1. The Gospel Message

2.  Introduction:  What is the definition of the gospel?  Good news.  W.E. Vines uses the term to denote the good tidings of the kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ.

3. The Gospel Message  What is our responsibility when we hear the good news of the gospel?  Obey it! I Peter 5:17 “What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  Paul also warned the Thessalonians about the same thing. II Thess. 1:8

4. The Gospel Message Paul stated in Romans 1:16 the value of the gospel: “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.”

5. The Gospel Message The gospel is:  Powerful - it is the message of Jesus  Proclaimed - each Christian is to share it with those around them.  Encouraging - it provides us with a foundation upon which to stand and gives us hope of salvation.  God’s message (plan) to man - we must obey it.

6. Preach the Gospel Mark 16: 15-16 “And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

7. Preach the Gospel It is the responsibility of today’s Christians to take the good news to the lost in our communities, nation, and world. We have more venues to do this than any who have lived before us. We are now the Lord’s mouth, feet and hands. We must be workers in the vineyard of the Lord.

8. The Gospel Message The non-Christian is challenged also in the text of Mark 16:16. According the Wayne Jackson the text convey: 1. The universal nature of the gospel; 2. The conditional nature of God’s plan, 3. The result of unbelief. It is not enough to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God; we must do what He commands. Obedient followers must give their lives to Christ by following God’s plan of salvation. Each step is essential.

9. The Gospel Message Some say there are five steps to God’s plan of salvation. Really there are at least six - man must be faithful until death if he is to receive a reward in heaven.

10. DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION I Corinthians 15: 1-4 1. “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2. By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain.

11. DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION 3. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4. And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

12. DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION  We can be confident in our salvation. II Peter 1:10 by putting on the Christian graces found here, we can make our calling and election sure.  However, we can fall from grace. Galatians 5:4 “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace.  To relinquish the truth of Jesus is to give up the salvation that comes through HIM.

13. DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION There are those today who claim to be Christians but do not accept Christ’s death burial and resurrection. To do so is to deny His message of salvation. Without Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, there was no sacrifice for the sins of mankind. We follow Christ because of His death, burial and resurrection. This is the good news.

14. NO OTHER GOSPEL  Galatians 1:6-10 6. “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7. Which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

15. NO OTHER GOSPEL 8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

16. The Gospel of Salvation Ephesians 1: 13-14 “13. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14. Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

17. The Gospel of Salvation Acts 5:32 “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

18. The Gospel of Salvation Even though we may not understand totally how the Holy Spirit works, we know He is a promise that Christ made. Christ told the apostles He would not leave them alone but would sent the comforter to guide them. The Holy Spirit continues to guide man today. He guides us with the Scriptures, God’s inspired Word.

19. The Gospel of Salvation He also helps us to recall the message when we are tempted and works through us reminding us of God’s promises. We must always remember the God is still at work in the world today and that it is He who is in control.

20. The Gospel of Salvation  Paul states in I Corinthians 2:2 “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”  The gospel is “the power of God to salvation” Romans 1:16, and it is sufficient for our deepest needs. No changes are needed nor allowed.

21. The Gospel Message  1. Why is evangelism important?  2. What is the gospel? How do we maintain our focus on it?  3. Why do you think some people pervert the gospel message?  4. How do we combat those who pervert the gospel message?

22. “ ” Saturday March 8 th Doug Hunter Acts 2:36-38; Acts 3:18-20; II Corinthians 7:8- 11; Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10; I Timothy 6:11-14