The Truth of the Gospel

Setting the stage.

Acts 13:13–14 NKJV

13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem. 14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.

Paul and his party.

No longer Barnabas and Saul

No longer Paul and Barnabas.

But Paul and his party.

Signifying leadership.

John departed from them returned to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:38 NKJV

38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

Paul felt that John Mark had deserted them.

They went to the synagogue.

Per Paul’s normal.

Paul’s heart ached for his people.

Romans 9:1–3 NKJV

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

An opportunity was given for someone to challenge the people so Paul did!

Paul will build take his time and lay out the gospel for them.

He will begin by working through their history and then lead up to a personal invitation.

1. God’s grace and Israel’s need. (vs. 16-22)

Acts 13:16–22 NKJV

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. 18 Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. 19 And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment. 20 “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

(1) A. Paul walks them through their history.

Paul connected with them on a personal level.

Paul was a Jew. He didn’t just dismiss their past.

You are who you are for a reason.

We can clearly see God’s grace and faithfulness in their history.

The Jews are God’s chosen people and He cared for them even when they rejected Him.

He gave them what they wanted even though it wasn’t His design.

Yet through all of that God was working His plan!

(1) B. Their history shows their need.

Their failure to uphold the law shows their need.

Galatians 3:24 KJV 1900

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Their failure to stay faithful to God shows their need.

2 Chronicles 6:36–37 NKJV

36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near; 37 yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, and have committed wickedness’;

(1) C. We need to show the lost their need.

This is one of the reasons it is important to know Theology.

Our goal is to help you get a better grasp on witnessing by giving you some practical help and training.

BUT if you simply understand who the Bible says God is, man is, and what God did to save man you will be good!

We need to understand that man is utterly lost hand helpless.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

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

Romans 3:10 NKJV

10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is nothing good in man without Christ!

Even the Jews need Christ.

2. God sent a savior. (vs 23-26)

Acts 13:23–26 NKJV

23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—24 after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’ 26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

(2) A. God is the provider of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

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

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When we understand this it gives us courage to witness.

It is important that we make it clear to those we are witnessing to.

(2) B. God has already provided a way.

John 1:4–5 NKJV

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:10–11 NKJV

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

There is only one way.

We need to be sure of that.

We need to understand their terminology.

Ask questions and don’t take anything for granted.

3. Jesus was crucified. (vs 27-29)

Acts 13:27–29 NKJV

27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.

(3) Sinners have a debt they cannot pay.

There was no way around this.

God could not simply forgive and forget.

There are legal demands against sinners.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

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

God could not ignore this debt.

(3) Jesus’ death paid the debt.

Colossians 2:13–14 NKJV

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Charles Ryrie points out that God has 3 options when a sinner stands in His courtroom.

First choice: Condemn the sinner.

Second choice: Compromise His own righteousness.

Third choice: Change them into a righteous person.

4. Jesus rose from the dead. (vs. 30-37)

Acts 13:30–37 NKJV

30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Read 1 Cor 15.

1 Corinthians 15:14 NKJV

14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

5. God will forgive us if we receive Christ. (vs 38-39)

Acts 13:38–39 NKJV

38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

(5) A. Paul gives a personal invitation.

He moves from the history of Israel to the provision of Christ as Savior - but that isn’t enough.

“YOU” - Paul makes this personal.

Christ was born for YOU.

Christ died for YOU.

Christ rose for YOU.

(5) B. We need to be personal when we witness.

Everyone who believes is justified.

There must be a personal belief.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

6. Paul warns those who reject the gospel. (vs. 40-41)

Acts 13:40–41 NKJV

40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

(6) A. Paul warns of personal accountability.

Matthew 22:1–10 NKJV

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Paul was warning the Jews that God is going to offer salvation to the gentiles.

(6) B. This warning should be a motivation towards evangelism.

Those without salvation will perish.

Paul doesn’t beat around the bush.

He preaches the gospel with clarity.

He speaks of their need and God’s answer to that need.

He gives a clear personal invitation and warns them of the sever consequences that come from rejecting the gospel.