Gospel

This is what it’s about, the GOSPEL! No matter how you choose to share it you must stick to the truth of the gospel in it’s entirety. The scripture is important. Trust that it will do it’s work as God Himself works to convict and convince.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. – Romans 1:16

The Tenets of the Gospel

When sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are key points that must be covered, regardless of the method used. These tenets form the complete message of salvation and provide a clear understanding of the good news. The areas of responsibility are laid out as well. We must remember that Jesus did the work, God does the drawing and man delivers the message. Stay in your lane.

Paul Explains the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

The Problem

Whether or not man acknowledges the problem, it does not change the fact that a problem exists. Because of sin, mankind has been separated from God.

I will add here that if there is no recognition of a problem then there is no recognition of the need for a solution. Whatever effort you put into illustrating the separation between God and man will still fall short of expressing the magnitude of this reality. Don’t worry about spending a great amount of time on this point. The greater the chasm, the greater the joy of our redeemer!

1. God’s Character

God is light, holy, perfect, just, compassionate, patient, faithful and gracious. He loves humanity deeply and desires a relationship with us. 

  • Light – “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
  • Holy – “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2, NKJV)
  • Perfect – Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Mathew 5:48, NKJV)
  • Just, Compassioniate, Patient, Gracious, Faithful
    5 Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:5–7.)

2. Humanity’s Sinfulness

All people have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard, breaking our relationship with Him. Notice the word fellowship was not used. This is a family matter. 

  • All Have Sinned: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23, NKJV)
  • Sin Has a Cost: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NKJV)

The Solution

3. Christ’s Sacrifice

Jesus, being fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, offering reconciliation with God. 

  • But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    (Romans 5:8, NKJV) 
  • For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, (1 Peter 3:18, NKJV)
  • And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22, NKJV)

4. Resurrection of Jesus

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, proving His victory over sin and death, and offering the promise of eternal life to those who believe. 

  • He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6, NKJV)
  • Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9, NKJV)
  • But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:12–14, NKJV)

The Work is Done. Tetelestai

5. The Work of The Holy Spirit
A man must be drawn by God. Otherwise, he cannot be saved. This is not the work of man.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44, NKJV)

Man’s Response

Man’s response has no bearing on the “good news”. Jesus finished His work on the cross and God chooses if and when He draws a person to Himself. The reception of the gospel has no bearing on what He has already accomplished on mankind’s behalf.

1. A Call to Respond

The gospel demands a personal response—accepting Christ as Savior and Lord, which leads to a transformed life and eternal hope or rejection which leads to judgement and wrath. 

  • 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12–13, NKJV)
  • He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.(John 3:36, NKJV)
  • He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.“(Mark 8:29, NKJV)

2. A Proper Response

Salvation is received by turning away from sin (repentance) and trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness and eternal life (faith). 

  • Repentance – Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (Acts 3:19, NKJV)
  • …“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, NKJV) 
  • Faith – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9, NKJV)
  • that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9–10, NKJV)