"Understanding the Gospel" – Basic Building Block #4
Date: Feb 03, 2009 Posted By: Rick Warzywakwww.muiczone.com
UNDERSTANDING THE GOSPEL
Observation: As surprising as this sounds, many in the church cannot define the Gospel. I have presented this question to many congregations and individuals in the church. What is the Gospel? Few could give a correct and concise answer. Yet Christ declares we are to take out and spread the Gospel to all nations. How can we take out something and convey it if we do not fully understand it ourselves? A perfect definition of the Gospel is found in the scriptures!
Point to Ponder: "I look upon all the world as my parish." - John Wesley
Scripture Study Reference # 1
"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)."
Key Application Point: Jesus came, died and rose again to take away the sins of the world - the Gospel!
I was preaching the Gospel one fine, warm, sunny day on a university campus. Two joggers happened by, and they ran in place while listening to me preach, out of curiosity. They saw a small crowd gathered around me and didn't want to miss any action. I focused my attention upon them and asked one of the joggers, "Who is Jesus Christ to you?" He told me that Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior. I asked his friend the same question and he said he really didn't know. I asked the Christian young man if he knew the other jogger very well. He said they were roommates. I asked him whether he ever shared with his roommate his faith in Jesus Christ, and how we all need a Savior. He said, no! I then explained that if both of them, just by chance, if you both got hit by a truck today and were killed, as they were jogging, one of them would be facing hell and judgment. I told the young man who knew Jesus Christ as his Savior that it was his responsibility to tell his friend the good news of the Gospel. Two sets of eyes began to bug out and legs began to high step very quickly as both joggers ran off.
Point to Ponder: "Give me 100 preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or layman, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon the earth." - John Wesley
Yes, the Gospel is good news and glad tidings. The true definition is that Jesus came, died, and rose again to take away the sins of the world. He is the foundation that all is built upon (1 Corinthians 3: 9-11). It is not Allah, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Zoroaster, Bahaullah, Dali Lama, Mother Earth, tarot cards, witchstones, Ouija boards, witchcraft, astrology, Scientology, astral projection, divination, New Age, or any of the like. Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6) and we must impregnate the measure of faith given with this truth of God?s Word. God does not play musical chairs! When we use the word of God to present the Gospel to people, it must be with the understanding that there is no room for the deceptive concept that there are many ways to God - so choose one. Will this "no compromise" stand bring conflict? Of course, but God has called us to a resolve, with His abiding grace upon which to stand.
Presenting the Gospel is a basic, foundational truth that can be done in a systematic and logical fashion. Using creative teaching can make the Bible come alive, and others will see Christ as a living person who walks and talks among us. They will recognize the claims that He made as being true and lifesaving. Christian foundational building blocks were given to us so the world could be saved.
Point to Ponder: "Wherever the Gospel is preached, no matter how crudely, there are bound to be results." - Billy Graham
Plowing, Planting, Watering, Harvesting
Witnessing or sharing the Gospel involves a number of steps that need to be understood. It is always a process. There is a plowing time, where ground has to be broken up in one's heart and made ready for the seed of the Word. After the seed is planted, it must take root. Watering the seed is a critical next step in this process. When the seed grows into maturity, the fruit is ready to be harvested. Some will plant and some will water, but it is God who grows the seed. In biblical times, the seed was spread first and then the ground was broken up by plowing. There is a spiritual significance to our understanding (of farming practices) as we witness and spread the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Point to Ponder: People line up for hours to purchase something at a cheap sale price. God is giving everlasting life. . . where are the lines?
I was attending a Christian concert at a university where Jason Upton was ministering in worship and song. A student approached me and asked if I remembered him. His name was David. He indicated how a few years before, as a freshman, he was involved in drugs and basically had left the faith. He was raised in what appeared to be a Christian home. He heard me preach the Gospel of salvation and we engaged in a conversation. David said that one question I asked provoked him to go back and re-consider his life choices. I had asked him, "Who is Jesus to you?" The question, for some reason, provoked him in such a way that he opened his Bible and then read a publication called The Purpose Driven Life.
This proved to be a turning point in a young life, as it was the watering of a seed that was already in him. The cares of this world were being weeded out and he discovered his assignment in the Lord. He eventually went on a mission trip to Africa and feels he is an evangelist and will use his education to further the Gospel in the mission field. Never underestimate the seed of God?s Word, as there are many who work together to plant, water, and cultivate the field we are placed in. This young man is an example of many co-laborers working together to restore a life.
Scripture Study Reference #2
"And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15-16)."
"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16)."
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner (Proverbs 11:30-31)."
Point to Ponder: If you were a doctor who had a cure for cancer, should you not take it out to a dying world suffering from this deadly disease?
Key Application Point: It is our responsibility to share the Gospel.
What is the purpose for our existence as we live on earth? Eternity hangs in the balance for every individual born. We are the carriers of eternal life through what Christ accomplished on the cross and have been given the responsibility to offer this free gift to all. We must not shirk our responsibility as we will have to account for what we know and what we have done. Look at every individual you encounter and see a potential area of ministry where you have the opportunity of bringing salvation and hope. When Christ appointed the 12 apostles, they were allowed to be in His presence. Jesus sent them out to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons (Mark 3:13-14). This privilege was not only for those 12 apostles but given to all of us!
We are to apply the Gospel as we walk out our assignment from God in the two ways:
1. Gospel of Salvation
The message of the cross and eternal saving knowledge brings salvation. Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again to take away the sins of the world. We must repent (turn from sin while walking in obedience) and have faith in Jesus Christ as our personal savior.
2. Gospel of the Kingdom
This message speaks the principles of God's kingdom in secular language, where the environment in which you exist is impacted. This message is spoken in the marketplace - where you shop and conduct business. There are seven mountains, or mind molders, where we are to advance the principles of Jesus Christ and teach all people! We are destined to impact the family; church; educational system; governmental structures/ laws; business; and entertainment/ arts; and communications/media. Wherever God has placed us we must be a representation of what the Lord's Prayer states: "your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We are called to advance God's kingdom on these worldly mountains.
Scripture Study Reference #3
"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul (Ezekiel 3:17-19)."
Key Application Point: God highly esteems every life and warning must be given.
This verse above is very sobering. I would like to say we can possibly pay less attention to it because it is in the Old Testament, but this is not the case as eternity is a very serious matter in both the Old and New Testaments! Many times we try to love people in such a way where the truth of the Gospel is never shared because we are afraid to offend them. Hell is real and exists as a place for the destruction of evil. Love and mercy exists just as much as judgment and justice. We must look at warning others as an act of love and concern for those around us. I do not oppose giving out donuts and cookies and ice water on a hot day. If these outward acts of kindness are done without the sharing of the Gospel, I would say we are doing God a disservice as a laborer in His harvest.
Point to Ponder: Some may say numbers do not matter, but with God every soul is important.
On every campus I have been on I have experienced many times this scenario that I am about to describe. Admittedly, some of the students are well meaning as they approach me with their insights and suggestions. Others will give me (drive by or walk by) vulgarities which could be termed as "sewer spewing". I even had a student (a few times) ride by on his bike with a baseball bat and take a swing at my boards and just miss me. There was fire and anger in his eyes and he swung his bat and rode by. Maybe baseball bats should be banned on campuses where we have "bat free" zones.
Regardless, if my sandwich boards have "love" verses all over them, and I expound scriptures regarding God's mercy and compassion - some students hear and condemn any mention of God's justice, judgment, and hell. I will then begin to expound that "warnings" are acts of love. A common example would be to say, as a parent, I love my children. It is my duty to warn them to look both ways before crossing the road; don't t talk to strangers; or be careful when leaving home. How much more would the Father in heaven desire us to warn His children of coming judgment. He loves us!
At Michigan State University I preach at Well Hall. I use an example of Ebola Virus (a highly contagious and deadly disease (maybe the Avian Bird Flu in the future) to explain this principle of a loving warning. If this virus or bacteria were in Wells Hall and people would be infected, do I not have a loving responsibility to tell people not to go in and then block the doors? Should I do everything in my power to stop people in order to save lives? I believe the answer is yes! This reasoning rarely has much impact, so I must conclude it is a matter of a conscience being afflicted in an individual most of the time.
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