Part 4 “The Gospel is Central to Everything”

1. Transformed Part 4 “The Gospel is Central to Everything” How to Grow and Change

2. In the New Testament the word gospel is used 111 times. This word means, “good news” and it is a declaration of the good news that Jesus is salvation to all who will believe. This salvation is not merely salvation from hell, but it is a salvation from sin’s • penalty (Justification), • power (Sanctification) and • presence (glorification). That is why Paul writes, “to us who are being saved.”

3. At the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are saved from sin’s penalty (an eternity apart from God in hell), but the good news gets even better. We are right now being saved from sin’s power over us in our daily lives. Paul tells us that sin’s power has been broken and we are now to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) and “we should no longer be slaves of sin,” (Romans 6:6). The gospel is central to everything we think, act and do as believers. Jesus put it this way in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me."

4. The Gospel is… • Hope • 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” • Our hope is based upon the finished work of Jesus that has paid for sin’s penalty, released us from sin’s power and will one day remove us from sin’s presence!

5. The Gospel is… • Hope • Healing • 1 Peter 2:24-25, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” • The gospel promises that we are healed.

6. The Gospel is… • Hope • Healing • Power • Romans 1:16, “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 Jews first and also for the Greek.” • 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

7. The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE • Hope • Healing • Power • Perspective • Colossians 3:1-7 • Seek those things above • You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God • When Christ our life appears, then you also will with Him in glory • Therefore, put to death your member which are on the earth:

8. The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

9. DATING • Will this relationship help me be a better servant of the gospel? (2 Corinthians 6:14) • Am I behaving in a way that protects the purity of myself and the person I’m dating (1 Thess. 4:1-8) • Am I willing to die to myself daily in order to serve this person for the rest of their life? The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

10. MARRIAGE • Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…Ephesians 5:25-26 • A Christian home is designed to be a gospel centered home The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

11. BULLYING • Jesus endured the wrongful abuse of others, yet chose to forgive and extend salvation to them…to us…to you! • Jesus calls us to pray for, bless and do good to our enemies…ultimately we want them to see the gospel through our lives and put their faith in that gospel! The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

12. PARENTING • We were loved while we were very unloving • We were shown mercy and grace while we were in rebellion • We are called sons and daughters even though we do not measure up The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

13. TRIAL & HARDSHIPS • God tells us that these trials are to be counted as joy because they are producing patience, perseverance, hope, glory and perfection in us! • The gospel is the good news that Jesus endured hardship and death in order to accomplish a greater glory, the salvation of mankind! The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

14. HANDLING CONFLICT • The gospel reminds us that a patient God was gracious and merciful to us and He calls us to follow His example. • The gospel reminds us that life is not about my comfort, but about God’s glory and other people’s good The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

15. FORGIVENESS • We have been forgiven an much, so it is a small thing to forgive others when they sin against us. • Our debt before a Holy God was cancelled on the cross and we are to extend forgiveness to others The GospelprovidesHOPE, HEALING, POWER & PERSPECTIVE

16. BIG IDEA: How is the GOSPEL changing your life? The gospel provides for the believer Hope, Healing, Power and Perspective for every area of our life. How is the good news of Jesus changing your life today? Has your relationship with Jesus Christ affected the way you spoke to your children this morning as you prepared to come to church? Did the gospel change the way you interacted with your co-workers this past week?