"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 proclamation 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 - Mk
16:15-16
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 - Ro
1:16; 1Co 15:1-2
2. In the gospel is revealed God's righteousness - Ro 1:17
3. Thus he was not ashamed of the gospel, ready to preach it
anywhere - Ro 1:15; 15:19b
-- 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 - 1Pe 4:17
2. Paul revealed the answer: vengeance and eternal destruction
from God! - 2Th 1:7-10
-- 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 - 1Co 15:1-3; cf. Isa 53:4-6
2. Christ was raised from the dead - 1Co 15:4; e.g., Ac 2:32
3. Christ is exalted as Lord and Savior - Ac 2:33-36; cf. Ep 1:
20-23
4. Christ is coming again, this time to judge the world - Ac 17:
30-31; cf. 2Th 1:7-9
-- Note that destruction comes to those who do not OBEY the
gospel; the gospel therefore contains more than simply facts to
believe! - 2Th 1:8
B. INCLUDES COMMANDS TO OBEY...
1. We must believe the gospel concerning Jesus Christ - Mk 16:16;
cf. Ro 1:16
2. We must confess our faith in Jesus Christ - Ro 10:9-10; e.g.,
Ac 8:37
3. We must repent of our sins - Lk 24:46-47; cf. Ac 2:37-38; 3:19;
17:30-31
4. We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Mk 16:15-16;
cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16
5. We must remain faithful, even to the point of death - Re 2:10;
cf. He 3:12-14
-- For those who obey the gospel, Jesus becomes the author of
eternal life! - He 5:9
C. OFFERS PROMISES TO RECEIVE...
1. The remission of sins, through the blood of Jesus - Ac 2:38;
cf. Ep 1:7
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit, to empower the Christian - Ac 2:
38-39; cf. Ro 15:13; Ep 3:16
3. The gift of everlasting life, to be received at the end - Jn 3:
16; cf. Ro 6:22-23
-- 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...
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first
and also for the Greek." - Ro 1:16
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Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2009
