Gospel Presentation

Introduction

Right now, I have the privilege to speak to you today. We are going to zoom out and take a look at the entire Gospel message of Jesus Christ from beginning to end. 

To do this we will look at 4 sections of God’s redemptive plan for humanity. These Sections are: 

Creation

Fall

Redemption

4. Restoration

Creation

The Good News of Jesus Christ does not start with Resurrection Sunday, or even the cross. It starts way before that. 

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

Believe it or not, the story does not even begin with us. The story begins with God, who out of His great love, created the heavens and the earth. However, He was not done there. On day 6 of creation, God created mankind. But this was different than all other parts of creation.

“God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness… So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them” - Genesis 1:27-28

Not only did the Holy and powerful God of the universe create the world, but in an act of immense grace, He created us to bear His image. He blessed humans and called them to rule over creation.

The LORD gave man instructions.

“The LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat it you will certainly die.” (Gen 2:16-17)

Seems pretty simple, right? Human beings who are created in God’s image are called to live with God and work the ground. They had 1 rule: “Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Fall

However, a serpent came to Eve and deceived both her and Adam. They ate from the tree. In doing so, they directly rebelled against God’s command and in God Himself. 

When there is disobedience, there are consequences, for God is just. He is not evil, for He clearly told Adam and Eve what would happen if they ate from the tree: “They would surely die.”

This was the first sin: disobeying God’s commands and not trusting in His provision. The curse of death fell upon mankind. “for dust you are and to dust you will return” as Scripture says. And Adam and Eve were sent out from the Garden of Eden, away from the direct presence of God, for God cannot be in the presence of sin and death.

The image that God so graciously gave to us to bear has now become sinful. It has become broken. 

Think of a mirror. You look into a mirror and see your image right? Now, imagine that mirror shatters. You may be able to see parts of your image, but it will be distorted. We were the mirror of God that once perfectly reflected His image, but it has now been broken by sin. That is why we continue to see good in this world. However, much of it is distorted and perverted. Humanity was now bent towards sin, and ruled by their flesh.

This broken image has been passed to each generation since the fall. We see this explained a few stories in the book of Genesis.

In Genesis 4, Cain, Adam and Eve’s son, kills his brother Abel because of pride. 

In Genesis 6, we see the human race was wickedness and the human heart was “only evil all the time” and the earth was “corrupt” and “full of violence.”

Shortly after, in Genesis 11, we see humanity, once again, falling to their broken ways. For they try to build a city that will reach the heavens to “make a name for themselves.” Again, pride again at work.

Redemption

Even though humanity was disobedient, God would make a covenant, or promise, with Abraham and choose the Israelite people to carry out this covenant. However, just like Adam and Eve, the nation of Israel would continuously rebel against God and His commands. However, God would continue to be with His people to lead and guide them. This is what makes up the majority of of Bible.

Knowing that humanity could never fully live up to His commandments, God would have to send a second Adam who would not fall into temptation. He would send a second Israel, who would be obedient. God would become flesh, and send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to set us free from our sin. 

Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and lived a sinless life. He proclaimed the good news of God to all who would listen. He trained up 12 disciples to follow Him. Because He was claiming to be God, the religious leaders ordered Him to be crucified on a cross. However, this had to take place. For on that cross, Jesus would take the punishment for our sin and disobedience. As Paul tells us in Romans 6:23, the wages of sin is death, and Jesus Christ paid that wage for us by His blood. But on the 3rd Day, He rose again, physically from the dead, defeating death and the grave. 

He commissioned His disciples to spread His Gospel, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He ascended into heaven and sent His Holy Spirit down to empower His disciples. He is currently seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding and praying for us on our behalf. 

Thank you Jesus.

How does this all affect you and me today?

I am going to share 3 theological words with you. These words are not as important as the meaning behind them, so if you forget the words, that is okay. 

1. Justification 

Because of Christ’s work, we are justified in the eyes of God. Christ lived a sinless life and took the punishment for each of our sins so that His righteousness may be given to us. When the Father looks at us, He sees His Son who laid His life down for us. This work has already been done and came first. So hear me, this is not a works-based righteousness. But this work Christ has done must elicit and response, and we must accept this gift. Christ gives us the response that must be taken. Acknowledge your brokenness and sin and turn away from them, accept that Jesus died and rose again to save you, and make Him Lord over your life. When we accept this Gospel message, we will be made clean in the eyes of the Father. JUSTIFICATION.

2. Sanctification 

However, if you have not noticed, evil is still at work in the world today, even in the Church and those in Christ. I don’t know about you, but I am still a sinner. How is this when Christ has died for us already?  Although we are seen as clean and justified before the Father, we ourselves or still in the process of change.  There is a war between our flesh, and the Spirit of God we have been given. 

This process is known as Sanctification.  

After one is justified, we die to our old self which is ruled by the flesh, and we take on a new self now ruled Spirit.

The war between the two still rages on, but we now are not held in bondage to sin, but can choose to follow God. And although we may still sin, we can repent and look to Christ to continue to live by Him.

Restoration

3. Glorification 

There is one more part to this process and the Gospel message as a whole. Christ promised us that He return. We wait expectantly for that day. In that day, Christ will defeat the enemy once and for all. He will be cast away with all of his followers. Sin and brokenness will be cast away as well. Those in Christ will be glorified with our Savior and be free from the works of sin and the enemy. No more sin, no more pain, no more sorrow. We will be completely ruled by the Holy Spirit. We will live with God for eternity. 

Closing and Call

If you are here today and our in Christ celebrating the resurrection of our savior, here is your message:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1–2.

If you have yet to put your faith in Christ, or have done so and have yet to publicly declare this faith in Baptism, I would like to share one final story.

In the books of Acts, Philip, an Apostle of Christ, sees an Ethipian Eunuch reading the Prophet of Isaiah. The Ethiopian asks Philip to explain the Scriptures to Hum. Scripture says that “Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (8:35-37). 

Next Sunday at Lifestone, we will be having water baptisms. Just as the Ethiopian Eunuch said (adding a few words). See, next week there will be water. What prevents you from being baptized? 

I leave you with the words of Peter the Apostle while preaching during Pentecost. “Brothers and Sisters, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

If you are here today and believe in the Gospel message and are ready to make a confession of faith in Jesus Christ, we would love to celebrate with you. Me and Pastor Josiah will be at the cross after service. We will pray over you, answer any questions you may have, and would love to guide you toward next steps in your faith.

Pray:

Give thanks for Easter

Confess sin

Prayer for the Spirit to encourage believers and nonbelievers