Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for this week is: Why I Believe In The Gospel Of Christ
INTRODUCTION
1. Among things in which I believe is the gospel of Jesus Christ...
2. The word “gospel” (Gr., euaggelion) means “good news”...
a. It pertains to the good news of salvation through Christ
b. It involves the proclama tion of God’s grace offered through Jesus
[As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I firmly believe in the gospel. In this study, we will first review why
the gospel is so important, and then summarize the particulars of the gospel...]
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL
A. SOMETHING JESUS WANTED EVERYONE TO HEAR...
1. Jesus wanted every person in the world to hear the gospel - Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
2. It must therefore be important to Him
-- If so important to Him, it must be important to all who believe in Him!
B. POWER TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES...
1. Paul described the gospel as God’s power unto salvation - Romans 1:16 - For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek. ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached
unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached
unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
2. In the gospel is revealed God’s righteousness - Romans 1:17 - For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
3. Thus he was not ashamed of the gospel, ready to preach it anywhere - Romans 1:15 - So, as
much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. ; Romans 15:19b - so that from
Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
-- If Paul had such convictions regarding the gospel, shouldn’t we?
C. CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY...
1. Peter raised the question of what of those who not obey the gospel - 1 Peter 4:17 - For the
time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey
not the gospel of God?
2. Paul revealed the answer: vengeance and eternal destruction from God! - 2
Thessalonians 1:7-10 - And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony
among you was believed) in that day.
-- If the consequence of not believing the gospel is so grave, how can we not believe?
[Because of what it means to Jesus and His apostles, what it means to us who believe, and
what it will mean for those who do not obey, I believe in the gospel! But what exactly is this “good news”...?]
II. THE PARTICULARS OF THE GOSPEL
A. CONTAINS FACTS TO BELIEVE...
1. Christ was crucified for our sins - 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 - Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which
also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ; cf. Isaiah
53:4-6 - Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God,
and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
2. Christ was raised from the dead - 1 Corinthians 15:4 - And that he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ; e.g., Acts 2:32 - This Jesus hath God
raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
3. Christ is exalted as Lord and Savior - Acts 2:33-36 - Therefore
being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth
this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ; cf. Ephesians 1:20-23 - Which
he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand
in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
4. Christ is coming again, this time to judge the world - Acts 17:30-31 -
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he
hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men,
in that he hath raised him from the dead. ; cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 - And to you who are troubled rest
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them
that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
-- Note that destruction comes to those who do not OBEY the gospel; the gospel therefore contains
more than simply facts to believe! - 2 Thessalonians 1:8 - In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
B. INCLUDES COMMANDS TO OBEY...
1. We must believe the gospel concerning Jesus Christ - Mark 16:16 - He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ; cf. Romans
1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2. We must confess our faith in Jesus Christ - Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ; e.g.,
Acts 8:37 - And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
3. We must repent of our sins - Luke 24:46-47 - And said unto them, Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ; cf. Acts 2:37-38
- Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost. ; Acts 3:19 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted
out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ; Acts 17:30-31 - And the times
of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from
the dead.
4. We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Mark 16:15-16 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ; cf. Acts 2:38
- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. ; Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise,
and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
5. We must remain faithful, even to the point of death - Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some
of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. ;
cf. Hebrews 3:12-14 - Take heed, brethren, lest
there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it
is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we
hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
-- For those who obey the gospel, Jesus becomes the author of eternal life! - Hebrews 5:9 -
And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
C. OFFERS PROMISES TO RECEIVE...
1. The remission of sins, through the blood of Jesus - Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost. ; cf. Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit, to empower the Christian - Acts 2:38-39 - Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ; cf. Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. ;
Ephesians 3:16 - That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his
Spirit in the inner man;
3. The gift of everlasting life, to be received at the end - John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. ; cf. Romans 6:22-23 - But now being made free from sin, and become servants
to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
-- This is why the gospel of Christ is truly “good news”!
CONCLUSION
1. We have seen that the gospel of Christ is...
a. Good news Jesus wanted everyone to hear
b. The power of God of salvation to everyone who believes
c. Condemnation for those unwilling to obey it
2. We saw where the gospel of Christ contains facts, commands, and promises...
a. The facts to believe contains the message of God’s love and grace
b. The commands to obey are not difficult works done to earn salvation, but simple acts of faith
whereby we receive God’s grace and mercy
c. The promises to receive help us deal with the problem of sin in our lives
3. Do you believe in the gospel of Christ...?
a. Enough to obey it to ensure the salvation of your own soul?
b. Enough to tell others about it?
May we all have the same attitude as Paul did regarding the gospel of Christ...
Romans 1:16 - For
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Prayer: Lord I truly thank
You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will give them Your eternal blessings
and accept them into Your heart - this I pray in the name of Thy Son, Jesus,
the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Ephesians 6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen.
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement:
That it never be used for profit.
