American Gospel #1

Introduction

The word Gospel is talked about often in church and even in our community as a whole. Some churches have the word Gospel in their name and others have classes where they study how to share the Gospel. Many of us know that the word Gospel simply means “good news” - but what is so special about the Gospel in relation to the Bible? What makes the Biblical Gospel good news? Why do we need this good news in the first place? Several years ago this documentary came out entitled American Gospel: Christ Alone. This documentary opened my eyes and the eyes of millions to some of the false gospels that are being taught and exported from our country in place of the true Biblical Gospel. I love that this documentary gives a clear and easy to understand presentation of what the Biblical Gospel is and why the Biblical Gospel is so important to our lives! In the weeks to come, we’re going to be watching 15-20 minutes of this 2+ hour movie and discussing what the Gospel is and why we can’t compromise on the Gospel like some people unfortunately have. Each week we’ll have a handout with some questions that will guide our discussion. I hope that this is a fruitful time of study as we remind ourselves of what the Gospel is and why we have to get it right.

With any movie/video based study it can be difficult to follow along, so I’d encourage you if possible to order a copy of this either electronically on Prime Video or a DVD so that you can watch the full video in one sitting with your popcorn! This documentary incorporates dozens and dozens of people who are both solid and some who are not - it’s pretty easy to tell who is who as they present, but if you have questions, please speak up or talk with me. The makers of this documentary are solid folks who are now about to release their 3rd American Gospel film. I’d love to go through the other 2 in the years to come as these films give clear explanations of what the Gospel is and how we can stand against false teachings in our world today. The Bible calls on us to rightly divide the Word and the only way we can do that is to know the Word. As we know the Word we have to stand on it and that means that we will stand against anyone who proclaims a false gospel. This series will hopefully give you some tools at your disposal to talk with people who might be involved in a church or organization that teaches and promotes a false gospel.

One final statement before we watch: Because there are so many people involved in this documentary, there are disagreements even among the crowd that stands unashamedly on the Biblical Gospel. You have Presbyterians, Baptists, and Non-Denominational folks in this who are united upon the Gospel. This isn’t an endorsement of everything these people believe - but if you get the Gospel right, we can have some liberty for disagreements on non-primary places. I feel confident enough in the people in this film to endorse it and encourage others to watch it. But as always, this doesn’t mean that everything that everyone believes lines up with what we believe. This is also true in SBC life as there are people who feel differently than we do here at FBC Salem. Lots of people claim to believe in the same Gospel but their ministries promote other teaching that is far from orthodoxy or correct Biblical teaching - this video will help shine a light in that area and I pray help us grow more in our understanding of the true Gospel.

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Post Video Notes

There are so many how-to’s in our world and even in the church that make us feel better whenever we do them, but leave us depressed whenever we fall short. There’s a place for Biblical how-to’s but the Gospel isn’t a how-to - the Gospel is completely opposed to earning. We can’t do enough to earn it. The Gospel is an “it’s done” message - now walk in it.

Why does a moral message (just be a good person) leave us in down in the dumps?

Because the Bible reminds us that we aren’t good enough!

Anti-Christian message

How-to messages can give people an unattainable goal and keep them in despair or feed their ego and pride as they think they can earn something

Rich young ruler: What must I do to inherit eternal life - this is the question that many people ask today! It’s performance based and we crave to boast in our goodness and works… this is the opposite of the Gospel because the Gospel tells us that we are saved fully because of God’s grace and Jesus’ work. Yet we’re like the Rich Young Ruler and we want to say that we’re good and that we can do enough good things to earn our own way. This is American Christianity to a T! - Think Mormonism - do enough good works and you can vault your way up the list and become your own god one day with your own planet. You can earn it if you do enough things.

Only God is good - He defines what good is, not us. 99% of humans think that they’re a good person! We’re up a creek w/o a paddle. God’s law matters!

God is holy/just and we as humans are unholy and unrighteous because we are sinners. We deserve punishment for our sins! We might be good whenever we compare ourselves to others, but we’re bad compared to Christ! He’s our standard.

The Gospel promises to change us in our heart - John 3. God resurrects us and makes us a new person! The Gospel cannot just make us feel good or give us good advice… We need way more help than that!

Gospel comes in the middle of pride and despair and tells us that we aren’t good enough but that Jesus was good enough in our place! This is good news.

Justification - we are guilty but God declares us righteous through His power and grace!

Why is it dangerous to add to the Bible? See Catholic church.

No hope!

Aren’t you thankful that our salvation is not maintained by our good actions but by Jesus’ perfect work in our place!?

This is the Biblical Gospel - Romans 8:1 tells us that Jesus has paid the price in full. We can have full assurance today!

People have always said that it’s by Christ and our works/actions - see Acts 15 and Philippians 3. Yet, this isn’t the Biblical Gospel. Works don’t save us - works are the root of a saved life!

Relationship = Obedience. Obedience = Relationship would put the pressure on us and the law reminds us that we don’t obey perfectly! We need the Gospel. We need the good news of what God has done as our loving Father! Then we obey.

We must be clear about the Gospel because not everyone knows the Gospel.

Post Video Questions

American Gospel Session #1

1. What is significant about God’s holiness and our sinfulness?

2. What is the true standard of goodness?

3. If we were judged strictly by our works, where would we spend eternity?

4. “You are not good enough by yourself. But Jesus was good enough for you.”

5. What is the true Gospel?

6. What is the hope of the Gospel?

7. Justification by __________ alone in ___________ alone – we are declared righteous even though we are sinners, because of what Jesus has done

8. Works based salvation puts works at the root of our salvation – the Bible tells us that works are the fruit of our salvation. You know that someone is saved because of their works but their works do not save them. Jesus’ work alone saves us!

9. Gospel = Euangelion or “________________”

The Law Says: _____

The Gospel Says: _____

10. Bible tells us what God has done and then what we must do because of His work.

11. Why do we all need to be reminded of the Gospel, even if we’re Christians?