Proclaim the gospel with confidence 1 Peter 1:23-25

Introduction

The context -

Peter is urging the Christians to love each other fervently with brotherly love. He reasons with them that they ought to do this because they have been born again by the word of God.

I want to take what he says about the word of God and use it for our encouragement as we head on to the streets today.

I. The word of God causes the New-birth v.23

James 1:18 “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

Rom 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

People are dead in Sin. But when the word of God is brought to them by the work of the Holy Spirit they are brought to life.

Illustrate with Ezekiel 37:1-10.

Dry bones- v.4 hear the word of the LORD. v.7 as I prophesied there was a noise...

Application

As we preach the word of God, God work in people by his Spirit to bring them to faith in Jesus Christ.

Our confidence then must lie in the word of God and the work of his Spirit.

Yes we want to be winsome, we want to be engaging, we want to draw people’s attention. But our confidence isn’t in these things but the word of God.

Let us stick to its message.

II. The word of God endures for ever v.23b-24

The Bible isn’t very fashionable today.

As we preach people will shout out ‘What about science mate?’ They think modern ideas have relegated the Bible to the museum.

We know better. Here we are reminded the word of God endures forever.

It will outlast this culture and every fad that it promotes.

The reason this is true is that it is a living word and an enduring word. v.23b

Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Application

Again we can have confidence as we preach the word in the Open-air and distribute it in the tracts that the word of God is powerful.

The people we meet will be trusting the words of men that are dead and will disappear with the next generation.

What a privilege it is to go out and offer them the words of life which will never spoil or fade. But always deliver what they promise to those who believe.

III. The word of God is preached as the gospel is preached v.25

What is the gospel?

Bad news

Good news

This simple message has life giving power- it causes people to be born again.

It is living and enduring.

Romans 1:16 “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.”

Conclusion

We can be encouraged and enthused today and head out to proclaim the gospel with confidence. The Gospel is the word of God. The word of God lives and endures forever. The word of God causes people to be born again.

Achibold Brown- “The Gospel is a fact, therefore tell it simply; it is a joyful fact, therefore tell it cheerfully; it is an entrusted fact, therefore tell it faithfully; it is a fact of infinite moment, therefore tell it earnestly; it is a fact about a Person, therefore preach Christ.”

It is a living and enduring life giving fact, therefore tell it confidently.

Romans 1:16 “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.”