What is The Gospel?

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? NOW I MAKE KNOWN TO YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE GOSPEL WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU, WHICH YOU ALSO RECEIVED, IN WHICH YOU ALSO STAND, BY WHICH YOU ALSO ARE SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU, UNLESS YOU BELIEVED IN VAIN. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-2) MARK YAMAMOTO THE GOSPELS (PLURAL) • The four narratives (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) that cover the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ • That proclaim the GOOD NEWS of the Savior Jesus Christ • Fully God and fully human – hearing our pleas, knowing our trials, empathizing with us • Healing, casting out demons, performing miracles as signs that testify who He is • Gathering a select group of men, discipling them to continue making disciples of others and sharing the GOOD NEWS • Confronting hypocrisy in the Hebrew leadership • Promises • Teaching a new way JESUS HIMSELF PROCLAIMED (QUOTING ISAIAH 61:1-2) 18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” (LUKE 4:18-19) THE GOSPEL(S) (PLURAL - SINGULAR) But of primary importance, the gospel(s) demonstrate Jesus’ willfully dying on the cross as an atonement for our sins, and then rising on the third day as was prophesied, demonstrating his victory over death because HE LOVED US THE FACT OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION 1 NOW I MAKE KNOWN TO YOU, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE GOSPEL WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU, WHICH YOU ALSO RECEIVED, IN WHICH YOU ALSO STAND, 2 BY WHICH YOU ALSO ARE SAVED, IF YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO THE WORD WHICH I PREACHED TO YOU, UNLESS YOU BELIEVED IN VAIN. 3 FOR I HANDED DOWN TO YOU AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE WHAT I ALSO RECEIVED, THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, 4 AND THAT HE WAS BURIED, AND THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, 5 AND THAT HE APPEARED TO CEPHAS, THEN TO THE TWELVE. 6 AFTER THAT HE APPEARED TO MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT ONE TIME, MOST OF WHOM REMAIN UNTIL NOW, BUT SOME HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP; 7 THEN HE APPEARED TO JAMES, THEN TO ALL THE APOSTLES; 8 AND LAST OF ALL, AS TO ONE UNTIMELY BORN, HE APPEARED TO ME ALSO. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-8) BY WHICH YOU ARE SAVED THAT IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH JESUS AS LORD, AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED; 10 FOR WITH THE HEART A PERSON BELIEVES, RESULTING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WITH THE MOUTH HE CONFESSES, RESULTING IN SALVATION. (ROMANS 10:9-10) 9 THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS WE ARE ALL UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD (ROMANS 3:23) “THERE IS NO RIGHTEOUS PERSON, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS OUT GOD;” (ROMANS 3:11) JESUS, FULLY GOD AND FULLY HUMAN FREES US FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN; TO BE RECONCILED WITH GOD THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS …CHRIST JESUS, 6 WHO, AS HE ALREADY EXISTED IN THE FORM OF GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED, 7 BUT EMPTIED HIMSELF BY TAKING THE FORM OF A BOND-SERVANT 8 AND BEING BORN IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO THE POINT OF DEATH: DEATH ON A CROSS. 9 FOR THIS REASON ALSO GOD HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, 10 SO THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, OF THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, 11 AND THAT EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. (PHILIPPIANS 2:5b-11) WE ARE SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GRACIOUS GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD (ROMANS 6:23) FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THIS IS NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; (EPHESIANS 2:8) POTENTIAL PUSHBACK TO SHARING THE GOOD NEWS “I DON’T NEED JESUS… • I’M JUST FINE WITH WHAT I’VE ACCOMPLISHED ON MY OWN, AND BESIDES, I’M A GOOD PERSON. • I BELIEVE THIS LIFE IS ALL THERE IS, SO I’LL MAKE THE MOST OF IT HERE ON EARTH. WHEN I DIE I CEASE TO EXIST AND THAT’S IT”. QUESTION: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITHOUT HAVING A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS? WITHOUT HIS GOODNESS… I AM THE DOOR; IF ANYONE ENTERS THROUGH ME, HE WILL BE SAVED, AND WILL GO IN AND OUT AND FIND PASTURE. 10 THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I CAME SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. (JOHN 10:9-10) 9 THE FLIPSIDE (WHY TAKE A GAMBLE ON YOUR PRECIOUS LIFE?)… 7…WHEN THE LORD JESUS WILL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS 8 IN FLAMING FIRE, DEALING OUT RETRIBUTION TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD, AND TO THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. 9 THESE PEOPLE WILL PAY THE PENALTY OF ETERNAL DESTRUCTION, AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS POWER. (2 THESSALONIANS 1:7-9) QUESTION: ARE YOU SATISFIED WITHOUT HAVING A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS? BOTH… IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. 9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS, SO THAT HE WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. (1 JOHN 1:8-9) 8 1. IS THE GOSPEL THE 4 BOOKS, OR THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL? -YES! 2. IT IS ALSO YOUR STORY, SO PLEASE SHARE -YOUR NEW LIFE AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST IS A TESTIMONY -SHARING YOUR STRUGGLES BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED IS POWERFUL -CLAIM AND PROCLAIM HIS PROMISES 3. NOW GO OUT AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!