Amazingly Good News
God's Plan for the Church • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsThe amazingly good news of freedom in Christ is too good not to share
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Summarize last week’s message: Truth Matters
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Prayer
The Law — moral code — does not save anyone. But it is good because it reveals sin…it communicates to us sinners our lost condition and the sad truth that we are unable to make ourselves better in our own strength.
As I was studying for the message, I read Charles Spurgeon’s account of two lads in England (June 1867) who went out to a rocky area on Lundy Island, in the Bristol channel, searching for sea-gull eggs. The younger boy made his way far down the side of a cliff in search of eggs, and somehow lost his footing. When his brother heard him scream, he looked over the edge and, far below, saw him hanging on to a jutting crag, trying to find a place for his feet. The brother stood at the top of the cliff, helplessly watching, paralyzed with fear, unable to help, as his younger brother finally lost his grip and fell to a horrible death far below.
I feel a little bit like that older brother - he felt helpless as he watched his little brother fall to his death. If it were up to me to save people…they would not make it. If it were up to the Law to save people, they wouldn’t make it because no one in this life is perfect.
But we do have hope today — THE GOOD NEWS. Jesus’s arms are open wide and He will catch you if you just let go and trust Him. The Good News is found in Jesus — 100%, because He gave His life’s blood to pay for our crimes. The Good News is for everyone — what should we do with such good news?
Here’s what I know: The amazingly good news of freedom in Christ is too good not to share
1 Timothy 10a-11 NIV — and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me
As we read a moment ago, this verse follows a sample list of sins (review)
These sins are contrary to the sound doctrine of the Good News. In other words, sin of any kind is contrary to sound doctrine - God is holy - Jesus died for what? To cleanse us from our sinful nature.
Some preachers, teachers, bloggers, etc., may teach stuff that is popular because it doesn’t speak out against sin — that kind of teaching is contrary to sound doctrine.
Here’s two important points to note in this passage:
The Good News (the Gospel) points people toward living holy lives before the Lord while, AT THE SAME TIME, is a declaration of the amazing grace and mercy available to us through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection.
Transitional: One thing Paul does in this passage is to confirm the value of the Good News — It is not just news…it is good news
What is Your Experience of the Good News?
What is Your Experience of the Good News?
When you hear the story of Jesus’ life, teaching, miracles, suffering, sacrificial and atoning death, and resurrection, how does that make you feel?
This is a legitimate question because it is easy for us to simply go through the motions — we come to church, hear the Good News, and go home, often without any feelings of thankfulness or joy. The Good News of Jesus is cause for transformation, thankfulness, and deep joy.
Is the Gospel Good News to You?
Is the Gospel Good News to You?
Let’s break it down — is the Gospel news to you?
“We have heard it all of our lives…it is not news to us!”
Do you remember a time when the Good News of Christ caused your heart to leap inside you? Maybe when you first accepted Jesus as your Lord?
When the word of God hits us between the eyes with power, it doesn’t matter how many times we have heard it — it is new, fresh, and good!
The gospel in its Spirit and power always wears the dew of its youth; it glitters with morning’s freshness — it’s strength and its glory abide forever - C.H. Spurgeon
Good News (Jesus) says this:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Good News (Jesus) says this:
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
Is the Good News Glorious to You?
Is the Good News Glorious to You?
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
The Good News is far more glorious than God’s amazing creation — sun, moon, stars, all creatures, every wonder of nature
Do any of you remember the road you took to salvation? For some it took a long time, with God getting your attention over and over again, and you finding ways to resist Him over and over again.
But the Good News of God will not be silenced…He loves you and me so much that He keeps beating on the gate of our kingdom
Application
The Good News wouldn’t be complete if God hadn’t provided a way for us to follow Him and grow in our relationship with Him
It is through the blood stained Cross of Christ that we can not only withstand but defeat the attacks of our enemy
Have you truly experienced the Good News and the transformation it brings?
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
God’s desire is to bless us beyond our imagination…full and running over with the oil of gladness — the Good News of Christ makes this possible.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Whatever gives you the most happiness is the master of your spirit
Hopefully you have experienced the joy and peace that comes from experiencing the Good News in your life
When you experience the amazingly good new of God, you don’t want it to end…you want to pursue all that He has for you each day.
Transition: It is important to realize, with Paul, that God has also committed the Good News to us as His messengers
What is Your Responsibility to the Good News?
What is Your Responsibility to the Good News?
that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
We Must Believe the Good News
We Must Believe the Good News
Half truths are nothing more than lies wrapped in the skin of the truth
If Christ has changed your life…you will believe the Good News
We Must Defend the Good News
We Must Defend the Good News
Some say we should never get into controversial discussions about religion…
However, as soldiers of the Cross, we should not let our swords rust in their scabbards
We won’t be allowed to sneak into Heaven
The Good News is truth — God has transformed you by His truth and love
We must defend the truth by which we have eternal life
We are not to argue and stubbornly push our point down peoples’ throats...
However, we must not stand idly by and allow the Good News of Christ to be diluted or compromised — our spiritual fathers upheld the banner of Christ, some giving their very life for the truth.
We Must Spread the Good News
We Must Spread the Good News
personally — at home, in the marketplace, workplace, around the world
We need more people willing to spread the news — on both sides of the pulpit
Let us help one another spread the Amazingly Good News of Christ
Challenge
Here’s what I know: The amazingly good news of freedom in Christ is too good not to share
What is Your Experience of the Good News?
If you aren’t sure…then you haven’t experienced the power of new birth in Christ
What is Your Responsibility to the Good News?
Believe it
Defend it
Spread it
Believe it — confess it — tell your story
The best way to defend it is by how you live — let the joy of the Lord shine through in all you do — have a contrite heart — study, meditate, worship,
Use your words also, both in defending and spreading the Good News
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.