Foundations: The Gospel

Why is the Gospel Foundational?

The Gospel should be foundational to everything that we do.

Without the Gospel, the good news about what Jesus has done for us, we wouldn’t be hear today.

Ephesians 2 CSB

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

The Gospel Changes Our Relationship with God

We were enemies with God, but are now made right with Him.

Very important that we understand our prior relationship with God.

“Dead in your trespasses and sins”

“By natures children under wrath as the others were also.”

We then see how God changed everything.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive in Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by Grace!

We then see how this changes our situation with God.

so that in the coming ages, he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourself; it is God’s gift-not from works, so that no one can boast.”

“At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

We are adopted Sons and Daughters of the Most High God.

We were far off but brought near.

The Gospel Changes Our Relationship With Ourselves

We were previously self-focused.

“Dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

“He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus”

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift- not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Hedonism-the default of people.

We must shift to being God focused.

From “What do I want” to “What does God want?”

The reality is in doing so, we bring ourselves the most pleasure we can possibly have by living a life that is wholly devoted to God.

Our value should not be viewed any longer through a lens of how we or others perceive ourselves, but rather, how God sees us.

It is not about self-esteem or self confidence, but an understanding of who God says we are.

In Christ we are a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

Does not mean we will be perfect in this life. We still will struggle with sin while we are in this life, but we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us.

The Gospel Changes Our Relationship with the World

We were once in and of the world.

“You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

We must be in the world but not of the world.

Romans 12:2 CSB

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Pursuing God’s will requires a mind that is transformed and not conformed.

If you find yourself firmly rooted with an ideology that is grounded in worldly concerns and desires, it is likely that you are focused on the wrong things.

We must be active in the world, but not concerned about the world.

Create culture that is glorifying to God.

Not condemn

Not critique

Not copy

Not Consume

CREATE quality culture that glorifys God and is grounded in the Gospel.

All this is because we are Citizens of heaven and not citizens of the world.

The fathers of the faith understood this. Hall of faith.

Hebrews 11:13–16 CSB

These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

The Gospel Changes Our Relationship with Others

We are all divided and grouped off.

Gentiles vs. the people of Israel.

“At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The Gospel removes all boundaries and distinctions in Christ.

Galatians 3:27–29 CSB

For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Race, gender, age, nationality whatever we may classify people by, they are all equally loved and valued in Christ.

We must lay aside any bias or distinction in how we love and treat one another.

This does not mean that those things do not exist, and do not matter for some things, but in Christ all are equally valued and loved, and we should regard people that way.

As Christians, as we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

With non-Christians, as they are someone Christ died for.

This can be very difficult.

Every person has their own biases

We must lay them at the foot of the cross.

The Gospel Changes Everything

All that we are and about shifts to be in line with what God is in and about.

There are few things that change your life.

Moments where everything changes and the rest of your life is shaped by that moment.

What the Gospel is.

Everything that the church does must be founded upon the Gospel.

Does not mean we only gather and discuss the Gospel.

Rather all of the things we discussed should be evident in our interactions.

The way we interact with God, ourselves, the world, and others should reflect the truth of the Gospel.