THE GOSPEL UNLEASHED!
“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” – {1 Cor 15:3-4}
The Gospel is GOOD NEWS to those who first hear the bad news, that their SIN has separated them from God, that the penalty of their sin is death, separation from God, that they are spiritual prisoners captive to satan to do his will. They are in spiritual bondage. {Read Eph 2:2-3;}… “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will..”{ 2 Tim 2:24-26}. All outside of Jesus Christ are under the wrath of God. {Read Romans 1:18-25}. But the Good NEWS is God so loved them He sent His Son to die in their place, to take their punishment to forgive them and remove the barrier of sin between them satisfy His wrath, and adopt them into His family through the Person, Work of the LORD Jesus Christ. “… the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” – {Read Mark 1:1}.
Consider…
– The UNIVERSAL 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 in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.” {Romans 1:16-18}
“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” {1 Cor 15:3-4}
“…to the JEW first and also to the GREEK…” The Good News is the Gospel is for all people of all color, in all continents, of all ages- none excluded! It is GOOD NEWS to be shared with all. It is for all people of the world in all generations, such is the mercy of God. There is no one who is not a candidate to hear and receive the Gospel. You can share the Gospel with “all” people and not just a few, or types of people, be it geographical, age, gender.The Gospel is Universal, for ALL people! It is the Universal “Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Son Of God!”
Consider…
– The UNIQUENESS of The Gospel To Save!…
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also YOU ARE SAVED, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”-{1 Cor 15:2}
Thanking God… for salvation and the Gospel… Stand Firm in The Gospel.The Gospel is the POWER of God for SALVATION, -{Rom 1:16}…”…in which also you stand, by which also YOU ARE SAVED,” There is no other message God has chosen to save but the message of the Gospel. It is UNIQUE in that it is POWERFUL to SAVE, deliver and rescue from spiritual danger and ruin, TO a right standing with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a Powerful message, that is life changing, from the inside out! It is a Personal message to be heard, received, embraced and submitted to!
The Gospel is the POWER of GOD, who created the world, sustains it and upholds it all by the power of His Word. -{Read Heb 1:3}. It is Himself who imparts the Power to save, rescue, deliver a person who is dead in their transgressions and sins and bring into newness of life, imparted the power to live Godly – {Read 2 Peter 1;3} and gift Eternal life – {{John 17:3}. The Uniqueness of God is the Power to Save and the Power to Protect that salvation, “…who are protected by the POWER of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” -{1 Peter 1:5}.
The UNIQUENESS of the PERSON- The LORD Jesus Christ to SAVE! “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”-{Acts 4:12} “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”- {1 Tim 2:5-6}.
The UNIQUENESS of The MESSAGE…”The Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Son Of God.” – {Mark 1:1}. The Gospel is a Powerful Message. It is a Personal Message. It is the Pre-Eminent Message! The Gospel is the Power of God to convict of sin, righteousness and judgement and the power to convert. {Read John 16:8-11}. The hope of the Gospel is found in Jesus Christ alone! He is the Unique One! And the Uniqueness of the Gospel message the means He uses to save, by the POWER of the Holy Spirit, -{John 16:8-11}! The Gospel is the Power of God to save!
Consider…
– The URGENCY of The Gospel
“For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” {1 Cor 15:1-4}
I met a man at a conference I was speaking at, and one day while walking he shared with me his story how he had nearly died through illness and how his message now was that he told people too slow down and smell the roses. And then he said something I have never forgot, “When I retire I would like to do what you do as a Hobby!” “A Hobby!!!” Something to get around to when we have time, something to do on the side. Did that man say what is true in your life, my life, that the Gospel is a secondary issue like a “hobby,” something that is “part time,” recreational,” but definitely not paramount! The Gospel was no hobby to Paul indeed it was of “First Importance.”
“FIRST IMPORTANCE,” Paul delivered it as PRIORITY upon his meeting these people that they may know Jesus died for their sins and was buried and was raised again for their justification, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”-{Rom 4:25}….
When you meet someone what is it that is of “FIRST IMPORTANCE ” to you that they may know? Often when people are been introduced to each other, one of the first question asked is “What do you do?” That what is of “FIRST IMPORTANCE” to them… not with Paul, his concern was their soul and that they HEAR the GOOD NEWS of The GOSPEL!
When you meet someone what is of “FIRST IMPORTANCE” to you? To Paul it was the URGENCY of The Gospel, that they may hear from Him! Look again at the verse and note “I Delivered to you…” what was it he delivered? the message of The Gospel of Jesus Christ… and what was his attitude to delivering it? “…of FIRST IMPORTANCE…” It was paramount to him, for Jesus Christ was their greatest need, and He is worthy of all their worship and love! The URGENCY of The Gospel is manifested in what we deliver and whether or not it is of First Importance to us!
I was looking at some information of approximate number of births a day and DEATHS. On an average day it said 150,000 people DIE A DAY…They enter into eternity… and how many of those without Christ?
Are you more interested what people do than where they are going, and who they are worshiping?
Many years ago I was in another city and driving some back roads to pick up some food for my wife and children who were sick at home. I was driving slowly through a street when something caught my eye to the left of me, I was driving slow enough and as I slowed down I saw a woman, an elderly woman laying in a ditch by the side of the road on front of a house! I could have reasoned, “my wife is sick, my kids are sick, I need to get them food and get back to them And I will pray someone comes to help that lady!’ If I had done that and people found out they would have been outraged, and rightly so. I chose to stop the van jump out and go to her side, she could not get out of the ditch herself, as I got down beside her to help, with that I saw some people at the house called for help and lifted her out of the ditch. People are laying in “the ditch” of sin and we pass by daily often “justifying,” why we cannot help others by Delivering the Gospel to others and so we “drive by!” The Gospel is not of “First Importance” to us , for He is not of “First Importance” nor His business! Focus on Jesus, and He will give you perspective and the urgency of the Gospel He will work in and through you to be as of ‘First Importance.”
Consider…
– THE GOSPEL ULTIMATIUM? {THE ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL?}
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; REPENT and BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.” “- {Mark 1:14-15}
* The Gospel is UNIVERSAL– For All People of all Nations.
* The Gospel is UNIQUE- It is the POWER of God to SAVE
* The Gospel is URGENT– “Of First Importance” People are not WORSHIPING God nor LOVING Him and He is worthy to be worshiped and loved. People are dying in their millions and in their sin!
* The Gospel’s ULTIMATUM– is to REPENT AND BELIEVE!
Consider…
5. THE GOSPEL AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES –
Thank God for His mercy and that there is a Gospel and may we too with Paul wherever we are at, live in such a way that we can say “… my circumstances are working out to ADVANCE The Gospel.”-{Phil 1:12}.
In the circumstances you find yourself in with the people you find yourself in, they are OPPORTUNITIES to ADVANCE THE GOSPEL. ASK God for favor with the people and share the Good news which is GOD news… and trust the HOLY SPIRIT to make real and do what only He can do, open blinded spiritual eyes to see their sin and then the SAVIOR WHO SAVES FROM SIN, “and you Shall call His NAME JESUS AND HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SIN!”-{Matt1:21}
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” -{1 Tim 1:15}. Paul was imprisoned, he had envious people against him, his circumstances were difficult yet in those circumstances instead of focusing inward he focus’ on God’s Business and the care of the souls of people in the circumstances he finds himself in. He wasn’t waiting until his circumstances changed for the “better” before he reached out, but his intent was fixed, The Furtherance of the Gospel in the circumstances he found himself in!
In the circumstances you find yourself in, look around and see who has God placed there. Paul in Philippians 1:16 said he was “appointed for the defense of the Gospel.” The word “appointed” was a military word used for soldiers who were strategically placed, designated, set, in a specific place with a specific purpose.
In the circumstances God has placed you in, you are strategically placed with Divine purpose which includes, that in your circumstances you may advance the GOSPEL!
Your circumstances are opportunities to advance the Gospel! You are “appointed,” Strategically placed by Him for Him to benefit others and point them towards Him!
UNLEASH THE GOSPEL!