The Goal of the Gospel

Intro

Today’s message will help us understand what the gospel truly accomplishes in our lives.

The results of God’s work in us through Christ are profoundly spiritual and practical.

This will also give us an excellent outline to use in prayer for others.

The Context

Acts 26:12–18 NKJV

“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

The apostle Paul has been imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.

He has appealed to Caesar to defend the accusations against him.

While awaiting, he is brought before local King Agrippa and basically tells the story of his conversion.

This includes more information that we receive in Acts 8.

Transition: Paul’s testimony gives us a powerfully concise understanding of what the gospel of Jesus Christ accomplishes in Jesus’ own words.

Opened Eyes

The first thing Jesus says is that the message of the gospel will “open their eyes”.

“Open”–to reveal something unseen; to cause to be seen, especially spiritual truth.

Interestingly it also implies ‘to be able to hear”.

To “open” implies something is closed and not properly understood.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul reminds the people the “god of this world” has blinded the minds of man.

EMPHASIZE: Apart from Christ, humanity is blinded to the reality of God, the reality of our brokenness and the only remedy for what ails us.

The gospel opens our eyes to reality!

Darkness to Light

Darkness

This refers especially to spiritual darkness.

We are kept “in the dark” regarding the life God has intended for us to be living.

John 3:19 NKJV

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

EMPHASIZE: Spiritual darkness creates the atmosphere for evil deeds.

Unfortunately, man is unaware he is in darkness.

This is like how our eyes adjust to light and darkness.

Light

Light reveals truth.

We see things as they are, as God intended.

John 3:19 NKJV

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus is the light.

The truth of God revealed in Jesus is the light!

The gospel of Jesus Christ empowers us to TURN from “darkness to light”.

Power of Satan to God

“Power” used here is “exousia” in Greek.

It means “authority”; the right to rule.

EMPHASIZE: Since the Fall and because of sin man is under the jurisdiction of Satan, the adversary and enemy of our souls.

His goal is to instigate and deceive us to rebel against God’s authority.

Jesus has defeated and overthrown Satan’s authority in the world by his sinless life, perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

Colossians 2:15 NKJV

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 1:13–14 NKJV

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus has retaken authority in this world.

EMPHASIZE: When we receive the gospel by faith we now willingly submit to Christ’s authority and are no longer “under the sway of the wicked one”.

Forgiveness of Sins

In order to receive forgiveness we first need to have our eyes opened, turn from darkness to light, delivered from Satan’s power to God.

This produces “repentance” in our lives.

It is only then we can honestly recognize our spiritual condition and be convinced that our hope is in God alone.

We then can confess our failure to glorify God with our lives and acknowledge Christ’s sacrifice for our sin.

Rebellion in our hearts is now crushed!

We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and our inner compulsion is now to glorify God.

We are “new creations”; his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Receive an Inheritance

Inheritance means a share, a part or portion.

A significant aspect of our inheritance is being a part of God’s redeemed people.

We belong to God’s family and God’s purposes.

This inheritance is eternal.

Final Words

Paul’s testimony provides us with one of the most important outlines of the goal of the Gospel.

To open man’s eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and receive an inheritance among the saints.

If you have already made a decision to follow Christ ins some measure you have experienced this in your life.

This is also a concise prayer to pray for those who have not yet come to a living faith in Christ.

An example:

Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ and pray for ____________ to have their eyes opened to the reality of who you, that they will then turn from darkness to light, delivered from the powerful deception of Satan to the authority of God in Christ, that they may repent and receive forgiveness of sins and share in the inheritance of the saints by faith in Christ. Amen!

In closing, I believe we need to memorize and rehearse this portion of scripture. Primarily because I believe it is one of the MOST concise descriptors of the goal of the gospel.

Jesus SAID SO!