Proclaiming The Gospel - Have You Heard The Gospel?

"PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL"

Have You Heard The Gospel?

INTRODUCTION
  1. Have you heard the most important news in the world...?
    1. I am referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ!
    2. A message that Jesus wants everyone to hear! - cf. Mk 16:15
  2. Perhaps you believe you have heard the gospel...
    1. Are you sure it was the pure and simple gospel of Jesus Christ?
    2. Not some perverted gospel based on teachings of men rather than the Word of God?

[In this lesson you will be presented with the gospel Jesus wants you to hear, the most important news in the history of mankind! But first, let’s go over a few...]

  1. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
    1. GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS...
      1. The Greek word is euaggelion
      2. In the NT, it is spoken only of the glad tidings of Christ and His salvation (cf. Lk 2:10) - Complete WordStudy Dictionary
    2. THE GOSPEL IS GOD’S POWER TO SAVE...
      1. Paul wrote that the gospel "is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" - Ro 1:16
      2. It tells how to be saved from our sins and the wrath of God to come
    3. BEWARE OF FALSE GOSPELS...
      1. Even in the first century, there were different gospels that distorted the gospel of Christ - Ga 1:6-9
      2. Are you sure that you have heard the true gospel of Christ?
    4. THE GOSPEL MUST BE OBEYED...
      1. Peter raised the question, "what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1Pe 4:17
      2. Paul answers that there will be terrible consequences for "those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" - 2Th 1:7-9

      [Are you sure that you have obeyed the gospel of Christ? With these preliminary considerations in mind, let’s now examine the gospel, noting first that...]

  2. THERE ARE FACTS TO BELIEVE!
    1. JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS...
      1. According to the Scriptures, Jesus died for our sins - cf. 1Co 15:1-3
      2. Paul likely had reference to Isaiah, written 700 years before Jesus’ death - Isa 53:4-6
    2. JESUS WAS BURIED AND RAISED...
      1. His burial and resurrection from the dead were foretold by Scripture and attested to by many eyewitnesses - 1Co 15:4-8
      2. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, they were false witnesses and our faith is in vain - 1Co 15:14-15
    3. JESUS IS LORD AND KING...
      1. He has been exalted to sit at the right hand of God, and rules 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
      3. He now has all authority in heaven and on earth - Mt 28:18; Ep 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22
    4. JESUS IS COMING AGAIN...
      1. He is returning as promised, to judged the world in righteousness - Ac 1:9-11; 17:30-31
      2. To be ready for the day of judgment, we must obey the gospel! - cf. 2Th 1:7-9

      [Note well: salvation is by the grace and mercy of God (Ep 2:8-9; Tit 3:4-7). One obeys not to earn salvation, but to receive it! And so, the gospel of Christ tells us...]

  3. THERE ARE COMMANDS TO OBEY!
    1. WE MUST BELIEVE THE GOSPEL...
      1. Otherwise, we will be lost - Mk 16:15-16; Ro 1:16
      2. We must believe (trust) in Jesus who died for our sins - Jn 1:29; 3:16,36; 8:24
      -- Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?
    2. WE MUST CONFESS OUR FAITH...
      1. Confessing that Jesus is Lord is necessary for our salvation - Ro 10:9-10; Mt 10:32-33
      2. It is called the good confession - e.g., Ac 8:37; 1Ti 6:12
      -- Have you confessed your faith in Jesus Christ?
    3. WE MUST REPENT OF OUR SINS...
      1. This means to make the decision to turn from our sins
      2. Jesus wanted repentance proclaimed in His name to all nations - Lk 24:46-47
      3. His apostles did this faithfully - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 17:30
      -- Have you repented of your sins?
    4. WE MUST BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS...
      1. Jesus made baptism an integral part of His gospel - Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16
      2. His preachers faithfully proclaimed the need to be baptized - Ac 2:38; 22:16
      3. His apostles wrote of the significance of baptism - Ro 6:3-7; Ga 3:27; Col 2:12-13; Tit 3:4-7; 1Pe 3:21
      4. Baptism is an immersion in water - Ac 8:36; 10:47-48
        1. The Greek word is baptizo which means to "to immerse"
        2. It is intended for penitent believers - Ac 2:38; 8:36-37
        3. For those who seek to have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus - Ac 22:16; Ep 1:7; 1Pe 3:21
      5. Many have distorted the gospel by removing the command to be baptized
      -- Have you been scripturally baptized for the remission of your sins?
    5. WE MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL...
      1. Obeying the gospel of Christ is just the beginning
      2. There are many things Jesus wants us to know and do - Mt 28:19-20
      3. 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?

    [To encourage one to obey the gospel...]

  4. THERE ARE PROMISES TO RECEIVE!
    1. THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS...
      1. By the blood of Jesus, our sins are washed away, blotted out - Ac 2:38; 3:19; 22:16
      2. Thus we enjoy forgiveness of sins, according to God’s grace - Ep 1:7
      -- Don’t you want to be forgiven of every sin you’ve committed?
    2. THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE...
      1. The wages of sins is death - Ro 6:23
      2. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ! - Ro 6:23; 1Jn 5:11-13
      -- Don’t you want the assurance of eternal life when you die?
    3. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...
      1. Jesus and His apostles promised the gift of the Holy Spirit - Jn 7:37-39; Ac 2:38-39
      2. Children of God enjoy the blessings of the Spirit at work in their lives - Ga 4:6; 5:22-23
      -- Don’t you want the blessing of the Spirit in your life?
    4. THE FAMILY OF GOD...
      1. In Christ we are blessed to have many brothers and sisters - Mk 10:28-30
      2. This refers to the church, which is the family of God - 1Ti 3:15
      3. This family encourages us to remain faithful - He 3:12-14
      -- Don’t you want to be a part of the wonderful family of God?
CONCLUSION
  1. There are more blessings, too numerous to list, for both this life and hereafter...
    1. Don’t you want to receive the promises of the gospel?
    2. Why not believe the gospel and obey the gospel today?
  2. How can you be sure this is the pure and simple gospel of Christ...?
    1. In the book of Acts, you can read detailed examples of conversions
    2. In each case, those who heard the gospel culminated their faith-repentance by being baptized!
    3. In a later study, we shall examine a number of these accounts of conversion
  3. How about you...?
    1. You have heard the gospel, and what you must do in order to be saved
    2. The responsibility of your salvation now rests with you

If you desire to study these things further, or to be baptized into Christ today, let us know...!