The Gospel and its effects - Part 1

Psalm 62:5-12 / Mark 1:14-20

The gospel, what is it?

Categorically

Law = Requirement / Standard

Gospel = Promise & Gift

Notice how the instruction to repent and believe the gospel includes the word gospel.... because the instruction to repent and believe is a good one, but it is NOT itself the gospel.

Good news - how many biblical terms came to be

hood ornament

synagogue = congregation

ekklesia = church

Rome’s Good News

~ 30 years BC Octavius defeated Alexander & took the name Augustus

"Providence . . .by producing Augustus [has sent] us and our descendants a Savior, who has put an end to war and established all things. . . ."

Caesar was called son of god

Caesar brought salvation (to Romans) by conquering and establishing peace

The message about this “salvation” was called the gospel; the good news brought you by Caesar your savior.

Of course just how good this news was, highly depended on who you were; where you were from; what was your station in society

God’s Good News (The Gospel of God)

Using terms that would both be immediately recognizable, but also directly in conflict with the Roman use, Jesus proclaim’s God’s gospel

Time/Kingdom

The time is fulfilled

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,”

The Kingdom of God is at hand

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.””

So in essence… Jesus

1 cor 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

The right response to the gospel

v18-20 immediately they… followed Him

There was an invitation; a calling from Jesus.

There was a a faithful, obedient response response from the men.

This is the pattern of being saved

This is the pattern of Christian Living

The heralding of the gospel

Fishers of men (people)

Lure, Hook, and Line for drawing

Lure = the sweetness, freeness, and safety of the gospel

Hook = the Holy Spirit’s convicting & drawing on the heart, soul, and mind of the sinner;

“I don’t wanna abuse Your grace. God, I need it every day. It’s the only only thing that really ever makes me want to change.”

-Holy Water by We the Kingdom

It is the being drawn and turning TO Christ that is the decisive distinction in true Christian conversion. Fear alone can never lead to being born again. Not even sorrow and guilt over committed sin alone are sufficient; it is that God’s Spirit reveals to us the answer to these things is Christ and Christ alone, and enables us to go to Him! Paul was right when he wrote that it is the GOSPEL that is the power of God unto salvation!

This is News to be spread!

witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, & to the end of the earth… (Acts 1)

We are to promiscuously spread the seed of the gospel! `

The parable of the soils is not to teach us to target our sowing, but to prepare us for realistic outcomes, and to know that the sowing is our part; not the results.

This is News to be heralded!

To greet with enthusiasm

In Christ, we have a peace that passes all understanding.

In Christ, we have a joy that is inexpressible and full of glory.

To signal the approach of someone or something

Christ HAS come to redeem all who believe (trust in) the gospel

Christ WILL come again for final judgment; to set all things right!

(the same Jesus whom you saw go into the heavens will come again the same way) - Acts 1

Make ready; The King is Coming!

The Urgency of The Gospel

Christ has truly conquered!

on a cosmic scale; creation, sin, death, hell, and the grave

This world is passing away

this very existence is on its last leg

2 peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

1 john 2:17 “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

The time is near!

more is being fulfilled; we don’t know how long until the return of Christ.

The door was shut on the Ark before the Flood

The door was shut on the wedding in the parable of the virgins

The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed such that not one stone was left in place.

Church Family, before each of these events God sent heralds, and by them the gospel to provide a way of rescue. Lord willing, next time we will explore the effects of the gospel. For now, may God help us remember what the gospel is, what we ought to be doing with / about it, and the urgency of doing so!