The Gospel Message
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I. The Gospel Message
I. The Gospel Message
A. Defining the gospel
A. Defining the gospel
1. Romans 1:16 says, “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.” What is the gospel? The word gospel (EUAGGELION) means good news. Galatians 1:6-9
1. Romans 1:16 says, “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.” What is the gospel? The word gospel (EUAGGELION) means good news. Galatians 1:6-9
2. The gospel is the good news about the work God did for our salvation through Jesus Christ on a weekend in history nearly two thousand years ago. It is a message that must be believed. The four gospels give extensive explanation of that world changing event, but in brief, here are some verses that explain it.
2. The gospel is the good news about the work God did for our salvation through Jesus Christ on a weekend in history nearly two thousand years ago. It is a message that must be believed. The four gospels give extensive explanation of that world changing event, but in brief, here are some verses that explain it.
a. 1 Peter 2:24a – …[Christ] Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.
a. 1 Peter 2:24a – …[Christ] Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.
b. Acts 5:30 – The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
b. Acts 5:30 – The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
c. Acts 13:28-29 – And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
c. Acts 13:28-29 – And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb.
d. Acts 13:30-32 – But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers.
d. Acts 13:30-32 – But God raised Him from the dead; and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers.
e. The results of believing the gospel are found in Acts 13:38-39 – Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
e. The results of believing the gospel are found in Acts 13:38-39 – Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
3. Paul explained the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
3. Paul explained the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
4. Concisely speaking, the message you must believe in order to be saved has to do with a particular person (Christ) and what He did on your behalf: Christ died for your sins and rose again.
4. Concisely speaking, the message you must believe in order to be saved has to do with a particular person (Christ) and what He did on your behalf: Christ died for your sins and rose again.
B. The gospel is an objective message
B. The gospel is an objective message
1. The gospel is an objective message about the most important historical event that ever took place. It is the news report concerning what Jesus Christ did: He died on the cross and rose again three days later. He did this to forgive us of our sins, save us from God’s just wrath and provide us with eternal life.
1. The gospel is an objective message about the most important historical event that ever took place. It is the news report concerning what Jesus Christ did: He died on the cross and rose again three days later. He did this to forgive us of our sins, save us from God’s just wrath and provide us with eternal life.
2. The gospel is not a subjective, how-to message or a step-by-step method used to herd people through a process that leads to salvation.
2. The gospel is not a subjective, how-to message or a step-by-step method used to herd people through a process that leads to salvation.
3. The gospel does not change from person to person. It is the historically verifiable account of how God brought salvation to mankind through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
3. The gospel does not change from person to person. It is the historically verifiable account of how God brought salvation to mankind through the person and work of Jesus Christ.
C. Essential components of the gospel from 1 Corinthians 15:3-11
C. Essential components of the gospel from 1 Corinthians 15:3-11
1. 1 Corinthians 15:3a – Christ died… Christ is the person in whom you must believe for salvation. 1 Timothy 3:16
1. 1 Corinthians 15:3a – Christ died… Christ is the person in whom you must believe for salvation. 1 Timothy 3:16
a. Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah from the Old Testament. He is the principle person of the gospel message. In order to be saved, a person's faith must rest exclusively on Jesus Christ. Luke 24:44-48, Romans 1:2-4, Hebrews 2:10
a. Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah from the Old Testament. He is the principle person of the gospel message. In order to be saved, a person's faith must rest exclusively on Jesus Christ. Luke 24:44-48, Romans 1:2-4, Hebrews 2:10
b. Christ, or CHRISTOS in Greek, is the translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. The term Christhas both deity and humanity built into its meaning. John 7:41
b. Christ, or CHRISTOS in Greek, is the translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. The term Christhas both deity and humanity built into its meaning. John 7:41
c. God foretold that the Christ would be a human being, the Seed of the woman. Genesis 3:15, John 1:14
c. God foretold that the Christ would be a human being, the Seed of the woman. Genesis 3:15, John 1:14
d. God also foretold that the Christ would be deity. He was Emmanuel, God with us. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; John 8:23-24; Titus 2:13
d. God also foretold that the Christ would be deity. He was Emmanuel, God with us. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6; John 8:23-24; Titus 2:13
2. 1 Corinthians 15:3b – Christ died… This describes the work of Christ for our salvation. Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 2:24
2. 1 Corinthians 15:3b – Christ died… This describes the work of Christ for our salvation. Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 2:24
a. Christ suffered spiritual death for us on the cross in that He was separated from God the Father when He took all the sins of mankind on Himself. In Matthew 27:46 we read, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’”
a. Christ suffered spiritual death for us on the cross in that He was separated from God the Father when He took all the sins of mankind on Himself. In Matthew 27:46 we read, “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’”
b. Christ suffered physical death on our behalf when His soul and spirit were separated from His body. 1 Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sin in His body on the cross. Acts 13:29b – They took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. Luke 23:46, Hebrews 10:10
b. Christ suffered physical death on our behalf when His soul and spirit were separated from His body. 1 Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sin in His body on the cross. Acts 13:29b – They took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. Luke 23:46, Hebrews 10:10
c. Christ suffered the implications of eternal death. Whether Christ was separated from His Father for one minute or one million years made no difference, since God lives outside the realm of time. Hebrews 9:26, 10:12, 1 Peter 3:18
c. Christ suffered the implications of eternal death. Whether Christ was separated from His Father for one minute or one million years made no difference, since God lives outside the realm of time. Hebrews 9:26, 10:12, 1 Peter 3:18
3. 1 Corinthians 15:3c-4a – Christ died for our sins. Christ's died on our behalf in order to save us from the penalty we deserved for our sins. By suffering death for us, Christ saved us from having to face the death penalty ourselves and being separated from God for all eternity. Paul gave two very important verifications of Christ's death.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:3c-4a – Christ died for our sins. Christ's died on our behalf in order to save us from the penalty we deserved for our sins. By suffering death for us, Christ saved us from having to face the death penalty ourselves and being separated from God for all eternity. Paul gave two very important verifications of Christ's death.
a. Proof #1 – Detailed prophecies fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 15:3d – Christ died...according to the Scriptures... The death of Christ was a prophetic event that happened exactly as the Old Testament foretold. Psalm 22:17-18, 69:11; Isaiah 53:3-6; Zechariah 12:10; Luke 24:46; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:2-4
a. Proof #1 – Detailed prophecies fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 15:3d – Christ died...according to the Scriptures... The death of Christ was a prophetic event that happened exactly as the Old Testament foretold. Psalm 22:17-18, 69:11; Isaiah 53:3-6; Zechariah 12:10; Luke 24:46; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:2-4
b. Proof #2 – The burial of Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:4a – Christ died...and was buried. The burial of Christ provides enduring proof of His death. The living are not buried. Acts 13:29
b. Proof #2 – The burial of Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:4a – Christ died...and was buried. The burial of Christ provides enduring proof of His death. The living are not buried. Acts 13:29
4. 1 Corinthians 15:4-10 – ...and that He was raised on the third day… The resurrection of Christ is an integral part of the gospel message that must be believed for a person to be savedfrom the penalty of sin. The resurrection validated Christ's victory over both sin and death. Paul provided two important verifications for the resurrection. Romans 4:23-25
4. 1 Corinthians 15:4-10 – ...and that He was raised on the third day… The resurrection of Christ is an integral part of the gospel message that must be believed for a person to be savedfrom the penalty of sin. The resurrection validated Christ's victory over both sin and death. Paul provided two important verifications for the resurrection. Romans 4:23-25
a. Proof #1 – Detailed prophecies fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 15:4b – ...and that He was raised according to the Scriptures... Just as precisely fulfilled prophecies prove the validity of Christ's death, precisely fulfilled prophecies also prove the resurrection of Christ. Job 19:25-26; Psalm 16:9-10; Isaiah 25:8, 53:10
a. Proof #1 – Detailed prophecies fulfilled: 1 Corinthians 15:4b – ...and that He was raised according to the Scriptures... Just as precisely fulfilled prophecies prove the validity of Christ's death, precisely fulfilled prophecies also prove the resurrection of Christ. Job 19:25-26; Psalm 16:9-10; Isaiah 25:8, 53:10
b. Proof #2 – Multiple eye-witnesses: 1 Corinthians 15:5-9 – ...and was seen... More than 500 eyewitnesses are presented as conclusive proof for the resurrection. 1 John 1:1-2
b. Proof #2 – Multiple eye-witnesses: 1 Corinthians 15:5-9 – ...and was seen... More than 500 eyewitnesses are presented as conclusive proof for the resurrection. 1 John 1:1-2
1) 1 Corinthians 15:5a – ...and that He appeared to Cephas... Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends and one of the most well-known Christians of all time, saw the risen Christ. Later, Peter was martyred because he believed Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
1) 1 Corinthians 15:5a – ...and that He appeared to Cephas... Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends and one of the most well-known Christians of all time, saw the risen Christ. Later, Peter was martyred because he believed Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
2) 1 Corinthians 15:5b – ...then to the twelve [disciples]... While still doubting Christ's resurrection, the twelve disciples saw Him. This statement may include Matthias from Acts 1:26, who also witnessed Christ's resurrection.
2) 1 Corinthians 15:5b – ...then to the twelve [disciples]... While still doubting Christ's resurrection, the twelve disciples saw Him. This statement may include Matthias from Acts 1:26, who also witnessed Christ's resurrection.
3) 1 Corinthians 15:6 – After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. Christ appeared to over 500 people at one time. Most of these witnesses were still alive at the time 1 Corinthians was written and could have been questioned for verification.
3) 1 Corinthians 15:6 – After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. Christ appeared to over 500 people at one time. Most of these witnesses were still alive at the time 1 Corinthians was written and could have been questioned for verification.
4) 1 Corinthians 15:7a – ...then He appeared to James... The James referred to here is Christ's half-brother, who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. Having grown up with Jesus, James could easily confirm or deny Christ's identity. It is significant that he did not call the resurrected Christ a fraud, but instead became a believer.
4) 1 Corinthians 15:7a – ...then He appeared to James... The James referred to here is Christ's half-brother, who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. Having grown up with Jesus, James could easily confirm or deny Christ's identity. It is significant that he did not call the resurrected Christ a fraud, but instead became a believer.
5) 1 Corinthians 15:7b – ...then to all the apostles... The apostles, the ones Christ personally commissioned to tell the entire world about his death and resurrection, saw the resurrected Christ. Revelation 21:14
5) 1 Corinthians 15:7b – ...then to all the apostles... The apostles, the ones Christ personally commissioned to tell the entire world about his death and resurrection, saw the resurrected Christ. Revelation 21:14
6) 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 – ...And last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God... The apostle Paul, formerly a blasphemer and destroyer of the church, also saw Christ alive and believed in Him.
6) 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 – ...And last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God... The apostle Paul, formerly a blasphemer and destroyer of the church, also saw Christ alive and believed in Him.