"WHY I BELIEVE"
In The Gospel Of Christ
INTRODUCTION
- Among things in which I believe is the gospel of Jesus Christ...
- The word "gospel" (Gr., euaggelion) means "good news"...
- It pertains to the good news of salvation through Christ
- It involves the proclamation of God's grace offered through Jesus
[As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I firmly believe in the gospel. In this
study, we will first review why the gospel is so important, and then
summarize the particulars of the gospel...]
- THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL
- SOMETHING JESUS WANTED EVERYONE TO HEAR...
- Jesus wanted every person in the world to hear the gospel - Mk
16:15-16
- It must therefore be important to Him
-- If so important to Him, it must be important to all who believe
in Him!
- POWER TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES...
- Paul described the gospel as God's power unto salvation - Ro
1:16; 1Co 15:1-2
- In the gospel is revealed God's righteousness - Ro 1:17
- Thus he was not ashamed of the gospel, ready to preach it
anywhere - Ro 1:15; 15:19b
-- If Paul had such convictions regarding the gospel, shouldn't
we?
- CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY...
- Peter raised the question of what of those who not obey the
gospel - 1Pe 4:17
- Paul revealed the answer: vengeance and eternal destruction
from God! - 2Th 1:7-10
-- If the consequence of not believing the gospel is so grave, how
can we not believe?
[Because of what it means to Jesus and His apostles, what it means to us
who believe, and what it will mean for those who do not obey, I believe
in the gospel! But what exactly is this "good news"...?]
- THE PARTICULARS OF THE GOSPEL
- CONTAINS FACTS TO BELIEVE...
- Christ was crucified for our sins - 1Co 15:1-3; cf. Isa 53:4-6
- Christ was raised from the dead - 1Co 15:4; e.g., Ac 2:32
- Christ is exalted as Lord and Savior - Ac 2:33-36; cf. Ep 1:20-23
- Christ is coming again, this time to judge the world - Ac 17:30-31; cf. 2Th 1:7-9
-- Note that destruction comes to those who do not OBEY the
gospel; the gospel therefore contains more than simply facts to
believe! - 2Th 1:8
- INCLUDES COMMANDS TO OBEY...
- We must believe the gospel concerning Jesus Christ - Mk 16:16;
cf. Ro 1:16
- We must confess our faith in Jesus Christ - Ro 10:9-10; e.g.,
Ac 8:37
- We must repent of our sins - Lk 24:46-47; cf. Ac 2:37-38; 3:19;
17:30-31
- We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Mk 16:15-16;
cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16
- We must remain faithful, even to the point of death - Re 2:10;
cf. He 3:12-14
-- For those who obey the gospel, Jesus becomes the author of
eternal life! - He 5:9
- OFFERS PROMISES TO RECEIVE...
- The remission of sins, through the blood of Jesus - Ac 2:38;
cf. Ep 1:7
- The gift of the Holy Spirit, to empower the Christian - Ac 2:38-39; cf. Ro 15:13; Ep 3:16
- The gift of everlasting life, to be received at the end - Jn 3:16; cf. Ro 6:22-23
-- This is why the gospel of Christ is truly "good news"!
CONCLUSION
- We have seen that the gospel of Christ is...
- Good news Jesus wanted everyone to hear
- The power of God of salvation to everyone who believes
- Condemnation for those unwilling to obey it
- We saw where the gospel of Christ contains facts, commands, and
promises...
- The facts to believe contains the message of God's love and grace
- The commands to obey are not difficult works done to earn
salvation, but simple acts of faith whereby we receive God's grace
and mercy
- The promises to receive help us deal with the problem of sin in
our lives
- Do you believe in the gospel of Christ...?
- Enough to obey it to ensure the salvation of your own soul?
- Enough to tell others about it?
May we all have the same attitude as Paul did regarding the gospel of
Christ...
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek." - Ro 1:16