Proclaiming The Gospel - Have You Believed The Gospel?

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                        "PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

                     Have You Believed The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ is "good news"...
   a. News that Jesus wanted everyone to hear - Mk 16:15
   b. News that can cause one to be "born again" - 1Pe 1:23-25

2. But it is news that must not only be heard, but believed...
   a. Thus the gospel contains facts to believe
   b. Which requires understanding and conviction concerning those facts

[What are the gospel’s "facts to believe"?  According to 1Co 15:1-3,
foremost is the fact that...]

I. JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS

   A. THE PROBLEM OF SIN...
      1. The Bible defines sin as transgression of God’s law - 1Jn 3:4
      2. It also includes failing to do what one knows is good - Jm 4:17
      3. The Bible declares that all have sinned - Ro 3:23; cf. 1Jn
         1:8,10
      4. Even one sin makes one guilty - Jm 2:10
      5. The consequences of sin are grave (spiritual death) - Isa 59:2;
         Ro 6:23; Re 21:8
      6. Everyone is a sinner, even the "religious" need saving! - e.g.,
         Ac 10:1-2; 11:14
      -- Do you believe that you are a sinner?

   B. THE SOLUTION FOR SIN...
      1. Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures - 1Co
         15:1-3; cf. Isa 53:4-6
      2. This was because God loved us, even when we were sinners - Ro
         5:6-8
      3. In love, God offered Jesus as a propitiation for our sins - 1Jn
         4:9-10
      3. It was also to satisfy God’s righteousness (justice) - Ro
         3:23-26
      -- Do you believe that God loves you, and that Jesus died for your
         sins?

[So we must believe that Jesus died for our sins.  Also foundational to
the gospel of Christ is that...]

II. JESUS WAS BURIED AND ROSE AGAIN

   A. THE FACT OF HIS RESURRECTION...
      1. Attested to by the Scriptures - 1Co 15:4; cf. Ps 16:10-11
      2. Attested to by eyewitnesses - 1Co 15:5-8; cf. Ac 2:32; 3:15
      3. Supported with empirical evidence - Ac 1:3; 10:39-41; 1Jn 1:1-4
      4. Supported by eyewitnesses who refused to recant despite
         suffering hardship - 2Co 6:4-10
      -- Do you believe that Jesus was buried and rose again?

   B. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS RESURRECTION...
      1. The Christian faith depends on the resurrection as historical
         fact - 1Co 15:14-19
      2. It verifies our justification, that Jesus’ blood is sufficient
         - Ro 4:24-25; Mt 26:28
      3. It gives us hope concerning our resurrection - 1Pe 1:3,21; 1Th
         4:13-14
      -- Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?

[Not only must we believe Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose
again, but also that...]

III. JESUS IS LORD AND KING

   A. HE HAS BEEN EXALTED...
      1. To sit at the right hand of God, ruling as Lord - Ac 2:33-36
      2. He is King of kings and Lord of lords - 1Ti 6:13-15; Re 1:5;
         17:14
      -- Do you believe that Jesus reigns from heaven above?

   B. HE NOW HAS ALL AUTHORITY...
      1. In heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22
      2. Over our lives and the things we do - Ro 14:6-8; Col 3:17,23
      3. Thus He expects to do what He says - Lk 6:46
      -- Do you believe that Jesus has all authority over your life?

   C. HE EXERCISES HIS AUTHORITY THROUGH HIS APOSTLES...
      1. He commissioned them to teach His doctrine - Mt 28:20
      2. To receive them is to receive Jesus, and ultimately, God - Jn
         13:20; 1Co 14:37
      3. Which the early Christians did faithfully - Ac 2:42; 1Th 2:13
      -- Do you believe that Jesus rules through His apostles’ words
         today?

[Accepting the apostles’ word as revealed in the New Testament as
authoritative, the gospel also calls us to believe that...]

IV. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

   A. HE IS RETURNING AS PROMISED...
      1. By the two men in white apparel (angels) as Jesus ascended - Ac
         1:9-11
      2. By His apostles in their writings - 1Th 4:16; Re 1:7
      -- Do you believe that Jesus is coming again?

   B. HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD...
      1. He is coming to judge the world in righteousness - Ac 10:42;
         17:30-31
      2. It will be day of righteous indignation for many - Ro 2:5,16
      3. When we shall have to appear the judgment seat of Christ - 2Co
         5:10
      -- Do you believe that you will have to answer to Christ when He
         returns?

CONCLUSION

1. Such are the facts proclaimed in the gospel of Christ

2. Do you believe the gospel of Christ as preached by His apostles?

If you do, then there is only one proper response:  "Men and brethren,
what shall we do?" (Ac 2:37).  In our next lesson, we shall consider
carefully the commands of the gospel to obey...
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