What is the Gospel?

John 3:16–17 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Intro:

For those who do not know, in high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was good at math and science, but I didn’t know where to go from there. I had a friend, who’s brother was a few years older than me. He went to school to be a Chemical Engineer. I thought to myself, that sounds cool. He says it involves math and chemistry, sure I’ll go for it. So I started telling people that I was going to school to be a chemical engineer. People were like “Awe, that’s so cool. What do chemical engineers do?”

My response was “Great question. I don’t know. Engineer chemicals?”

Later, I’m a freshman in college, and I ask one of my professors “What does a chemical engineer actually do?” He said that they design and develop processes to transform raw materials into chemicals, drugs, fuels, plastics, and other products. I was thinking “Great, but I don’t know what that means. But I’m not going to say anything because I don’t want him to think I’m stupid.”

So I thanked him and went along with my life.

It wasn’t until near the end of my second year in college taking a chemical engineering processes class, did I find out what it actually meant to design and develop processes to transform raw materials into chemicals, drugs, fuels, plastics, and other products. It mainly involved designing, perfecting, or moderation processes involving different types of reactors, misers, and separators.

Next year I switched to chemistry. I wanted to do more of the research side of things. I thought it would be for fun. Now I work at a church.

You see, before I got into it, I knew some general things about that job. You need math and chemistry. Most people knew that.

Then I got into it, and learned more. I was given the definition of what it means to be a chemical engineer. But although I could recite what was told to me, and I kind of understood it, I didn’t really understand it, much less was able to tell anyone else about it.

That wasn’t the first time that happened to me. You see, I grew up knowing about the gospel. I knew basic things that everyone knows. I’m a sinner, Jesus died for my sins. I can either go to heaven or hell.

But then I understood more. I got saved. I knew that I had to ask Jesus to save me. Put my trust in him. Surrender to him. But at that point, I knew enough to be saved, but I had the hardest time trying to explain it to someone else.

We are going to go through a mini series on the gospel. But we are going to start with “What is the gospel.” Because just like chemical engineering, I don’t expect you to design a process where you take different chemicals and produce a certain product without you having , run them through different filters, compressors, reactors, condensers, absorbers, and mixers, at different pressures, different temperatures, different flow rates, different concentrations, taking in account different thermodynamic and chemical reactions.

So, what is the gospel?

The gospel is the good news about Jesus’ life.

Jesus comes after us. You don’t have to clean up first. He pursues us.

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”

The gospel is the good news about Jesus’ life and death.

You have sinned.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death.”

I love how people want Justice unless it’s from God.

Jesus Paid the price for our sins.

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

All you need to do is confess your sins, and surrender by putting your trust in Jesus and Him alone to be saved.

Romans 10:9 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The gospel is the good news about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

The resurrection proves he said who he said he was.

Matthew 9:1–8 “And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.”

It is easy to say things like “In 2000 years the T Rex will be the main mode of transportation.

It is harder to say, I will bring back a real T Rex right now.

The gospel is the good news about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and return.

His return means we have hope for the future.

John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

His return means we win.

His return means we know that our work has a purpose.

Philippians 1:21–26 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

The gospel is a plan

The gospel is an event in history

The gospel is an achievement

The gospel an application

Eating chicken nuggets in front of the kids (Instagram)

The gospel brings us to God

The gospel is for everyone

Who have you written off? (Instagram)

The gospel is from God

Bar vs Church, bar sues church (Instagram)