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God’s Power to Save. A Study of What Is In the Gospel. What is the Gospel?. “Gospel” means good news; glad tidings Do we know what is in the gospel? Do we all preach the same gospel?. Facts to Believe.
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God’s Power to Save A Study of What Is In the Gospel
What is the Gospel? • “Gospel” means good news; glad tidings • Do we know what is in the gospel? • Do we all preach the same gospel?
Facts to Believe • Preaching the gospel includes preaching historical facts that must be confronted, admitted, and believed (Rom. 1:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:1-8) • This includes believing Jesus is the divine Son of God (Mk. 1:14-15; 16:16-15; Acts 15:7; Rom. 1:16; 10:9-10) and believing in the D-B-R of Jesus (2 Tim. 2:8) • These facts were confirmed by eyewitness testimony and miracles (Rom. 15:19)
Commands to Obey • Preaching the gospel includes preaching obedience to commands (Rom. 10:16; 1 Pet. 4:17) • This includes repentance (Mk. 1:14-15; Acts 14:15; 17:30) and baptism (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 8:35; 10:48) • The commands relate to the facts discussed earlier: the D-B-R of Jesus is a “form” or pattern for us today (Rom. 6:3-5,17)
Responsibilities to Fulfill • Preaching the gospel includes preaching daily Christian responsibilities (Rom. 1:15; Eph. 6:15) • This includes suffering for it (Mk. 8:35; 10:29; 2 Tim. 1:8; Philemon 13), standing in it (1 Cor. 15:2), not changing it (2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6-7), defending it (Gal. 2:5,14; Phil. 1:17), speaking it boldy (Eph. 6:19), supporting it (Phil. 1:5-12; 4:15), and daily living it (Phil. 1:27; self, home, local church, society)
Warnings to Heed • Preaching the gospel includes warnings that must be feared and heeded (2 Thess. 1:8-9) • This includes warnings about present apostasy (Heb. 2:1-2; 4:1-11) and future judgment (Acts 24:25)
Promises to Enjoy • Preaching the gospel includes preaching promises of good things (Rom. 10:15; 2 Pet. 1:3-4) • This includes the promise of peace (Eph. 2:17), forgiveness (Eph. 3:6), heaven (Col. 1:5), hope (Col. 1:23; 1 Pet. 1:3-4), and immortality (2 Tim. 1:8)
The Devil Blinds Men to the Gospel2 Corinthians 4:3-4 • He turns reasonable belief into doubtful disbelief • He turns humble obedience into prideful disobedience • He turns zealous activity into cold apathy • He turns respectful fear into false security • He turns joyful hope into dark despair
The Gospel Call Today2 Thessalonians 2:14 • The gospel call includes facts, commands, responsibilities, warnings, and promises • To accept this call we need reason (facts), humility (commands), zeal (responsibilities), fear (warnings), and motivation (promises) • Will you accept the gospel call today?