Believing & Confessing the Gospel
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Believing & Confessing the Gospel
Believing & Confessing the Gospel
Introduction:
The Gospel and Jesus are integrally and inseparably intertwined. We cant have one without the other. And it goes without saying, we can’t accurately preach/teach one without the other.
From the angels’ announcement of Jesus’ birth, to Jesus’ first explanation of what He came to do and the accounts of the good news/Gospel being explained/preached/teached/taught, Jesus was the Gospel and the Gospel was the Gospel. For that matter, to be technically and theologically correct, that is and always will be true.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
Thus says the Lord:
“In a time of favor I have answered you;
in a day of salvation I have helped you;
I will keep you and give you
as a covenant to the people,
to establish the land,
to apportion the desolate heritages,
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The integrity of who Jesus i/the Gospel, means the Scriptures alone must be allowed to be the lens through which we define the content of the Gospel, including who is Jesus is and what He did.
Scriptures themselves than someone else’s perspective or perception.
Wikipedia or Google info might be shaded or slanted by the data provider
Coles notes version is usually a good beginning but can never take the place of the original
Cheese food not always much real cheese
Those who believe in Jesus and confess the Gospel as defined in the word of God, are the growing/reproducing church of Jesus Christ that is made up of interwoven expanding circles faith, with each circle owing its integrity to a consistent/accurate understanding/confession and believing the Gospel as defined in the Scriptures.
All of us talk with others about is important to us.
That should be even more true for those about whom we care.
Health - good, bad & ugly - Walkerton contaminated water, cure for cancer or at the very least, allowing us to die with it rather than because of it.
That is clearly demonstrated for us in the beginning of another faith circle of those who believed and confessed the Gospel. Withing this next faith circle, we again see the replication integral/intertwined believing and confessing Jesus.
Witness - Acts 8:26-27
Those who believe the Gospel, the good news of Jesus, confessing Jesus/the Gospel
Commanded, expected and enabled by Christ - not about kingdoms or personal agendas.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Witness - Gr martyr - Stephen - Acts 7
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
Peter - Sermon, Day of Pentecost
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
That confession when believed, results in expanding circles of confessing believers.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Luke 2;10-11; Matt 4:23; 28:18-20; Acts 14:7; 1 Peter 4:7
Luke 4:43; Acts 1:8; 2:37-41, 47; 4:4, 31; 5:42; 6:7; 8:4, 6, 25, 26-27, 35
2. Worship - Acts 8:27, 28-34
Response to the witness of the Gospel/Jesus seldom happens in a spiritual vacuum.
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
The worship gatherings, whether in the local synagogue or the temple in Jerusalem were at the core of what it was to be an Israelite, to be Jewish. Gathering with other children of Abraham was the spiritual heart beat of every Israelite. That especially so during the annual festivals - Passover, Pentecost & Tabernacles- the first two temple focused.
For the Ethiopian - 2 challenges - probably not an ethnic Israelite - others like Ruth had converted, so could he have. The bigger issue was he was a eunuch and whatever the nature of him bring emasculated, he would have been denied access to the temple. That same portion denied others access to the temple. The reason for eunuchs being mentioned was that whether done to children or later in life, it was a deliberate mutilation of the body that God gave man and was often associated with pagan practices or advancement in some government positions.
This man was in charge of all the treasure Candace (probably not a name but a title given to Queen mothers) in that land
“No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord.
Although his access was restricted, he would have seen and heard what had happened in Jerusalem and with Jesus 3 years of ministry & teaching. We cannot but wonder if as he worshipped he wondered if the Gospel applied to him, with the physical stigma that known to too many. What about those who were afar off.
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Before we leave this reference to worship, we need to allow the Scriptures to remind us what was was in the context of the word and NT.
Worship - lay oneself before God in surrender/submission and/or petition. This was not going or attending but a total submission of self and surrendering to God needs etc.
Signing guest books at Buddhist and Shinto temples/shrines and or washing hands.
Repeated word/worship connections - Christ - Lk 4:16-19 (Is 61:1-2; 49:8) Peter - Acts 2:17-21 (Joel 2:28-32) ; Acts 2:25-28 (Ps 16;8-11)
Worship - Lk 24:52-53; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1-4:4,31
3. Word - Acts 8:28, 32-33 (Is 53:7-8)
While God’s existence and some of His attributes can be seen in nature, saving knowledge of Him comes only through the Scriptures. Jesus underscored that
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
The issue is that opening the Scriptures do we see and understand all they say about Him.
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Paul noted that some of us need someone to further explain the Scriptures to us.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The eunuch was reading the word and searching.
About whom does the prophet speak, of himself or about someone else - Acts 8:34
PHILIP - “Do you understand what you are reading?
EUNUCH - invited Philip to come up and sit with - understood - explain the eunuch’s question.
He told him the good news/Gospel about Jesus - Acts 8:35
Good news/Gospel about Jesus - focus must be Jesus, what He did, not what we did or must do.
Beginning with this Scripture, would have provided a concise comprehensive summary of Jesus, His ministry and message - cc - Peter & Gentiles - Acts 2:37-41; 10:34-43
Beginning with this Scripture - need to begin an connect the Gospel with where people are.
Jesus did that with Nicodemus & Samaritan women at the well of Sychar, as did Paul, Priscilla & Aquila with Apollos and Stephen before the council - Acts 7
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As a clear indication that he heard the word and believed in Jesus, the eunuch asked to be baptized.
In the Scriptures, all references to the Gospel/Jesus include invitations to believe and to confess the Gospel/good news of Jesus.
Believing the Gospel/Jesus and confessing the Gospel/Jesus are steps of faith and obedience -
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
2. Those who would worship and accept the word of God are more likely to accept/believe in the Jesus/the Gospel.
3. Baptism confesses believing all of one’s heart that Jesus is the Son of God (v 37 some manuscripts).
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Each of us is called to examine ourselves to make sure that we are of the faith.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.