The Heart of The gospel

Evangelism - Part 3

The Heart of the Gospel
November 3, 1996

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. NKJV

Review & Introduction

Most Christians understand that they should be ready to share the content of their faith at any time. If someone wanted to know how to be saved, we should know the answer immediately. However, despite a clear understanding of what they must do, many Christians are not sure what to talk about when such a conversation comes their way. Today, we will venture to express the gospel in a clear, succinct manner.

At the same time, teaching the good news of Christ’s accomplished work is not a paint-by-numbers exercise. There is no prescribed specific set of words that once you chant them, or look a certain way will magically produce a Chrisitian.

All Humans Are Sinners By Nature

Romans 5:12-13

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. NKJV

A very prevalent school of thought in our culture today is that all men, deep down, are really good people. Unfortunate circumstances have put people in positions where they have been forced to do things that, had the circumstances been different, they would never have done. This manner of thinking is clearly unbiblical, let alone the fact that there is no emperical data to even hint at such a claim. This is an extremely important place to start in presenting the gospel.
We were represented by Adam in the garden when he fell. When he fell, we all fell and are born into the world in sin and then our actions only agree with Adam and are also the fruit of our nature.

All Humans Are Sinners By Choice

Romans 3:22-23

22b For there is no difference;²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, NKJV

There may be occassions where you encounter someone who will claim that they have not sinned. Besides simply knowing that this is not true, it is an important point to establish that all people have, by their own actions, rebelled against God and are worthy and deserving of eternal death.

God Will Pour His Wrath Out On Sin

Acts 24:24-25

24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.²⁵ Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." NKJV

Once the truth that all people are sinners by nature and by personal choice has been established, the next point to drive home is that because God is a righteous and perfect judge, He will pour out His justice upon all of the rebellion. His justice, is wrathful because of His hatred for sin. Sin is not a personal problem, it is an eternal problem. Rev 6:12-17.

God Covenantally Solves the Covenantal Problem

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. NKJV

God, because it pleased Him to do so, has done what is necessary to bring reconciliation to the relationship between those who believe the Gospel and Him. He did so by paying the penalty of the sin of those who believe. Those who do not believe will pay the penalty for their own sin. God’s wrath was not kindled, it was poured out in its force upon His own Son whom He allowed to be executed and put in the grave. But it doesn’t stop there; Christ not only died in a shameful, gruesome manner, he died as a sinful person having all of our sin heaped upon Him. He had no sin of His own, but He was full of our sin.

The Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1-5

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. NKJV

The basic elements of the Gospel are that the Holy, Annointed Son of God died on a cross having taken on the wrath of God for our sins as was told would happen in the Scriptures. He actually died, being evidenced by His burial, and on the third day of His death, God, His Father, made Him alive again, as was told would happen in the scriptures. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father where all authority on heaven and earth has been given to Him. He will return one day to call home those who are the Elect and will bring wrath upon those who are not.

The Sinners Response

Mark 1:15

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." NKJV

The calling that we are to give to theworld is that they should turn from their sin and turn to the Lord of the Gospel and call out to Him for His mercy. All who do so by faith, shall be saved.