Here is a simple explanation of the Gospel and simple definitions of the Gospel words we discussed last week. Remember, biblical words are important. Hope this is helpful.
B. Sin's Effect - The BAD NEWS is that because of Adam's (the first man) sin and our own transgression of God's law, sinful man is spiritually dead and lives in bondage to sin. Man's will is NOT free. The Bible says that man's will is bound to sin. The BAD NEWS is that man is totally lacking in spiritual goodness and is unable to do good before God.
C. Sin's Consequence - God is perfectly righteous and just so God must punish sin. God always acts in accordance with what is right and He is the final standard for what is right. The Bible tells us what is right and wrong. The BAD NEWS is that if you have sinned, you are deserving of God's punishment.
D. The Sin Test - Answer these questions about your own life. Think of the TEN COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20) - Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen something? Have you ever disobeyed your parents? Have you ever looked with lust? If you answered honestly, you have found that you are guilty. The BAD NEWS is that without the Gospel (GOOD NEWS) you are spiritually dead and deserving of God's wrath.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
B. Substitutionary Sacrifice - By God's grace (not by our works or merit) Jesus took our place in His death on the cross and paid the penalty that we deserved.
D. Regeneration- The act of God by His grace (not by works or merit) in which He imparts new spiritual life to us. The Bible calls the act being born again or being born of God.
E. Justification - The instantaneous legal act of God by His grace (not by our works or merit) in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.
F. Propitiation - By the grace (not by our works of merit) of God Jesus became the sacrifice that bears God's wrath. By God's grace through faith in Jesus the wrath of God that was aimed at us (because of our sin) has been changed into the favor and forgiveness of God.
G. Transformation- The instantaneous act of God by His grace (not by our works or merit) in which God makes us a new creation in Christ Jesus liberating us from the bondage of sin.
H. Sanctification- The progressive lifelong work of God the Holy Spirit and the regenerate believer that makes us more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in our actual lives. (This is where the grace of God and our works co-mingle)
I. Glorification- The final step in the application of the saving work of God by His Grace (not by our works of merit) in which the bodies of all believers will be resurrected, made perfect and will remain in the presence of God forever.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
B. Repent - We must experience the heartfelt sorrow for our sin before God. We must renounce our sin. We must forsake sin and seek to walk in obedience to the commands of scripture. Repentance also refers to the forsaking of all other gods, idols, religions, faiths, and paths (believing that salvation is experienced only through Jesus alone for ourselves and all other people.) Repentance is the act of giving Jesus ownership of your life.
(See scriptures references above)
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
1. The Bad News - Sin Defined
A. Sin Defined - Any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude or nature.B. Sin's Effect - The BAD NEWS is that because of Adam's (the first man) sin and our own transgression of God's law, sinful man is spiritually dead and lives in bondage to sin. Man's will is NOT free. The Bible says that man's will is bound to sin. The BAD NEWS is that man is totally lacking in spiritual goodness and is unable to do good before God.
C. Sin's Consequence - God is perfectly righteous and just so God must punish sin. God always acts in accordance with what is right and He is the final standard for what is right. The Bible tells us what is right and wrong. The BAD NEWS is that if you have sinned, you are deserving of God's punishment.
D. The Sin Test - Answer these questions about your own life. Think of the TEN COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20) - Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen something? Have you ever disobeyed your parents? Have you ever looked with lust? If you answered honestly, you have found that you are guilty. The BAD NEWS is that without the Gospel (GOOD NEWS) you are spiritually dead and deserving of God's wrath.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
2. The Gospel (Good News) - Grace Defined
(Note: the words our, us and we refer to the regenerate believer)
A. Atonement - By God's grace (not by our works or merit) Jesus (God the Son) became a sacrifice in His life and death to pay for our salvation.
B. Substitutionary Sacrifice - By God's grace (not by our works or merit) Jesus took our place in His death on the cross and paid the penalty that we deserved.
D. Regeneration- The act of God by His grace (not by works or merit) in which He imparts new spiritual life to us. The Bible calls the act being born again or being born of God.
E. Justification - The instantaneous legal act of God by His grace (not by our works or merit) in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.
F. Propitiation - By the grace (not by our works of merit) of God Jesus became the sacrifice that bears God's wrath. By God's grace through faith in Jesus the wrath of God that was aimed at us (because of our sin) has been changed into the favor and forgiveness of God.
G. Transformation- The instantaneous act of God by His grace (not by our works or merit) in which God makes us a new creation in Christ Jesus liberating us from the bondage of sin.
H. Sanctification- The progressive lifelong work of God the Holy Spirit and the regenerate believer that makes us more and more free from sin and more and more like Christ in our actual lives. (This is where the grace of God and our works co-mingle)
I. Glorification- The final step in the application of the saving work of God by His Grace (not by our works of merit) in which the bodies of all believers will be resurrected, made perfect and will remain in the presence of God forever.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
3. What Must We Do (Believe and Repent)
A. Believe -We must trust in the ATONING / SACRIFICIAL WORK OF JESUS (not our works or merit) for our salvation. Saving faith believes God exists and that He rewards those who trust in Him.B. Repent - We must experience the heartfelt sorrow for our sin before God. We must renounce our sin. We must forsake sin and seek to walk in obedience to the commands of scripture. Repentance also refers to the forsaking of all other gods, idols, religions, faiths, and paths (believing that salvation is experienced only through Jesus alone for ourselves and all other people.) Repentance is the act of giving Jesus ownership of your life.
(See scriptures references above)
CONCLUSION
Many are lost who do not know they are lost. Are you one of those people? Many are still spiritually dead because they believe without repentance. The Bible says even the demons believe. Many are still spiritually dead even though they are renouncing sins and seeking to walk in obedience to the Bible. They are not fully trusting in the ATONING / SACRIFICIAL WORK OF JESUS for their salvation. They are trusting in their good works for their salvation. This is NOT saving faith because their faith is misplaced. This is a works righteousness gospel which is a false gospel.
So thankful for the Gospel!
ReplyDeleteVery clear and helpful!
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