes in heaven.  But if you have not that faith, that you might open your eyes in heaven, how dare you sleep lest your bed becomes your tomb and your bedroom becomes your gateway to hell.

 This is based on notes I made from a sermon by Rev. Paul Dowling of Whiteabbey Congregational (Reformed) at Sermon Audio.  Link following:

 http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=82151033558

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