Proclaiming The Gospel - Have You Obeyed The Gospel?

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                        "PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

                      Have You Obeyed The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION

1. The gospel contains glad tidings concerning Jesus and His salvation
   that we must believe...
   a. Jesus died for our sins
   b. Jesus was buried and rose from the dead
   c. Jesus is now Lord and King
   d. Jesus is coming again to judge the world

2. But it is imperative that we not only believe the gospel but also
   obey the gospel...
   a. Eternal salvation is for those who obey Christ - He 5:9
   b. What the apostle Paul calls "the obedience to the faith" - Ro 1:5;
      16:26
   c. An obedience that must come "from the heart" - cf. Ro 6:17
   d. Otherwise, eternal destruction awaits us! - 2Th 1:7-9

[What are the gospel’s "commands to obey"?  First and foremost...]

I. WE MUST BELIEVE

   A. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL...
      1. We must believe the gospel Jesus wants us to hear - Mk 16:15-16
      2. The gospel has the power to save, but only for those who
         believe it - Ro 1:16-17
      -- Do you believe the glad tidings concerning the salvation in
         Christ Jesus?

   B. BELIEVE IN JESUS...
      1. We must believe (trust) in Jesus, that He died for our sins
         - Jn 1:29; 3:16,36
      2. Otherwise, we will die in our sins! - Jn 8:24
      -- Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who
         died for your sins?

[The importance of faith cannot overemphasized.  But obedience to the
gospel requires that we acknowledge such faith; therefore...]

II. WE MUST CONFESS

   A. CONFESS JESUS AS LORD...
      1. To confess means to acknowledge, normally done with the mouth
      2. To confess Jesus as Lord is necessary for our salvation - Ro
         10:9-10; Mt 10:32-33
      -- Is your faith in Jesus sufficient to confess Him before others?

   B. THE GOOD CONFESSION...
      1. Confessing Jesus before others is called the "good confession"
         - 1Ti 6:12-13
      2. An example of such a confession is that made by the Ethiopian
         eunuch - Ac 8:37
      -- Have you made the good confession before others?

[When we believe and confess our faith, we are obeying the gospel of
Christ!  But our obedience does not stop there...]

III. WE MUST REPENT

   A. THE COMMAND...
      1. Jesus wanted repentance proclaimed in His name to all nations
         - Lk 24:46-47
      2. His apostles did this faithfully - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
      -- Have you repented?

   B. WHAT IT MEANS...
      1. Repentance means "a change of mind", to make a decision
      2. In particular, making the decision to turn from sin and turn to
         God
      3. A decision prompted by godly sorrow, leading to salvation - 2Co
         7:9-11
      -- Has godly sorrow for your sins moved you to repentance?

[Once faith in Jesus and godly sorrow moves us to make the decision to
turn from our sins and turn toward God, we are ready for the command
that culminates our obedience to the gospel...]

IV. WE MUST BE BAPTIZED

   A. IMMERSION IN WATER AND SPIRIT...
      1. Jesus made baptism integral to His gospel - Mt 28:19-20; Mk
         16:15-16
      2. It is intended for penitent believers - Ac 2:37-38; 8:36-37
      3. Baptism (baptizo = immerse) is an immersion in water - Ac 8:36;
         10:47-48
      4. Thus it was described as involving a burial - Ro 6:3-4; Col
         2:12-13
      5. Baptism also involves the Holy Spirit - Tit 3:5; 1Co 12:13
      6. Thus it involves two elements:  water and Spirit - Jn 3:5
      -- Have you been born again of water and the Spirit?

   B. FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS...
      1. Forgiveness of sins is made possible by the blood of Christ
         - Ep 1:7
      2. In baptism we are buried with Christ into His death - Ro 6:3-4
      3. Through God’s working, we are raised with Christ, forgiven of
         sin - Col 2:12-13
      4. Thus baptism was done for (eis = into, to, for) the remission
         of sin - Ac 2:38; cf. Mt 26:28
      5. Thus it was said that baptism "washes away sins" - cf. Ac 22:16
      -- Have you been scripturally baptized for the remission of your
         sins?

[When the penitent believer in Christ rises from the watery grave, by
the grace and mercy of God the blood of Christ has cleansed them from
their sins!  But obedience to the gospel does not end there...]

V. WE MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL

   A. BAPTISM IS THE BEGINNING...
      1. There are things Jesus wants us to know and do - Mt 28:19-20
      2. Such as the importance of assembling with other Christians - He
         10:24-25; e.g., Ac 20:7
      2. We must remain faithful to Christ if we want to receive the
         crown of life - Re 2:10
      -- Are you willing to be faithful to Jesus?

   B. THE DANGER OF APOSTASY...
      1. If it were not possible to fall away, why the warnings? - 2Pe
         3:17
      2. It is possible to become hardened by sin, thus the need to be
         steadfast - He 3:12-14
      -- Are you willing to remain faithful to Jesus?

CONCLUSION

1. These are the commands of the gospel proclaimed by Jesus and His
   apostles...
   a. We must believe
   b. We must confess
   c. We must repent
   d. We must be baptized
   e. We must remain faithful

2. Have you obeyed the gospel proclaimed by Jesus and His apostles...?
   a. Not a gospel altered by man that eliminates some of the commands
   b. But the pure and simple gospel of Christ as revealed in the Bible

Only those willing to obey the commands of the gospel can have the
assurance of receiving the promises of the gospel.  These promises we
shall examine more closely in our next lesson...
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