Sermon Central
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The Gospel Of Christ
Contributed by Bruce Allen on Jun 26, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: The Gospel of Christ is the most important news that mankind can come to know. Paul lays out the gospel for us in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Let us examine this passage so that we too may know the "Good New" of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Christ
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
INTRODUCTION
A. Good News!
We all want to hear good news.
Doesn’t matter if it is national, local, or personal --- we are always ready for good news.
[For some this is especially true when that good news concerns their favorite college team – such as: Purdue beating Indiana (Tom) or Indiana beating Purdue (Jeff).] – [Of course we all know that the best “good news” concerning any college sports game is when Kentucky wins, especially if it is an SEC football game.]
B. Evangelion/Evangelizo
As most of you probably know the Greek word which is translated “Gospel” in our English translations basically means – “good news” [Vine’s Exp. Dict., p 275/6].
So when we speak of the gospel of the Bible – we are speaking of the “Good News” concerning Jesus Christ.
I. GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST
Vs. 1a, 3b-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel … that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures. - [The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus!]
A. Death
1. The soul that sins dies -
Death is an experience that we all will go through. Why? --- Because we all are sinners.
Ezekiel 18:20a – (cf. 18:1-32)
The soul who sins shall die.
Therefore --- physical death and spiritual death has continued among mankind since the fall of Adam – Are you dead in your trespasses and sins?
2. He who knew no sin died –
However --- Jesus was not a sinner --- Yet, He died! Why? --- In order to reconcile us to God.
2 Corinthians 5:19, 21 – (cf. 5:14-21)
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. … For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Seeing that Christ died on the cross and bore the penalty of sin before God --- Have you taken your sins to Him?
3. He died for His own –
Christ died for sinners.
[Mary] shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost – Are you still seeking the way to God?
Jesus said --- Enter by the narrow gate – for the broad way leads to destruction [Matthew 7:13-14] --- Strive towards the narrow gate, no matter how difficult it seems.
B. Burial
1. According to custom –
When people die --- they are buried.
Joseph of Arimathea … and Nicodemus … took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
2. According to Scripture –
The Messiah was prophesied to suffer and die.
Isaiah 53:8-9 – (cf. 52:13-53:12)
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked – but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
3. As a picture for us -
Just as Jesus was buried, so too are we buried in the watery grave --- declaring that we are now dead to sin.
Romans 6:3-4a – (cf. 6:1-4)
Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized in His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death.
C. Resurrection
1. Satisfied God –
God demanded justice for sin’s penalty --- only Jesus was able to satisfy God’s demands with His atoning sacrifice.
We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man [Jesus Christ], after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
