SF902 - Let the Church Be The Church - 5 of 9 The Good News (Romans 1 16-17)
Romans 1:16-17
Introduction
Nine Marks of a Healthy Church
1) Expositional preaching, 2) Biblical church leadership, 3) Biblical church discipline, 4) Biblical theology, 5) a Biblical understanding of the gospel 6) a Biblical understanding of church membership, 7) a Biblical understanding of conversion, 8) a Biblical understanding of evangelism, and 9) A concern for promoting Christian discipleship and growth.
We live in the “information age.”
We have more sources of “information” and news than anytime in the history of man. There are over 12,000 newspapers printed in the US alone. With satellite, cable TV, and the Internet, we get news as it happens. Accuracy is the only attribute that triumphs over speed in news reporting. Sometimes the news services do not get it right. Dr. Dever relates the following story, taken from an English newspaper. Some how the paper confused a story about a local pastor and a pig-killing sausage-making machine and the two stories became one.
Several of Rev. Dr. Mudge’s friends called upon him yesterday, and after a conversation the unsuspecting pig was seized by the hind leg, and slid along a beam until he reached the hot-water tank…in less time than it takes to write it, the pig was cut into fragments and worked up into a delicious sausage. The occasion will be long remembered by the doctor’s friends as on of the most delightful of their lives. (Dever, Nine Marks, 64)
Unfortunately, the gospel message has become as confused in many churches as the story of poor Rev. Mudge.
1A. What The Gospel Is Not
1B. The gospel is not simply that we are "o.k."
We are not “o.k.” because we are “dead in our sins”
Ephesians 2:1 (NASB) 1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
We are no "o.k." because we have sinned against God
James 2:10-11 (NASB) 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
The laws of God are an expression of His character, so to break these laws is to go against God. It says something about our relationship with God if we disregard Him, set aside His laws when it suits us.
We are not "o.k." because we are all guilty of sin
We not only feel guilty, we ARE guilty.
Romans 1: Gentiles have sinned; Romans 2: Jews have sinned; Romans 3: All have sinned. Through the law, we become conscious of sin, which is fundamentally against God.
2B. The gospel is not just that God is love.
That is true (I John 4:8), but that is not all there is.
The Bible also says that God is a spirit, holy, perfect, unique.
How can such a being love? How can you know unless He tells you? God reveals Himself as the God who requires holiness.
3B. The gospel is not just "Jesus wants to be our friend (or example)."
We each have a real past, real sins to be dealt with.
What did Christ say He came to do?
Mark 10:45 (NASB) 45“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The images used to describe the death of Christ reveal His purpose.
Ø Sacrifice (Ephesians 2:3)
Ø Redemption from (buying out of) slavery
Ø Relational (restoration of fellowship),
Ø Legal (our penalty transferred to Him, His righteousness transferred to us),
Ø Military (spiritual warfare), reconciliation, propitiation of God's just wrath.
God actually accomplished His ends through Christ's sacrifice--it is not just available but ensured. Christ is our friend, but He is so much more.
4B. The gospel is not just the message that we should live right.
Christianity is not merely about our love or our power, or anything we can do ourselves.
2A. What The Gospel Is
1B. The gospel tells us that salvation is a result of God’s grace
Heaven is a free gift (Romans 6:23)
Heaven is not earned or deserved
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
2B. The gospel is honest about man’s condition
Man is a sinner
Romans 3:23 (NKJV) 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Man cannot save himself
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV) 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
3B. The gospel recognizes God’s uniqueness
God is merciful (1 John 4:8b)
God is just
Exodus 34:7 (NKJV) 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty...”
4B. The gospel presents Christ as God’s only answer to man’s sin.
Who He is - Christ is the infinite God-Man
John 1:1, 14 (NKJV) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us….
What He did - Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us.
Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV) 6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
5B. The gospel teaches us that saving faith is the key to heaven
Saving faith is not mere intellectual assent
James 2:19 (NKJV) 19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Saving faith is not mere temporal faith
Saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life
Acts 16:31 (NKJV) 31“…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved….”
Application
The gospel is the good news that in Christ we have the promise and assurance of eternal life.
We must…
Repent of our sin
Luke 13:3 (NKJV) 3…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Place our Faith in Christ alone (believe)
Mark 1:15 (NKJV) 15…Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Publicly Confess our faith in Christ
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) 9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 2:41 (NKJV) 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized…
LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH
Part 5 of 9 – The Good News
Romans 1:16-17
1A. What The Gospel Is Not
1B. The gospel is not simply that we are "______."
We are not “o.k.” because we are “___________ in our sins” (Ephesians 2:1)
We are no "o.k." because we have sinned against __________________ (James 2:10-11)
We are not "o.k." because we are all __________ of sin
2B. The gospel is not just that God is ___________.
3B. The gospel is not just "Jesus wants to be our ___________________ (or example)."
What did ________________ say He came to do? (Mark 10:45 )
The images used to describe the death of Christ reveal His purpose.
Ø Sacrifice (Ephesians 2:3)
Ø Redemption from (buying out of) slavery
Ø Relational (restoration of fellowship),
Ø Legal (our penalty transferred to Him, His righteousness transferred to us),
Ø Military (spiritual warfare), reconciliation, propitiation of God's just wrath.
4B. The gospel is not just the message that we should live ________________________.
2A. What The Gospel Is
1B. The gospel tells us that salvation is a result of God’s ____________________________
Heaven is a ______________ gift (Romans 6:23)
Heaven is not earned or deserved (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2B. The gospel is honest about man’s condition
Man is a ____________________ (Romans 3:23)
Man __________________________ save himself (Matthew 5:48)
3B. The gospel recognizes God’s uniqueness
God is _______________________ (1 John 4:8b)
God is _______________________ (Exodus 34:7)
4B. The gospel presents Christ as God’s only answer to man’s sin.
Who He is - Christ is the infinite God-Man (John 1:1, 14)
What He did - Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us. (Isaiah 53:6)
5B. The gospel teaches us that saving ___________________ is the key to heaven
Saving faith is ___________ mere intellectual assent (James 2:19)
Saving faith is not mere temporal faith
Saving faith is _________________ in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life (Acts 16:31)