B2B: Where Are We Going? (Part B)

Back 2 Basics Recap

Mission: Talihina First Baptist Church exists to help the lost be saved and the saved be disciples.

Vision: At TFBC our ambition is to be an outpost of God’s Kingdom that spreads His Gospel and His Influence throughout the valley and beyond.

Last week we explored the nature of the Kingdom of God and established what it means to be an outpost that represents The Kingdom and promotes Kingdom Culture in all it does.

This week we turn our attention to “His Gospel”.

What is the Gospel? If you asked this question to one hundred people throughout our community, you might as many different answers as you would to the question, what is a church. So let’s spend our time this morning exploring God’s Word and help firm up our vision statement by asking that question: “What is the Gospel and why does it matter?”

Galatians 1:1–9 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

1) What the Gospel is not…

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Paul tells the Galatians he is “astonished” that they were so quick to turn away from the true Gospel and to a false gospel.

There are false gospels that people are prone to turn quickly to.

These false gospels have no real saving power.

These false gospels do not reflect the reality of God’s saving grace.

These false gospels sell a false hope and a false sense of security while leaving people confused, empty, and still lost.

False Gospels are not gospels.

False gospels are still very much a real struggle today.

Examples:

The “Good ole boy” gospel - I am saved as long as

I give some kind of intellectual belief in God,

believe that Jesus was at the very least the best of us,

I do as much good as I can, don’t do anything too bad like murder,

attend church when I can but not too much,

make sure I pray,

and know that at the end of the day me and God have an understanding.

As long as I’m a good ole boy I’ll be good.

As common as this thought may be in our

The “Prosperity gospel”

God’s greatest means of salvation is to save me from the effects of sin like sickness, poverty, and failures.

If I have enough faith then God is going to give me material wealth, abundant health, and success in everything I do.

After all, doesn’t the Bible say God wants to give you the desires of your heart?

God is a good God who wants nothing but good things for His people so long as our faith is strong enough.

Because daddy God is so good, if I have enough faith I can name what I want to happen, claim it Jesus’ name and He will give it.

Should I not get what I’m claiming, it’s because my faith is less than a mustard seed and deep down in my heart I need to trust better.

Salvation is having enough faith to unleash God’s favor in my life.

As enticing and as nice as this sounds…it is a false gospel!

The “Social gospel”

God wants to save us from evil in this world and in order to do that we have to be the change!

Our cultural and social systems are inherently oppressive and dangerous.

We need to show the mercy of God to the victims of our oppressive and sinful social systems and liberate them for the glory of God.

We need to be a voice for those we consider voiceless and an advocate for those we consider helpless.

The greatest expression of God’s salvation comes as we speak out and try to reform the evil and patriarchal systems of our culture.

If we want to experience God’s salvation, we have to acknowledge our direct and indirect roles in our social sins, denounce our lack of empathy towards God’s creatures, publicly and socially condemn ourselves, and repent from those social sins by being tolerant, loving, and accepting of all.

As popular as this view may be in many parts of our world…it is a false gospel!

The “Cheap Grace gospel”

God is the loving God who has wanted to save you from before the foundations of the earth.

You are precious in His sight and He wants you be with Him.

Jesus came to die for you and wants to save you.

All you have to do is just pray this prayer, “Jesus, I am a sinner and I need to be saved. I believe you died to save me. Please save my life so I don’t have to spend an eternity in hell. AMEN”

If you prayed that prayer congratulations. You’re now a Christian! Welcome to the club.

Now we need to get you baptized and get you on a membership roll.

Do you need to do anything else? I preferable, but as long as you prayed that prayer…you’re good.

What’s next…well try to attend church as often as you can and be a good person, just as long as you prayed that prayer…you’re good.

Do you have to change anything about your life? Well try not to cuss as much if you can, just remember though, as long as you prayed that prayer…you’re good.

Does your life experience change? Sure…because you prayed that prayer you can have joy and peace and your life should be better…that is as long you prayed that prayer.

So is there any else? Look, as long as you prayed that prayer you’re saved…so put a smile on your face, embrace the warm fuzzies, don’t feel bad…just enjoy life knowing you’re going to heaven someday.

As familiar as that may sound to us…because of its incompleteness and its focus, this is a false gospel!

2) What the Gospel is…

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Let’s start by looking at the word Gospel itself:

The word translated Gospel is euangelion.

1st century meaning of this word.

Our rebellious hearts have resulted in sin and have left us guilty and condemned unto death before the holy God.

God is holy, perfect, and righteous and therefore cannot just simply overlook or ignore our guilt.

He is loving and out of the abundance of His love, mercy, and grace He does what you and I could never do…He made a way for the penalty of our guilt to be paid apart from us paying for it ourselves.

This could only happen and did happen when Jesus, 2nd person of The Trinity, came to earth as the incarnate Christ, lived a sinless life, and willfully allowed Himself to be crucified as the holy and perfect sacrifice for our sin.

The good news is that our enemy, sin and death, has been conquered by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation.

How do we embrace this salvation?

It’s not by being good.

It’s not by exercising a sizeable portion of faith.

It’s not by addressing social issues.

It’s not by saying special words and praying a certain prayer.

It’s by repentance!

Romans 2:4 “4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

Matthew 4:17 “17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””

Luke 5:32 “32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””

Luke 13:3 “3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 15:10 “10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

Luke 24:44–47 “44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Acts 8:20–22 “20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Acts 11:18 “18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.””

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 “9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

The Gospel of Jesus is that He has defeated the enemy of sin and death by His own grace and mercy…not by anything of our own merit.

He graciously offers this gift to any and all who would accept it!

The way you accept it is through repentance!

What is repentance?

Surrendering of your acceptance of sin and guilt and embracing God’s rejection of sin and guilt.

Repentance is exchanging sinful selfishness as your motivation for your life and embracing God’s forgiveness and righteousness as the motivation for your life.

It is not a change of action it is a change of thought that leads to changes of action.

If you try to change your actions but your heart is never changed…you are just being hypocritical.

Repentance is not do better, it is surrendering your heart, soul, mind, and strength to God so that He makes you new…not better.

This is the Good News Proclamation: Jesus died so that you may live. His power over death displays His power unto your life. You no longer need to live in the grips of the enemy of sin and death…you are freed by His grace and mercy unto new life in His righteousness. So repent and embrace new life in Jesus!

Closing

It is our ambition as we help the lost be saved and the saved be disciples that we be an outpost for God’s Kingdom that spreads His Gospel…the Gospel throughout the valley and beyond. There is no life in any other message. There is no life in any false Gospel. It is only this Gospel, given by Christ and preserved for us in His Word that leads anyone to life!

So let’s start right here…right now!

Have you ever wondered if you’re truly saved and the Holy Spirit is helping you realize it’s because you have believed a false gospel?

Why not make today the day you start a new life in Jesus by embracing His good news!

You are a sinner, guilty before a righteous God and deserving of eternal Hell separated from Him. Jesus died for your sins that they may be forgiven through His sacrifice for you. He rose again unto life three days later. He invites you into a saving and freeing relationship with Him if you’ll but repent from trying to live your life your way and embrace an ongoing and growing relationship with Him for real life!

Why not start that relationship with Him and place your faith in Him alone this morning? It starts the way any relationship starts…with a conversation. It’s not the magic wording nor the action of a prayer that saves. It’s Jesus who saves by grace through faith in Him!