Does God Protect His People?

Does God truly protect his disciples? We are not immune to death and pain? So, how does God protect us?

Intro:

Summarize the biblical story!

How does God protect his disciples?

He has established his church for our protection.

Warning: We often talk about God’s protection in materialistic or carnal terms.

God protects his disciples by:

Raising up godly men who love the gospel.

to assume the responsibility of having authority in the church

Apostles and Elders

presbuteros - presbyters, elders - plurality of elders

ruling and leading God’s people to the truth

Raising up godly men who seek to preserve the true Gospel

to be knowledgeable in things of God

Raising up godly men who seek to preserve the true Gospel

to seek to ward of false teaching

Preserving the pure gospel

Apostles and elders warn against false teaching (24)

Calvin calls this the protection of the “pure” gospel

Paul recognizes the opponents of this gospel

Gal 1

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

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— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 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. 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.

Unifying his people through the gospel.

“one accord” - homothymadon - with one mind;

thumos - anger, wrath indignation

“we all stand against” this false gospel

brothers - adelphos - adopted family members of God

Salvation by faith alone

encouraging

produces joy

produces unity and peace among his people

Conclusion

God preserves the gospel to protect his disciples

The one thing that cannot be destroyed is our salvation

It comes from by faith in Jesus Christ

An understanding of the gospel keeps us in faith.

Keller - gospel renewal produces joy and encouragement

Gospel renewal is a life-changing recovery of the gospel. Personal gospel renewal means that gospel doctrines of sin and grace are actually experienced, not just known intellectually. - Shaped by the Gospel, p. 101.

The brothers who received the letter: Do you think they were encouraged because of the letter or the experience of the gospel. The fact that they were no longer under a law, but saved through grace by faith.

In what ways are you employing the gospel in your life?

We need to be aware that there are other gospels? Things that appear to be good news that are not.

The gospel is a clear and present word, but it is not a simplistic word. - Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 39). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The gospel is a clear and present word, but it is not a simplistic word.

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 39). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Gospel - God saves sinners. God — the Triune Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; three Persons working together in sovereign wisdom, power and love to achieve the salvation of a chosen people, the Father electing, the Son fulfilling the Father’s will by redeeming, the Spirit executing the purpose of Father and Son by renewing. Saves — does everything, first to last, that is involved in bringing man from death in sin to life in glory: plans, achieves and communicates redemption, calls and keeps, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies. Sinners—men as God finds them, guilty, vile, helpless, powerless, unable to lift a finger to do God’s will or better their spiritual lot.- J.I. Packer - Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 30). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

God protects his people by protecting the purity of the gospel so that men may apply it.

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 30). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

The Dead Sea Scrolls - Qumran - 13 miles east of Jerusalem

Caves in the side of a hill - 11 caves that are 1300 feet below sea level

1947- 1956 the dead sea scrolls were found

Hid in caves because of the invading Roman Empire around 66-70 AD.

Found by a shepherd who threw a rock in the cave and heard a jar break.

Appeared in the WSJ June 1st, 1954 for sale.

- God throughout history preserved for us His Word, which is the gospel, the good news.

- God keeps his gospel pure so that none of his disciples fall away

Thank God for the preservation of the gospel which is there for us to keep from falling away and tp remain in faith.

So, the application then is to apply the gospel to our life daily.

Keller warns - let us not think that the gospel as an entry into being a disciple.

There is always a danger that church leaders and ministers will conceive of the gospel as merely the minimum standard of doctrinal content for being a Christian believer. As a result, many preachers and leaders are energized by thoughts of teaching more advanced doctrine, or of deeper forms of spirituality, or of intentional community and the sacraments, or of “deeper discipleship,” or of psychological healing, or of social justice and cultural engagement.

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (p. 36). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.