"WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?"

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have this week to spend time with each of you.

Proposition - This evening I want us to focus on the most important question that each of us must answer! As we begin this we will look at four questions: 1) How do we know if the Bible is Reliable? 2) How do we know if God is Real? 3) What is the problem with Humanity? 4) What is the answer to Humanities problem?

Interrogative question - What are you doing with the Gospel?

I would like to present you with a scenario - There is an individual who is 49 years old, has a wife and 3 kids. He was just diagnosed with cancer and has 1 month to live. He wants to know what happens once he dies and he asks you… What would you tell him?

1. How do we know if the Bible is Reliable?

Written over 1500 years

Written on Three different continents

40 different authors

40 different life styles

3 different languages

Greek

Hebrew

Aramaic

On average, there are 100 million bibles printed each year. It’s projected that there are more than 6 billion Bibles currently in print – 140% more than the estimated 2.5 billion copies in print as of 1975.

The number of bibles sold on average has more than doubled in the US since 1950 with:

20 million bibles sold each year

1.66 million bibles sold each month

384,615 bibles sold per week

54,945 bibles sold every day

2,289 bibles sold per hour

38 bibles sold per minute

6.4 bibles sold every 10 seconds

In addition to the bibles sold, another 115,055 bibles are given away or distributed every day

The US accounts for a quarter of newly printed bible sales every year

The Bible not only encourages readers to examine their own beliefs (1 John 4:1), but it also commends those who check spiritual claims for truth (Acts 17:11). The Bible makes claims on the basis of history and eyewitnesses (Luke 1:1–4; 2 Peter 1:16), connects belief to visible evidence (John 20:30–31), and ties biblical ideas to the observable world (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1). Jesus overtly claimed to represent an exclusive truth (John 18:37; 14:6). So the Bible is clearly meant to be interpreted as true, and exclusively true (John 17:17). Where we can check biblical claims against verifiable truth, the Bible proves itself accurate. History, archaeology, science, and philosophy have shown Scripture to be factual and consistent. This correspondence between various forms of evidence is a major advantage the Bible has over the scriptures of any other faith system. In many cases, it has been the deciding factor in converting skeptics and nonbelievers to faith in Christ. gotquestions.org

Interesting fact -

OT -

Words = 477,854

Verses - 23,213

NT -

Words = 137,741

Verses = 7,939

Total =

Words = 615,595

Verses - 31,152

2. How do we know if God is Real?

Romans 1:18–21 (NASB95)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Psalm 19:1–6 (NASB95)

1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Leviticus 19:2 NASB95

2 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

3. What is the problem with Humanity?

Romans 2:14–16 NASB95

14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Talk about the guy in Green River Utah who did not believe in God. I asked him, what would he do if I took is breakfast sandwich and ate it. He said that he would assume that I needed it more than him. I then asked him what would he do if I took his cell phone and ran away with it? He said that he would chase me and take it back - I said why he said because it is wrong. I asked him why is it wrong?

Romans 3:10–12 NASB95

10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.”

Psalm 14:1–3 NASB95

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

Isaiah 53:1–3 NASB95

1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Jeremiah 17:9 NASB95

9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

4. What is the answer to Humanities problem?

Remember God is -

God is Holy

Matthew 5:48 NASB95

48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

God is Creator and Owner of everything -

Genesis 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 24:1 NASB95

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

God requires perfect obedience from us -

James 2:10 NASB95

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Approaching God according to the OT - Leviticus 1-7

Burnt Offering –

ELEMENTS – Bull, ram, male goat, male dove, or young pigeon without blemish. Always male the animal varied based on economic situation.

PURPOSE – Done voluntary it signifies payment for sin and surrender, devotion, and commitment to God.

Leviticus 1

Leviticus 6:8–13

Grain Offering (Meal or Tribute offering) –

ELEMENTS – Flour, bread, or grain made with olive oil and salt or incense

PURPOSE – Done voluntary it signifies thanksgiving for firstfruits

Leviticus 2

Leviticus 6:14–23

Fellowship Offering (peace offering) (Includes thank, vow, and freewill offerings) –

ELEMENTS – Any animal without blemish

PURPOSE – Done voluntary symbolizes fellowship with God. (thank offering thankfulness for a specific blessing, vow offering expression of a vow, and freewill offering symbolizes general thankfulness)

Leviticus 3

Leviticus 7:11–36

Leviticus 22:17–30

Leviticus 27

Sin Offering –

ELEMENTS – Male or female animal without blemish

PURPOSE – Required – offered by one who had sinned unintentionally or was unclean in order to attain purification.

Leviticus 4:1–5

Leviticus 6:24–30

Leviticus 12:6–8

Guilt Offering –

ELEMENTS – Ram or lamb without blemish

PURPOSE – Required – Made by a person who had either deprived another of his rights or had desecrated something holy. Made by lepers for purification.

Leviticus 5:14–6:7

Leviticus 7:1–6

Approaching God according to the NT -

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 NASB95

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

What does it mean that Christ died for our sins?

Hebrews 9:11–15 (NASB95)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

What is the significance that Christ was buried?

What about Christ rising again?

Romans 10:9 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Acts 16:31 NASB95

31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

SO WHAT?

Friends what have you done with the Gospel?