The Gospel: God's Unchanging Message of Salvation
Summary
In today's reflection, we delved into the profound question, "What is the gospel?" This inquiry is not merely academic but is central to our faith and witness as Christians. The gospel, as articulated by the Apostle Paul, is not a message about God but rather a divine announcement authored and owned by God. It is the good news concerning the Person and work of Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, who embodies the kingdom of God. This message is not ours to alter or improve; it is God's message, and we are its stewards.
Paul's introduction in Romans emphasizes his identity as a slave of Christ, called and set apart for the gospel of God. This gospel is not a mere collection of truths about God's love or a personal relationship with Jesus, though these are important. Instead, it is the proclamation of Jesus' incarnation, His life, death, and resurrection, which are central to the gospel's objective content. The gospel is the power of God for salvation, revealing the righteousness of God from faith to faith.
The New Testament uses the term "gospel" in various ways, including the announcement of the kingdom of God. This kingdom is not a distant future reality but a present and powerful truth inaugurated by Jesus. John the Baptist and Jesus both proclaimed the nearness of the kingdom, calling for repentance and readiness. The kingdom of God is at hand, and Jesus, as the King, embodies this kingdom.
The gospel's power is not found in human programs or efforts but in the Holy Spirit's work. We cannot bring anyone to faith through our own strength; it is the gospel itself that is endowed with divine power. Our role is to faithfully proclaim this message, trusting in God's power to transform lives.
Paul's warning in Galatians against turning to a different gospel is a sobering reminder of the importance of preserving the true gospel. Any attempt to alter or improve upon it is met with a stern anathema. We must resist the temptation to please men by compromising the gospel, for it is God's message, and we are called to be faithful servants of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The gospel is God's message, not merely about God but authored and owned by Him. It is a divine announcement concerning Jesus Christ, and we must handle it with reverence and fidelity. [07:07]
- The kingdom of God is not a distant future reality but a present truth inaugurated by Jesus. We are called to live in the reality of this kingdom, recognizing Jesus as the King who embodies it. [12:02]
- The gospel's power lies in the Holy Spirit, not in human programs or efforts. Our role is to faithfully proclaim the gospel, trusting in God's power to transform lives. [28:55]
- The gospel is the good news of Jesus' incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. It is not merely about personal experiences or testimonies but about the objective content of who Jesus is and what He has done. [24:07]
- We must resist the temptation to alter or improve the gospel to please men. Any deviation from the true gospel is met with a stern warning, and we are called to be faithful stewards of God's message. [41:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:27] - Introduction to the Pop Quiz
- [01:08] - Defining the Gospel
- [01:38] - Reading from Romans
- [03:18] - The Just Shall Live by Faith
- [04:13] - Warning Against a Different Gospel
- [06:00] - Paul's Identity and Calling
- [07:07] - The Gospel of God
- [08:46] - Understanding the Term "Gospel"
- [10:20] - The Gospel and the Kingdom
- [12:02] - The Kingdom of God is at Hand
- [15:49] - The Urgency of the Kingdom
- [18:20] - Jesus and the Kingdom
- [22:30] - The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- [24:07] - The Content of the Gospel
- [28:55] - The Power of the Gospel
- [33:50] - Justification by Faith
- [36:13] - Apostolic Astonishment
- [38:44] - Anathema for Another Gospel
- [41:14] - Pleasing God, Not Men
- [42:11] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:1-6
- Romans 1:16-17
- Galatians 1:6-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In Romans 1:1-6, how does Paul describe his identity and calling in relation to the gospel? What does this reveal about his understanding of his mission? [06:00]
2. According to Romans 1:16-17, what is the significance of the gospel in terms of salvation and righteousness? How does Paul express his confidence in the gospel? [03:18]
3. In Galatians 1:6-10, what strong warning does Paul give about altering the gospel? What does he say about those who preach a different gospel? [38:44]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the gospel and the kingdom of God? What role does Jesus play in this kingdom? [12:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize that the gospel is "the power of God for salvation" in Romans 1:16? How does this understanding challenge human efforts to bring others to faith? [28:55]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the present reality of the kingdom of God? How does this perspective affect the way Christians are called to live? [12:02]
3. How does the warning in Galatians 1:6-10 about a different gospel relate to the temptation to alter the gospel to please others? What are the potential consequences of such alterations? [41:14]
4. The sermon mentions the objective content of the gospel as the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Why is it important to maintain this focus rather than personal testimonies or experiences? [24:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of the gospel. How does it align with Paul's description in Romans 1:16-17? Are there aspects of the gospel you need to understand more deeply? [03:18]
2. The sermon emphasizes the present reality of the kingdom of God. How can you live more consciously in this reality, recognizing Jesus as King in your daily life? [12:02]
3. Consider the ways you might be tempted to alter or soften the gospel message to make it more acceptable to others. How can you remain faithful to the true gospel in your conversations and witness? [41:14]
4. The sermon warns against relying on human programs or efforts for the power of the gospel. How can you ensure that your ministry or personal evangelism relies on the Holy Spirit's power rather than human strategies? [28:55]
5. Think about a time when you shared your personal testimony. How can you incorporate the objective content of the gospel—the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—into your testimony to ensure it remains centered on Christ? [24:07]
6. How can you guard against the influence of false teachings or "different gospels" in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the true gospel? [38:44]
7. Reflect on the role of faith in receiving the righteousness of God as described in Romans 1:17. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's righteousness in your own life? [34:29]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Gospel, Not Ours
The gospel is not merely a message about God; it is a divine announcement authored and owned by God Himself. This message is centered on the Person and work of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who embodies the kingdom of God. As stewards of this message, we are called to handle it with reverence and fidelity, recognizing that it is not ours to alter or improve. The Apostle Paul, in his introduction in Romans, emphasizes his identity as a slave of Christ, called and set apart for the gospel of God. This gospel is not just a collection of truths about God's love or a personal relationship with Jesus, but the proclamation of Jesus' incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. It is the power of God for salvation, revealing the righteousness of God from faith to faith. [07:07]
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that you are handling the gospel with reverence and fidelity in your daily interactions and conversations?
Day 2: The Present Reality of God's Kingdom
The kingdom of God is not a distant future reality but a present truth inaugurated by Jesus. This kingdom is a powerful and transformative reality that calls for repentance and readiness. John the Baptist and Jesus both proclaimed the nearness of the kingdom, urging people to live in its reality. As followers of Christ, we are called to recognize Jesus as the King who embodies this kingdom and to live in a way that reflects its values and priorities. The kingdom of God is at hand, and we are invited to participate in its unfolding here and now. [12:02]
"And saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'" (Mark 1:15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live more fully in the reality of God's kingdom today, recognizing Jesus as your King?
Day 3: The Holy Spirit's Power in the Gospel
The power of the gospel lies not in human programs or efforts but in the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the gospel itself that is endowed with divine power to transform lives, and our role is to faithfully proclaim this message. We cannot bring anyone to faith through our own strength; instead, we must trust in God's power to work through the gospel. This calls for a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit and a commitment to sharing the gospel with others, trusting that God will use it to bring about transformation. [28:55]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit's power rather than your own efforts when sharing the gospel with others?
Day 4: The Objective Content of the Gospel
The gospel is the good news of Jesus' incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. It is not merely about personal experiences or testimonies but about the objective content of who Jesus is and what He has done. This message is central to our faith and witness as Christians, and it is the foundation upon which our hope is built. The gospel is not just a personal story but a divine announcement that has the power to change lives and bring salvation to all who believe. [24:07]
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: How can you focus more on the objective content of the gospel in your conversations and personal reflections, rather than just personal experiences?
Day 5: Faithful Stewards of the True Gospel
We must resist the temptation to alter or improve the gospel to please men. Any deviation from the true gospel is met with a stern warning, and we are called to be faithful stewards of God's message. The Apostle Paul warns against turning to a different gospel, emphasizing the importance of preserving the true gospel. As followers of Christ, we are called to stand firm in the truth of the gospel and to proclaim it faithfully, even when it is unpopular or countercultural. [41:14]
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to alter the gospel to please others? How can you remain faithful to the true gospel in those situations?
Quotes
"Paul was cut out of the mass of teachers of our day, selected by Jesus, ordained and anointed for the gospel of God. Now here, Paul introduces the idea of the gospel, and the first thing I want us to understand about the gospel here is whose gospel it is. When Paul uses the phrase, 'The gospel of God,' the structure here is of the possessive genitive. When he speaks of the 'gospel of God,' he's not talking about a message about God, but rather he's describing an announcement that belongs to God, is authored by God, and owned by God." [00:06:59]
"That's very important because if we want to play with that, we're playing with something that is not ours. You want to mess with the gospel, you want to tinker with it, you want to improve it, you want to change it, you're fooling around with a message that originates with God Himself. It is His message and His announcement." [00:07:52]
"Beloved, sure, there is a future dimension of the kingdom of God. Certainly, we look to the consummation of the kingdom of God which has not yet occurred, but let us not miss one of the central points of the New Testament, and that is that the kingdom of God in a very real and powerful sense has come." [00:11:56]
"John says, 'Repent and be baptized,' why? Because the kingdom of God is coming in two or three or four thousand more years. No. He said, 'Because the kingdom of God is at hand.' There is a radical nearness to this breakthrough of the kingdom." [00:14:05]
"The gospel is a message about the incarnation of God, which incarnation was promised beforehand by the prophets. You see how Paul begins back there in Romans 1, 'Separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scripture concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.' The gospel includes the affirmation that Jesus is the Christ." [00:25:39]
"Jesus is the Christ and Jesus Christ is our Lord. You can't have the gospel if you eliminate the lordship of Jesus. It's a truncated gospel that ignores that. 'Who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.' David's son, David's lord, that part of the gospel is the good news of a Mediator who has come as the God-Man, who is the incarnation of God." [00:26:21]
"If you have a Jesus who has a wonderful earthly ministry and who dies an atoning death but stays in the grave, you don't have the gospel. That's why Paul would write to the Corinthians and say that 'if Christ is not raised we are still in our sins, we're false prophets of God, there is no gospel.' There is no gospel without atonement. There is no gospel without resurrection." [00:27:49]
"The gospel itself is endowed by God with the power of the Holy Ghost. If there is any corporate sin of the twenty-first century church in America, it is the sin of trying to find success and power in the life of the church everywhere except where God has placed it. The power of God is never found in a program." [00:28:55]
"Anybody can make a profession of faith. We are not justified by the profession of faith. If we are justified, we're justified by the possession of faith; and if we have faith, we're called to profess it. But Jesus warns us time after time after time that 'not everybody who says to Me, "Lord! Lord!" is going to come into My kingdom.'" [00:32:50]
"Paul says, 'For do I now persuade men, or God? Do I seek to please men?' Beloved, the single most frequent reason why people compromise and negotiate the gospel of Christ is to please men. Paul says, 'Do I seek to please men?' Now, I've got a problem with that. I'd like to please men. I like people to like me." [00:41:01]
"Woe unto you if you ever negotiate the gospel. Anathema be upon you if you ever play with the gospel. Don't ever turn the good news into bad news because it's God's gospel, and we're not allowed to tamper with that." [00:41:57]
"Father, we thank You for a message that is so good that it is impossible that we can improve upon it. O Lord, because the gospel is a scandal to those who are perishing and because men resist the gospel, we try to make it more acceptable, more palatable, more easy to go down and sugarcoat it." [00:42:40]
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