The Gospel

So many of us have heard the term “The Gospel” but so many people don’t actually know what THE gospel is.

Many people know about A gospel - The gospel of “Self-worth”: You are good and capable and more than enough & God loves you just the way you are

-The gospel of the “Fix-it-Felix God” - He will fix everything and “grant you wishes” & you don’t have to do anything but ask Him to come into your life.

-The gospel of “God is Your Sugar-Daddy in the Sky” - just because you’ve become a Christian you’ll be rich - success is the stamp of God’s approval on you & your lifestyle.

2 Corinthians 11:4 ESV

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

The ONLY true Gospel is that every one of us has personally sinned earning us eternal death due to separation from God & that Jesus came to Earth as a sinless, willing sacrifice and perfect substitute for us so that we could have eternal life through restored relationship with God.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sin is the problem

Romans 5:12 NKJV

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Jesus is the answer.

Romans 5:17 NKJV

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Things could get a little hectic right here…receive the word, knowing that God loves you and I love you!

Power through the pain & receive the message with a soft heart.

Own it & say Amen even if it’s hard!

How Much Change?:

When we choose salvation, we choose a complete change of lifestyle and quality of living.

Jesus didn’t give His life for us so that we would remain the same.

2 Corinthians 5:17 WUESTNT

So that, assuming that anyone is in Christ, he is a creation new in quality. The antiquated, out-of-date things [which do not belong to the new life in Christ Jesus] have passed away. Behold, all things have become new in quality.

Christian: How much have you changed since receiving salvation?

Have you changed completely?

Are you unrecognizable from who you were before you received Jesus?

Have you stopped sinning like you used to?

Romans 6:1–2 NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Big Question: Are we fighting AGAINST our sin or are we fighting FOR our sin?

There are NO sins so small that God is okay with them - because they all kill us and separate us from life-giving relationship with Him.

God understands our temptation and struggle, but He is still not okay with sin.

Romans 6:6 NKJV

knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

Jesus is our practical example to follow, not an unachievable oddity to ignore.

Hebrews 1:9 NKJV

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

If we still participate in a sin, it’s just because we don’t hate it!

The Bible is God’s standard, not an out of date suggestion that doesn’t apply to our modern lives and culture.

Not Feelin’ It:

Some people say that when they do things expressly against God’s commandments in the Bible that they don’t feel bad about it so it must not be wrong for them.

James 4:17 NKJV

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Firstly, the Bible doesn’t mention our feelings, but what we know is right.

The Bible is the standard, not our feelings or opinions!

Secondly, some people no longer feel the pricking conviction of the Holy Spirit because they have gotten so used to ignoring His lordship in their life.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NKJV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Not feeling the convicting pricking of the Holy Spirit should scare us!

What should I do?

Acts 3:19 NKJV

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Under God’s instruction, I am calling this church, THE church, myself, & you to true repentance!

Change your behavior and change your mind - your feelings will follow!

Matthew 3:8 NKJV

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,

Make a choice about what you’re going to do!

Revelation 3:15–16 NKJV

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Let’s give up our mixture and our lukewarmness and tolerance to sin in our own life & live either Hot or Cold for God…NOW!!!

Just One Thing:

Jesus died for us to be able to live a holy, radically changed life. Let’s let Jesus have that from us!

Discussion Questions:

Do you like movie theater popcorn with butter or without? Do you have any favorite add-ins to your popcorn?

What was your biggest personal takeaway from this message?

Please read Revelation 3:15-16 and Hebrews 1:9 and share what these verses mean to you & what God might speak to you through them.

What will your life-response be to the word of God in this sermon? Please be as vulnerable and authentic as you can be with your group.