Gospel Clarity
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Let’s imagine for a moment that we all worked together for the same company - and our manager called us into the lunch room together and said, “I’ve got good news for everyone!” you would pay attention. Probably your mind would be automatically cycling through all the permutations of what this “good news” might be. Pay raise! Big Christmas bonus! Extra vacation days. Free snacks.
And then our manager goes on to say, “Due to the economic inconsistencies arising from uncertain shifts in international trade, we have made adjustments to our employment implementation strategy aligning with our vision and goals in order to have 1. increased customer satisfaction, 2. higher investment return, and 3. greater employee moral. Therefore you will notice adjustments in the shift schedule that will assist us in reaching these goals aligning with our strategic implementation plan. These micro shifts in scheduling will be implemented throughout the coming weeks, and should take effect immediately.”
There may be good news in there somewhere, but if you were in that meeting, you might walk away more confused and frustrated than before you arrived.
“So what was the good news?”
To the Christian, the word “gospel” means good news. It literally means good news. It comes from an Old English word, godspel - “good story” or “God’s story”. It is the translation of the Greek word euangelion (yoo-an-gel-ee-on) - it’s where we get the word evangelical, or evangelize from.
For example, Paul uses this word:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
So if someone asks you if they can share the gospel with you, they’re asking if they can share the good news with you. “I’ve got good news to tell you!”
That’s what Paul is talking about here in our passage. Paul is saying:
“Pray for me, so that I may have opportunity to share the good news with people. (Here he doesn’t use the word gospel, but he uses other terms for the message).
“Pray that I might make it clear what the gospel is.”
That’s what we should be praying for ourselves and for one another.
Gospel Clarity: Speaking in a way that makes the gospel message clear. Not ambiguous or muddy.
Pray for me this morning, that I might speak with clarity.
Let’s pray...
Paul Accepted by the Apostles Gal 1 & 2
Paul Accepted by the Apostles Gal 1 & 2
There’s an interesting story in Galatians:
Paul’s conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26)- goes to Damascus for 3 years
Meets with Cephas (Peter) & James, Jesus’ brother, for 15 days in Jerusalem.
Then off to Syria and Cilicia to share the gospel message
After 14 years, Paul meets with the Apostles in Jerusalem. Why?
[To] set before them... the gospel (euangelion) that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
Even the Apostle Paul wanted to make sure that the good news he was sharing was clearly the good news. The true gospel. That he, himself had not distorted it in any way
“They added nothing to me” (2:6) - they confirmed the gospel message he was preaching
Yet, Paul confronts Peter:
But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Peter & Barnabas were being influenced by some of the Christian Jews who taught that Christian men were to be circumcised
Behind the scenes look at the Apostles holding one another accountable
The life-changing good news is not good news if it is not truth.
The truth of gospel has eternal consequences.
Lately I’ve had this conversation: How do we speak the gospel clearly?
A question that I ask myself. A question we should all ask.
An answer that we all too often forget.
Preach yourself the gospel every day, because our hearts tend to wander:
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
(Come Thou Fount...)
That’s why Paul continually returns to the gospel in his letters. That’s why Paul was so adamant about the clarity of the gospel. Remember, Paul is writing this letter to the Colossians because they were being led astray with false teaching. If you add to - or subtract from - the gospel, you no longer have the gospel. You have a lie. Even a half truth is no truth at all - it’s just a lie.
So what’s Paul’s prayer request to the church in Colossae?
Pray for opportunity
Pray for clarity
At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
The True Gospel
The True Gospel
So that we might make the gospel clear, we can ask ourselves: What is the true gospel?
The true gospel is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the good news.
What are the basic elements of the gospel message? Why is Jesus Christ the good news?
Basic Elements
Basic Elements
I’m going to give us five basic element. This is how I’ll break it down - you tell me how I do.
Five basic elements: irreducible. If you take away one component it is no longer the gospel
God, Man, Sin, Jesus, Repent & Believe
Five fingers - easy to remember.
1. God
1. God
God exists
He has revealed Himself in nature, in Scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ
Trinity
Eternal, perfect, omniscient, omnipotent, utterly holy
2. Mankind
2. Mankind
God’s creation
Made in God’s image - male and female
We are special - not just another animal
Made for a purpose - to reflect God’s glory
In perfect relationship with God.
What happened?
3. Sin
3. Sin
Lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
Distrust in God to define what is good and what is evil
I want to rule my own life - I don’t want God to speak into my life
Breaks the relationship between God and man
Results in death. “The wages of sin is death.”
Physical death and an eternal separation from a loving creator
Murder, dysfunctional families, slavery, war, idolatry - on and on and on. We all see it - we all know it exists.
To say that sin and evil does not exist in the world is to live with your head in the sand
Sin separates you from God:
What kind of loving, just, God would He be if He was willing to leave you in your sin?
You don’t want a God who permits sin and evil in heaven - Jesus talks more about hell than heaven
God hates sin and it’s effect on His creation
We try to fix the sin problem on our own - but it never works - we just fall back
Only God can solve the sin problem. What’s the solution?
4. Jesus - that’s the good news!
4. Jesus - that’s the good news!
God’s promise from the beginning. His plan to restore the broken relationship
Through His life, death, and resurrection
Through His death, he pays the penalty - the “wages” have been paid.
Propitiation: Jesus’ death satisfies God’s hatred - God’s wrath - towards sin
Double imputation
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
What’s the final element of the gospel message?
5. Repent & Believe
5. Repent & Believe
God’s one condition:
Is it conditional on whether or not you’re a good person?
Whether you love God enough?
When we hear the good news of Jesus Christ, we repent of our sin and believe.
Repent: Change of heart - recognition of sin and sincere remorse over it
Through our faith: What is faith?
Faith is more than just believing in Jesus.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Faith is more than belief in something or someone, it is putting your full confidence in Christ for your salvation. Faith alone in Christ alone. Salvation is found in no other.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Your full confidence - all of your trust - all of your hope - all in!
What’s the result of Repent & Believe?
Restored relationship with God
Eternal life with Him
A life that moves away from the results of sin and towards holiness - we show the fruit of the Spirit
Summary
Summary
If we remove one element of the gospel, it falls apart. It is no longer the gospel.
You must believe in God.
You must believe that mankind - you - were created by God to have a relationship with Him.
You must believe that you are sinful - just like all of mankind.
You must believe that Jesus is God, He died on the cross for your sins and He was raised from the grave.
In the knowledge of your sin, you repent - change your heart towards sin. Don’t embrace it anymore, but hate it. Be sorry for it. Mourn for the life you led under its influence.
Believe that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
Summary
Summary
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Pray that God would provide for us opportunity
In whatever situation we might find ourselves in. Paul is in prison
Pray that God would help us to hear the gospel clearly so that we can share the gospel clearly.
It what manner do we share the gospel?
It what manner do we share the gospel?
Paul gives us directions on how we might share the gospel - but He does not want us to dilute the gospel.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Be wise - don’t be hasty. Think about what you might say.
Practice sharing the gospel with one another is an option
Ponder how you might approach non-believers
Make best use of your time
Pray for opportunities, but then take advantage of them
Time is short - you don’t know when you’ll have another opportunity
Let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt
Gracious, kind, patient - don’t speak to people as if you are superior.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Be gracious just as God was gracious to you. You have nothing to boast about.
Seasoned with salt
Slat improves the taste of what it’s applied to, it doesn’t hide it
Share the gospel in a way that reflects God’s love - but the truth is the gospel is offensive to the non-believer.
It offends our ego and our pride. I don’t like to be told I’m a sinner. I like to be the god of my life
That’s why Paul was in jail - the gospel is unlike any other religion - all other religion is works based
So that you may know how you ought to answer each person
Consider who you are talking to - “read the room”
Who are you sharing the gospel with? Muslim, a Mormon, atheist, a cultural Christian - someone who already believes they are saved but they’re not - the gospel is one message, but it can be shared in many ways.
Conclusion
Conclusion
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
God has done for us what is impossible for us to do in our own power. You’ve heard the good news. If you haven’t accepted the good news of Jesus then I implore you to make a decision now. Waiting has eternal consequences.
If you have accepted the free gift that God offers you, be ready to share the gospel with anyone you meet.
Be clear that you understand what the gospel is before you share it.
Just as Paul was willing to go before the other Apostles to be held accountable before them - and just as Paul was willing to hold Peter accountable - we too should take the same attitude.
The difference is life and death. You hold life in the words that you speak.
