Proclaiming The Gospel - Have You Received The Gospel?

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                        "PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

                     Have You Received The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION

1. We have examined how the gospel contains...
   a. Facts to believe concerning Jesus Christ
   b. Commands to obey given by Christ and His apostles

2. The good news of the gospel also contains...
   a. Promises to receive
   b. Blessings enjoyed by those who believe and obey the gospel

[These blessings serve to encourage one to respond to the gospel of
Christ with faithful obedience.  The blessings are numerous, but let’s
focus on just a few, beginning with...]

I. THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

   A. DESCRIBED IN DIFFERENT WAYS...
      1. "remission of sins" - Ac 2:38
      2. "taken away" - Jn 1:29; Ro 11:27
      3. "blotted out" - Ac 3:19
      4. "washed away" - Ac 22:16
      5. "covered" - Ro 4:7
      6. "not imputed" - Ro 4:8
      7. "set free" - Ro 6:17-18
      8. "purged" - He 1:3; 2Pe 1:9
      9. "remembered no more" - He 8:12
      -- Illustrating how completely God has dealt with the problem of
         sin!

   B. AVAILABLE ONLY IN CHRIST...
      1. By God’s grace, through the blood of Christ - Ep 1:7
      2. Because of God’s love - 1Jn 4:10
      3. To satisfy God’s sense of justice (righteousness) - Ro 3:24-26
      4. A blessing that continues in Christ as we confess our sins - 1Jn 1:9
      -- Don’t you want the assurance that your sins are forgiven?

[To further encourage one to obey the gospel, there is...]

II. THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

   A. CERTAINLY NOT WHAT WE DESERVE...
      1. What we deserve ("earn") is death - Ro 6:23
      2. This death is spiritual death; ultimately, the "second death"
         - Re 21:8
      3. But God graciously gives us the "gift" of eternal life - Ro
         6:23
      -- What do you prefer:  what you deserve, or what God graciously
         offers?

   B. A FUTURE HOPE AND PRESENT POSSESSION...
      1. Eternal life is spoken of as a future hope - Mt 25:46; Mk
         10:30; Ro 6:22; Tit 1:2
         a. That which is received "at the end"
         b. That is, eternal life with God and all the redeemed
      2. Eternal life is also spoken of as a present possession - 1Jn
         5:11-13,20; Jn 17:3
         a. That which is received "now"
         b. That is, a quality of life based on our relationship with
            God and Christ, which is consummated more fully in eternity!
      -- Don’t you want to experience eternal life, both now and in
         eternity?

[Another promise or blessing that we receive by obeying the gospel
is...]

III. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

   A. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit - Jn 7:37-39
      2. Likewise the apostles - Ac 2:38; 5:32
      -- This promise of the Spirit is unique to the Christian age

   B. THE BLESSING OF THE SPIRIT...
      1. Engenders a loving relationship with God - Ga 4:6; Ro 8:14-16
      2. Empowers the Christian as God’s instrumental agent - Ep 3:16;
         Ro 8:12-13
      3. Enables the Christian to produce wonderful fruit - Ga 5:22-23;
         Ro 15:13
      4. The indwelling Spirit does this in conjunction with the Word of
         God - 1Co 6:19; Ep 6:17
      -- Don’t you want the aid of the Spirit to help you live the godly
         life?

[With the blood of Christ for forgiveness, the power of the Spirit for
strength, God helps with our struggle against sin.  Another help in our
struggle received in obedience to the gospel is...]

IV. THE FAMILY OF GOD

   A. THE PROMISE OF FAMILY...
      1. Jesus described those who were His real family - Mt 12:48-50
      2. He promised a large family for those willing to follow Him - Mk
         10:28-30
      3. This family is the church, the house of God - cf. 1Ti 3:15;
         5:1-2
      4. Those who obey the gospel are added to this family (church)
         - cf. Ac 2:41,47
      -- Don’t you want to be of a part of the family of God?

   B. THE BLESSING OF FAMILY...
      1. We have God as our Father, who loves and comforts us - 1Jn 3:1;
         2Co 1:3-4
      2. We have Jesus as our Brother and High Priest - He 2:11-12,17-18
      3. We have the Spirit who engenders familial love of God - Ro 5:5;
         8:14-16; Ga 4:6
      4. We have fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, to encourage
         and help us carry our burdens - 1Ti 5:1-2; He 3:12-16; Ga 6:1-2
      -- Don’t you want the aid of God’s family in your life?

CONCLUSION

1. These are just a few of the promises given to those who obey the
   gospel...
   a. The forgiveness of sins
   b. The gift of eternal life
   c. The gift of the Holy Spirit
   d. The family of God

2. Such promises are blessings for both this life and hereafter...
   a. Making this life one of true peace and contentment
   b. Making death and what follows not something to be feared, but
      anticipated!

Don’t you want to receive the promises of the gospel?  Then why not
believe and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ today...?
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