The Gospel Way of Knowing God

We know God through the Gospel: THE PROBLEM THE RESCUE (THE GOSPEL) THE RESPONSE Knowing God is only possible because of his GRACE toward us in Jesus Unit 1 Recap Blind toward God in our fallen state Ignorant due to corruption in our sin In bondage to sin and satan Jesus is the living word (revelation) of God Jesus deals with our sin at the cross Jesus is now our mediator to God Faith (trust) & Repentance (turning away from sin) Abiding in Christ (remaining faithful to his words)

Last time we were concerned with the content of the gospel Now we’re going to look at the application of the gospel for us Unit 2

Groups : * Acts 20:20-21 * Acts 26:20 * Acts 11:18 * Acts 2:37-38 * 2 Timothy 2:25 * Acts 16:14 * Acts 18:27 * Ephesians 2:8-9 * Philippians 1:29 * Rom 6:17  What is the proper response to the gospel?  What is involved in making this response a reality? “The Gospel way of Knowing God”

-It is by Gracious Revelation -It relies on Human Language & Communication -It involves God’s use of His servants/ambassadors -It demands response -It entails faith and reason “The Gospel way of Knowing God”

Involves Gracious Revelation -Foundational to this is what we know about our state in sin (John 3:19-23) -Revelation about God comes from beyond human resources -God has appointed ambassadors, not philosophers to make himself known -He has empowered this work by the I llumination of his Spirit (John 16:7-8) -This way of knowing God fits with the gospel itself! -Salvation depends on grace, not human efforts (Rom 5:6-11) -We can discover things about God through human observation but such works cannot achieve any kind of personal relationship with Him The Gospel way of Knowing God…

Relies on human language -God makes himself known by becoming one of us – a God Man -The fact that Jesus is fully human is fundamental to our reconciliation (Heb 2:14-18) -So the gospel and its expansion is thoroughly human from one perspective -God did not give everyone an in build knowledge of Jesus, bypassing human communciation -To know God we must hear or read what he has made known in Jesus -So the gospel is not merely one witness amongst many to the revelation of God -IT IS God’s appointed revelation – capable of bringing a saving knowledge of Him to those who would receive it The Gospel way of Knowing God…

It involves God’s use of his servants Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:5 What do these verses teach us about who is involved in the work of the gospel and what they do? The Gospel way of Knowing God… “The initiative, power and substance of the message belong to God, but his ambassadors serve him with all their might: Col 1:29”

Demands a response -Mark 1:14-15, 2 Cor 5:15 -The literary genre of GOSPEL, is defined by information that demands a response from the one receiving it (John 20:30-31) -Not mere academic knowledge – Man U won last week? -The Gospel reveals our attitudes to God either way -Those who hear but eventually reject Jesus are worse off than those who never hear of Him! (2 Peter 2:21) The Gospel way of Knowing God…

“The Gospel way of Knowing God” VS JUST BELIEVE IT!!!! JUST PROVE IT!!!!

 The Gospel is from God  Given God’s status it’s right we believe what God says because HE says it  Given our status it’s right to expect our knowledge of Him to come by revelation, not observation and reasoning alone which is fallen  God’s approaches us through the Gospel  As we’ve seen – chosen method of revelation?  So rational thought presupposed  Verbs used in Acts 20:21, 25, 27, 31  So we receive what God says using our minds, illumined by Spirit  The Gospel is about a person and invites relationship  God is not a math problem for us to solve!  Receiving gospel very much like discerning trustworthiness of another  Evidences are helpful but we must be willing to see it and respond rightly Faith or Reason? : Both!

The Gospel-Way of Knowing God = G racious Revelation R elies on human language A ctively involves God’s servants C alls for a response E ntails both faith and reason

Break time….

1.The persuasive power of the gospel itself 2.The persuasive power of the Holy Spirit Why do we believe the Gospel?

The Person of Jesus  Jesus’ words: Authoritative and Wise  Jesus’ life: Consistent and True  Jesus’ relationships to others: Decisive and Transforming Mark 1:16-20 Mark 1:21-22 Mark 1:23-26 The Persuasive Power of the Gospel itself

The Resurrection witness of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Acts 17:31 The Persuasive Power of the Gospel itself

God’s witness in the Old Testament Matthew 8:14-17 Mark 1:9-11 Luke 4:16-21 Acts 17:11 For all the promises of God find their yes in him 2 Corinthians 1:20 The Persuasive Power of the Gospel itself

A common experience for us? WHY DON’T THEY SEE IT!?! Gospel, Gospel, GOSPEL!!! ????

SAVING FAITH IS NOT SIMPLY DOWN TO OUR REASON ACCEPTING THE GOSPEL AS TRUE -This means the following when we witness: -A relief of responsibility for those we witness to -A reminder to soak our witness in prayer

The Persuasive Power of the Holy Spirit  Believing the Gospel requires HUMILITY (Luke 14:25-33)  Faith and Repentance – GOD’S GIFT ( 2 Cor 4:6, Acts 16:14 )  The Work of THE SPIRIT in us Knowing God through his Word: 2 Peter 1:21 1 Corinthians 2:12 INSPIRATION for the few ILLUMINATION for the many

Let this point therefore stand; that those whom the Holy Spirit has inwardly taught (illumination) truly rest upon Scripture, and that scripture itself is self authenticated… Therefore, illumined by his power, we believe neither by our own nor by anyone else’s judgment (reason alone) that Scripture is from God; but above human judgment (faith) we affirm with utter certainty…that it has flowed to us from the very mouth of God (revelation) by the ministry of men (God’s servants). - The Institutes, Book I, vii:4 A quote from Calvin to sum up…

- Mini Essay: Give a case for the importance of words in God’s revelation from the gospel according to Mark (Max 1000 words) -Reading: Unit 3 Notes - Extra Mile: Read: The Revelation of God, P.F. Jensen, Pg Home Study