The Gospel is Our Primary Message
Series: First Things
Romans 1:16
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.
Intro:
1 Corinthians 2:2 NKJV For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Body:
1A. The Gospel is simple. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV (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…
1B. You are a sinner.
2B. Jesus died in payment for your sins.
3B. He rose again the third day by His power.
NOTE: The Gospel is that Jesus Christ died to save helpless sinners from the judgment of the holy God and rose again the third day. Cf. Galatians 1:6-9
2A. The Gospel is personal. John 3:3 NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:7 NKJV Do not marvel that I said to you, ’You must be born again.’
1B. You must become a new person.
1C. The issue of the Gospel is not reforming or becoming a better person.
2C. The issue is that you are hopelessly incapable of doing right and obeying God.
2B. Every individual must deal with the Gospel. John 3:18 NKJV "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:36 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."
3A. The Gospel is universal. John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1B. The Gospel is for the entire world of mankind.
2B. It is available for everyone who will come to Christ. Romans 10:9-13 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. (11) For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (13) For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
NOTE: But the faith that saves is not faith in faith, nor faith in our ability to maintain faith, but faith in Christ. Our confidence is in Christ, not in ourselves. (Albert Mohler)
4A. The Gospel is exclusive. Acts 4:12 NKJV Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
1B. Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation.
1C. Not only is He the only Person.
2C. His Name is the only Name.
1D. Names identify with specificity, even if a person has multiple names.
2D. The Lord has revealed His names to us in His complete revelation, the Word of God.
2B. He is God Himself. Hebrews 1:2-3 NKJV has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…
John 14:9 NKJV He who has seen Me has seen the Father.
5A. The Gospel is transformational. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
1B. He indeed makes us a new person.
1C. Different in desires and in ability to know and obey God.
2C. Different than we were, but not yet perfect in experience.
ILL: Similarity of a human embryo to an animal embryo. At conversion a new life is there with all its affections but may not yet show itself as fully distinct from the unregenerate. (Jonathan Edwards)
2B. He also makes us a new kind of person. Ephesians 2:14-16 ESV For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (15) by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
6A. The Gospel is not primarily:
1B. Political.
1C. It is not primarily about government.
2C. It is not primarily about the worthiest political issues like ending abortion, maximizing political freedom, etc.
2B. Social.
1C. It is not primarily about poverty and helping the downtrodden in their material needs.
2C. It is not primarily race, gender, or other social justice issues.
3B. Cultural.
1C. It is not primarily about cleaning up the culture or preserving its most worthy components.
2C. It is not primarily about what I wear, what I listen to, how I entertain myself, or the language I speak.
NOTE: The Gospel will inevitably produce motivations, attitudes, and behaviors in regard to all of these areas in converted people.
7A. The Gospel is primarily redemptive. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NKJV knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Concl.
1A. Since the Gospel is our primary message, we will preach that everyone who can understand must turn from their sin to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.
1B. We will pointedly and specifically name sin.
2B. We will earnestly urge people to come to Christ.
2A. Since the Gospel is our primary message, we will focus our efforts as a church on getting the Gospel to those outside these walls.
1B. We will make soulwinning a priority.
2B. We will be equipped to lead others to Christ.
