Gospel

 

The Gospel/ Evangelism

Seems like I need to clarify the Biblical Christian Gospel and the work of Evangelism .

The Gospel is the message, Evangelism is the methods of spreading the Gospel.

Shall I identify the scam gospels – they are many, rife in the churches as well as in the world  --  not yet. I would rather like to sound loud and clear the true Bible Gospel.

The Gospel of Isaiah prophesied the LORD God drawing near in the person of the Messiah  -  a child born named Immanuel, a servant whose soul would be made an offering for sin, a Saviour who would embrace Jew and Gentile and so much more good news.

The Gospel of Matthew beginns with a child  (Immanuel – God with us). A child so special the wise men from the east (likely including Chinese), bowed down to worship Him.

The Gospel of Mark opens with the words of this Lord Jesus  - “Repent and believe the Gospel”  That meant that the King had arrived – no better news could be heard. The message was clear  “repent” – turn away from sin and selflove to give total allegiance to the King of the universe, the Son of God!.

The King was rejected! (“We have no king but Caesar” they said – John 19) And so the risen Saviour changed to embrace of the message. Quote of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem”.  (Luke 24).

From then on, by the power of the Holy Spirit they proclaimed the word of the Lord to Jews and Gentiles. If I had space I would trace each of the Gospel messages in the book of ‘Acts’.

In summary –

Peter preached to the Gentiles about Jesus Christ with this conclusion :

“To Him give all the prophet witness, that everyone who believes in HIM receives forgiveness of sins through HIS Name” (Acts 10).

Paul summarised His Gospel:

“Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20)

Paul reflected on the Gospel he effectively preached at Corinth:

“…of first importance, that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures”  1 Corinthians 15.

Philip preached the Gospel about the once crucified Jesus from Isaiah 53  (Acts 8).

Several threads run through these important references:

1       The problem of sin as seen by God and must be repented of.

2      The gospel focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ and the vital need to believe in/on Him

3      The outcomes of this Gospel are many eg  Forgiveness of sins, The gift of the Holy Spirit, the assurance of eternal life in heaven, and so much more.

The Gospel exposes the real human condition as lost  and gives glory to God as the light shining in the face of Jesus Christ.(2 Corinthians 4)

A message that misses Jesus is false!

  A message that smooths over sin is false.

    A message that presents self help to find happiness is deception.

     A message that promotes good works as a means to eternal life is false.

And so it goes on – instead of accountability before God is promoted affluence as a sign of blessing! – false. Rather salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ the Lord, is the genuine  motivator to Christian commitment.

Sadly so many are made happy on the way to hell. Hell? O wait they say. The good news is that a loving God would not punish a person in hell! Some try to fix it up by saying that perish means  to ‘cease being’ instead of ‘well  being’.

False Gospels are an insult to the Name and character of God.

 False Gospels are an insult to the need for and sufficiency of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in His death.

False gospels give false hope and prove cruel to the ones deceived.

How good it is to know and receive the true Gospel of the Son of God, once crucified for our sins, now risen and willing to save all who turn to HIM in faith.

And to think it is for all people everywhere!;

“God so loved the world , that He gave His only Son, so that everyone that believes in HIM, will not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Psalm 23

 

David the shepherd boy, caring for his fathers sheep, picked up his small harp, looked up into the deep blue sky and composed a song of praise, of trust, of hope, of home. 3000 years later we sing it with understanding and emotion.

“The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want

He makes me down to lie

In pastures green He leadeth me the quiet waters by..”

The LORD who made the universe , the LORD who chose to interact with the peoples of earth – this is the one David claimed as his Shepherd.

1000years later Jesus descended from heaven and announced  “I am the Good Shepherd”

2000 years on and we today can look up and say “The LORD Jesus is my Shepherd!”

Life indeed is a journey with many twists and turns.  The destination is sure, in the Father’s house.

Ponder for a moment the journey:

-          A giving shepherd providing food and refreshment sufficient

-          A restoring shepherd for wandering souls

-          A guide along the way – God’s way

-          A companion in the valley, even death

-          A protector in danger

-          A provider in difficult times

-          A healer from the wounds and bruises of the journey

-          A cup overflowing with love undeserved

For David it was to trust in one whose Providence was enough in good times and bad times. This echoes in the word’s:

“Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me”

This has a sense of trust for the future, but also can be a review of the past to the honour of the Great Shepherd.

Lastly, triumphantly – the destination.

“And in God’s house forevermore, my dwelling place shall be.”

The sheep was to return to the shepherd’s fold at the end of each day. But much greater is the final destination – abiding in the Great Shepherd’s own house”  - I hear the eternal word’s of the Good Shepherd – “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you… that there you may be also”  (John 14)

How can it be?  Because Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep (us). Who are included?  “I am the door, by me if anyone enter in they will be saved…..other sheep have I”  (John 10)

And so the ultimate promise comes to all who trust Him.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give unto them eternal life and they will never perish. No one can pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27)

And thus I concluded the funeral service  for one who loved the Lord.

“In God’s house forevermore, my dwelling place shall be”

A place of unfailing love, undisturbed peace, united praise.

Promises

 

School lesson too discouraging – Ten men (spies) who discouraged the people from going forward in faith. Rather than trusting in the promises of God, they preferred the comfort of Egypt.

So God turned them back into the wilderness for fourty years with this indictment:

“They have disobeyed and tested Me too many times.” Numbers 14:23   They got what they wanted and sorrow therewith.

So I changed the content to next terms lessons, to include the great and precious promises given to those who follow the Lord:

God has said “I will never fail you, I will never forsake you.”  Hebrews 13.5

“If we confess our sins to HIM, He is faithful and just to forgive

us our sins.”  1 John 1

God showed how much He loves us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him”  1 John 4

“My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. I give them Eternal Life and they will never perish.” John 10

Jesus said:  “In My Fathers house are many rooms. I am going to prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also” John 14

Who would be so foolish as to ignore such promises of God’s grace!

And yet many do – with little hope in this life and none in the next.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Rejoicing

 

The special Bible verse for me this morning:

Written of Jesus Christ our Lord  -  

“ You love HIM even though you have never seen HIM. You trust HIM and even now you rejoice with glorious and inexpressible joy.

Your reward for trusting HIM will be the salvation of your souls.” 

1 Peter 1:8

10 Commands

 

At School we have been teaching the children the ten commandments. Is it relevant???

Yes it is!  - Many children have no sense of values except what they see on screens – TV, smart phones, I pad etc. Hence it is vital to establish the writing of the Lord God to guide their conscience. It also registers a sense of the holiness of God.

Yes it is!  - teaching about Jesus Christ dying for our sins is meaningless if people don’t know what sin is. Paul wrote: “apart from the law , sin lies dead” (Romans 7:8). Thus the law gives meaning to the Lord Jesus Christ dying as a sacrifice for sin.

Yes it is!  - The first commandment points heavenward – to worship the invisible, heaven residing God. He alone is worthy of our devotion and obedience.

Yes it is!  - The last commandment confirms the statement of

Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned” .  From Eve to the present, the sin of covetousness stains every mind.

Yes it is!  - God knows best how to order society. From the days of the week to marriage to loving our neighbour, His way is best.

Does it achieve salvation and eternal life – NO.

Only the LORD God gives eternal life as a gift through His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Law condems us, hence we need a sacrifice.

The Law exemplifies the Holy character  of God

Consciece

 

Activating conscience

The Lord Jesus used various ways to activate the conscience of the people.

1       Raising the standard. eg  “love your enemies”  Matthew 5

2      Referring to the day of judgement eg “They will be judged at the last day by the truth I have spoken”  John 12

3      Reflecting on self  eg “let those who  have never sinned throw the first stone.”  John 8

4      Repentance of sin.  eg “ Go and sin no more”  John 8

5      Remembering God’s law eg “ Moses will accuse you”  John 5

John 3:17

 “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”

This Bible verse does give eternal hope, but it does not overlook sin or judgement . It does mean that the Almighty God has chosen to first offer salvation to those who choose to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

For those who reject Jesus Christ the LORD, judgement will finally come because they have refused to believe the Gospel of salvation.

An awesome , gracious God.

   An inner voice of conscience.

     A promise of sins removed and eternal life given

      A day of final judgement.

I encourage you to read all the Bible, in particular the section written by John the Apostle. Let the words of Jesus create faith in your mind and heart.

Who is this man?

 

"Jesus awoke and He rebuked the wind and said to the sea: “Peace be still”. The wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4.39)

Jesus – the baby, the boy, the teenager, the tradesman, the man delighting the God the Father.

Christ – The promised King and Messiah anointed by the Holy Spirit

Lord – the one who came down from heaven and now in heaven is Lord of all

Son of God – The only one who represents God perfectly

Saviour – the perfect one who saves from sin and hell

Lamb  of God – He who never sinned, died for sinners

Son of man – He who being man will rule over all people

Prince of peace – His rule as King will bring peace.

Redeemer – We belong to Him, bought by His own blood

King of the Jews – Born into king David’s ancestry, He will reign over all.

High Priest – Presently acting as our intercessor in heaven.

Shepherd – One who cares enough to die for His sheep.

Judge – appointed by God the Father to judge all.

Advocate – pleading before the holy throne for His failing people.

 

Do you know HIM?