The True Gospel: Joy, Salvation, and Historical Foundation

Now he did that for a number of reasons he did it for the reason I've given but there was another and a very pressing reason and that was that there were certain false teachers who were confusing these early Christians people going around arrogating great Authority and power to themselves saying this is the true gospel listen to this don't listen to these others this is the real message and so on and it was a very involved and confusing message but there were certain people who were ready to listen to it and the Apostle is anxious to rid them of this false teaching and to establish them in the faith that they may enjoy it in all its fullness and all the great blessings which it has to to give. [00:02:11]

The first thing therefore we say about this is that it is the announcement of some great and wonderful good news now I'm going to ask a question before I go any further let's be quite honest with one another as you've thought of Christianity has it always been in terms of good news is that your habitual way of thinking of it if it isn't you're already wrong if you've thought of Christianity as just a very hard task that's put before us a moral life that we've got to live an ethical program to follow something that demands great sacrifices from us and imposes a duty upon us if that's your view of it well of course there's no good news about it and you're already wrong it's a gospel. [00:17:12]

Christianity starts as I say as a group of people in houses nothing institutional about it at all but the church has become what a great world institution you remember how protestantism began what is protestantism by today look at some of the things that are said in the name of protestantism in the church in England at the present time it's become the exact opposite look at the beginning of nonconformity 300 years ago look at modern non-conformity it's almost the exact opposite look at methodism 200 years ago look at methodism tonight how much of it would John Wesley recognize institutions tend to produce their opposite how well you see over the passage of the years changes come in Tradition develops and and tradition becomes more important than truth. [00:32:43]

What is this Christianity well there's no better way of discovering that than to ask this question how did it begin go back to the origin of a thing that's the thing to do always what was it at the beginning surely that is a wise thing to do well what we find is this here is the Apostle Paul writing to a little group of people at a place called colassi he addresses them as the Saints and faithful in Christ which are at colassi now get rid I say immediately of any notion of even a building such as this or of a great Cathedral or an Abbey or anything like get rid of all that these people were meeting in a house a group of people who came together regularly and held their meetings and there they'd spend their time in praying together in studying the Old Testament scriptures as best they could and in talking to one another about the Christian Life and their experience of it endeavoring to help and to strengthen one another that they might go forward into this life more and more into which they' been introduced. [00:07:42]

The Apostle Paul says it he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man he means this the Christian he says is a man who in the light of this gospel which he's believed has got an understanding of everything but nobody understands him they say what's the matter with that man he's not what he used to be he doesn't look at things in the same way and they don't understand him for instance let me give you an a Very very simple illustration and example of what I'm trying to say here's a man who formerly used to think that what really made life was food and drink you know the kind of person you probably saw some of them on the television earlier part of this week what is the real Foundation of culture what is the real basis of the good life in the highest sense and the answer given was good food good drink now then there's man you see with a point of view well now take a man like that who comes under the influence and the power of this gospel and you go and talk to him and you'll find he'll no longer say that he doesn't say now that the basis of the good life is good food and good drink oh no he says it isn't that it's God Christ and the other people look at him and they say what's the matter with him has he gone mad has he gone soft has he developed a religious complex they don't understand him now this man's got a new understanding he that is spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no men of no man they can't understand him why well something's happened to this man he's got an entirely new outlook upon all of life and all its attendant circumstances and problems and to everybody else he's become an enigma what well he's become a Christian. [00:12:49]

The authority on what is the whole thing built up and established and the answer is historical facts it isn't a theory it isn't a teaching it isn't a philosophy it isn't a human program certain events have taken place listen to the way the Apostle Peter puts it at the end of his life as an old man he says you know we have not declared unto you cunningly devised Fables when we declared unto you the power and the coming of the Lord Jesus but were I Witnesses of his majesty that's it you listen to what I'm saying says Peter as an old man I haven't been weaving wonderful Tales to you I haven't been getting round you and moving your hearts with stories and a very clever philosophy and psychology that I've been working up to make you feel a little bit happier and better I have not delivered unto you cunningly devised fables when I declared unto you the power and the coming of the Lord Jesus but I and these others were eyewitnesses of his majesty and we heard that voice coming from the excellent Glory saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased now then this is the argument this is the whole basis this is the Authority for what I'm trying to say to you the fact of Jesus Christ that's what's caused it all that's where it all comes from a bay born in Bethlehem you remember the Annunciation and the Shepherds and the worshiping and the wise men who is this child you see this is the explanation this is how it all begins that extraordinary birth and in that boy at the age of 12 there he is in the temple at Jerusalem arguing with the great doctors of the law refuting them turning their arguments back and they couldn't answer him and everybody says what is this boy this is a phenomenon what is he then for 18 years you hear nothing about him he went on working as a carpenter who is this and then at the age of 30 begins to preach and to teach he goes back to his hometown of Nazareth and enters there into the synagogue on a Sunday they give him the book to read 61st chapter of Isaiah and he expounds it and they were amazed at the gracious Words which came over his lips his preaching his teaching then his miracles he attracted great crowds well why well because he could heal people he could heal the sick he could give sight to the blind he could make the lame walk and jump he could give the death the deaf hearing he could raise the dead he could SCM a storm at sea and he was a phenomenon and the crowds went after who is this that's the question who is this what is this person and then listen to the claims he makes for himself he stands and he says before Abraham was I am he says I am the father are one he says I am the way the truth the life no man cometh unto the father but by me all who came before me he says are thieves and robbers I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly who is this here's the thing that gives rise to Christianity you see it isn't your opinion about war or peace or a thousand and one other questions and you're living of your good life no and forget it all look at him who's this who is this person what is he how do you explain him he's a fact of history he's a phenomenon and listen to him as he tells you why he ever came into this world he says the son of men is come to seek and to save that which is lost listen to him saying again the son of man is not come to be ministered unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many what is this who is he his friends say look here don't go up to Jerusalem you know that Herod hates you you know they're trying to catch you sets his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem they can't keep him back he says I must I've come to do this the hour is about to strike the hour is come who is this my friend this is how you approach Christianity that's what sent epas down to colassi this person this man who said these things and who did these things not only that you see as the quotations I read to you just now every one of them point out all that is true of this person and that happens in him and through him is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy here's a mighty argument if you want to know my authority here it is here's a great old book the Old Testament covering a number of centuries and there in every single book there is some prophecy about someone who's going to come some deliverer someone who's going to set his people free you noticed Zechariah quoted it you noticed Mary quoted it the Angels quot it everybody's quoting it the prophecies as was promised to Abram our father as was promised to David prophecy the Apostle Peter once more employs that selfsame argument he says I tell you that I was on that mount of transfiguration with him and James and John were with me and we saw him transfigured his face began to shine his very clothing began to shine and the voice Came From Heaven saying this is my beloved Son believe me for that sake says Peter but I'll give you a stronger reason we have also a mosu word of Prophecy we have also a word of prophecy made more sure he means this he says don't merely take it on my testimony look at the life of this Jesus read your prophecies and you'll see that he's the Fulfillment they said he was to be born in Bethlehem and he was they said he was to ride in Jerusalem and the F of an ass and he did it they said he was to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver and he was read your Old Testament pick out what we are told about this coming Messiah then look at him and you'll find it Tes perfectly all the promises of God in him are Y and in him amen there's Authority it isn't what I think it isn't what anybody thinks it's this extraordinary fact of history fulfillment of Prophecy but wait a minute say someone this great person of yours died on a cross in a parent weakness why didn't he save himself if he is as you say the Son of God why did he die in such unutterable weakness my dear friend you're not the first who thought of that the people mingling round about the foot of that cross the crowd as they saw him crucified between the two thieves you remember they H it at him and said thou who savest others save thyself thou who says th art the Christ give a demonstration of it who are you they hold it in his teeth we are told he died upon a cross his body was taken down and it was buried in a grave that's fact of history that's something that actually happened but you see it isn't the end of the story if that had been the end of the story epas would never have gone to colassi the Apostle Paul would never have been a preacher none of the Apostles would ever have preached at all what made them oh he died he was buried he was laid in a grave the stone was rolled on the seal was put the soldiers were guarding B he burst us under the bends of death he arose triumphant all the grave he brought life and immortality to light here's the most striking proof of all listen to this Apostle Paul saying it to the Romans he says born according to the flesh after the seed of David but declar to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead here's the thing he rose he appeared to his followers these disciples these Apostles and others and still more wonderfully on the day of Pentecost at Jerusalem he sent down the spirit upon them he promised he would he said it's all right I'm not going to leave you alone I'll send you another comforter this is vital this is crucial here is one apparently just a man he's about to die he says don't let your hearts be troubled I'm leaving you that's going to be a good thing for you because if I go I'm going to send the Holy Ghost to you and he'll be in you and he'll bring me back to you in a more real sense and he Enlighten your minds and open your understandings it'll be good thing for you that I'm going away I'll send the spirit then after his resurrection he repeated that he says look here you men you are going to be my Witnesses in Jerusalem and in Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the Earth but not yet T in Jerusalem T in Jerusalem until you receive power from on high you shall receive him and when you've got him you'll go out and you'll be my witnesses to the uttermost parts of the Earth and as he promised and predicted he fulfilled it on the day of Pentecost these are facts my friends there would never have been a church at colassi there would never have been a preacher were it not for these facts this is the basis this is the authority not that I can't believe this or that not that I can't accept this or that these things have happened these are facts I can't explain the church at colassi without them but then you see that brings me to the testimony of the Apostles these men that with him during the three years they' heard his preaching they'd seen his miracles they had stood at the foot of that cross and had seen him dying and they'd seen him after his death and Resurrection they were met together in a room filled with fear with all the doors locked because of the Jews and suddenly he stands amongst them he says look here don't be alarmed I'm not a ghost a ghost hasn't got flesh and burns as you see me have he sat down and he yet a bit of fish and broiled honey proving that he's the same same person in his glorified body amongst them these men are witnesses of these things you remember how Crest fallen and disappointed and ejected they were when he died and when he was buried they thought the end had come in spite of his teaching but once they saw him once they knew he was alive forever more and still more when he filled them and baptized them with his Spirit on the day of Pentecost they were transformed men they went out and they testified the authorities tried to stop them they said you can't stop us we cannot but speak of what of the things we have seen and heard not our theories not our philosophies we cannot but speak of the things we have seen and the things that we have heard we Are Witnesses unto him and he gave them power to work miracles and the people were ready to worship them they said don't wor us it's his name through faith in his name that have given this men this perfect soundness in the presence of you all that's what made these men preachers the things they had seen and heard and the power that came to declare it through the the Holy Spirit and look at this man Paul he wasn't one of the disciples as I've told you he was a Pharisee and he hated Christ he hated these Apostles so called he wasn't in the company and he did everything he could to put an end to it he tried to destroy Christianity he went to Massacre Christian churches and yet here he is as a minister and a preacher of this gospel how did it ever happen to him and he tells us he says it several times over in the book of The Acts of the Apostles when he's undefended it's the fact that he saw him he saw him on that road to Damascus he didn't have a vision he saw the Risen Lord in his glory he saw him as certainly as the other Apostles had seen him in the upper room and under the seure he was given a glimpse of him what for well he's going to be a minister and a witness and an apostle he's a witness to the resurrection he has seen Christ risen from the dead it's this fact that makes him preach it isn't the teaching it isn't the theory he seen him he testifies he Bears witness to the fact of the resurrection and he was given the teaching by the Lord the same teaching as was given to these others they all taught the same thing it wasn't the theory of Paul or of John they all had the same message because they were all given it by the same person and what the Apostle is saying here is this that that is the message that was preached by epos it's the true gospel and therefore I end with this point he says it's the only gospel for the Hope which is laid up for you in heaven whereof he heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel which is comeon to you as it is in all the world and bringeth forth fruit as it do also in you everywhere throughout the whole world he say he means this you see it is the only gospel and it must be the only gospel for this reason everything else is but the thinking and the theory of men and that's why every other religion is a local religion had you ever thought of that confusion ISM confined to China Buddhism confined to parts of China and of India Hinduism confined to India muhammadanism North Africa and certain other parts all religions are local religions and it's not surprising that they are because every one of them is started with a human teacher they're all the products of human thinking human imagination and human ideas you get a great man arising in a certain area and of course he influences that immediate area they're local religions not this one in the whole world why well this one is the savior of the world he's not a man this is the Son of God come down that's why the Herald Angels are singing they know that Lord Of Glory has left heaven and has come on Earth that's why they all burst forth in acclamation that's the good news that God hath visited and redeemed his people it's Universal because it's of God because the Son of God has come and there's only one it's not man trying to rise it's God coming down in the sun to save us and to lift us up it's the only gospel and that is why the Apostle Peter you see didn't hesitate to say to the authorities there is none other name under Heaven given amongst men whereby we must be saved there's no second there's no other there is no other savior this is God's way in his own son and there's only one one name and one only given under Heaven amongst men whereby we must be saved and it was for that self same reason that this Apostle Paul in writing to the Gans use this expression though we are an angel from heaven write any other gospel unto you than that which we have written let him be a cousin though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be an AA let him be a cursive listen to this says Paul if anybody comes to preach to you and preaches a gospel that is different from this gospel which I preach to you let him be a cursed he's a liar he's a false teacher indeed he goes further though we he says you know even if I come to you if I come to you one day says Paul and I contradict what I said before well you can be sure of one of two things I've either become an apostate or else I've become a lunatic don't believe me I shall be uttering a lie this is the one and only gospel why does he say that is it because he opinionated no no it's because he was given it not by the teaching of men as he goes on to say in Galatians 1 but from God from Christ himself he was given it on the road to Damascus if it had been his opinion he wouldn't speak like that it would have been sheer arrogance he says I am certain of this because it isn't mine it's because I have received it I certify you Brethren that the gospel that you have received of me is not after men it's not after men but as it is in truth and indeed it is from God himself he says even if an angel from heaven should come and contradict what I'm saying or offer you some other gospel or Theory it may sound very wonderful and very comforting and full of philosophy and psychology tell him to his face that he's aive let him be AA let him come under the curse of God because it's a lie the word of the true gospel which has come unto you as it is in the whole world Christ the son of God the savior of the world the revelation of God himself in the person of his only begotten son my friends this is why it's good news this is why these people are thrilled in that way why you see even the himym writers they join in it did you notice that hymn which we sang just now that himym number 74 hark the Glad sound the Savior comes the Savior promis long let every heart prepare a throne and every voice a song have you got that song are you singing his prayers have you ever felt like saying oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer's prayers if you haven't it's because you don't know him you don't know the truth you don't know the message you don't know the facts you don't know your history you've got a false notion of Christianity if you realize that God has so loved you and so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son even to the death of that cross that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life if you realize that that's true to you you you're bound to sing because it means that God's ready to forgive you and the door of Heaven is open to you and you'll start living a new life that such as you cannot even imagine which you can't understand now and which nobody else will be able to understand until he becomes a partaker of it very well my friends there is the general description which the great Apostle gives of the Gospel I leave you with this question is this to you the greatest the most glorious the most thrilling the most wonderful thing that you've ever heard of that you can ever hear if it isn't I say you don't know what Christianity is and you're not a Christian and not to be a Christian means that you're yet in your sins and that you're under the wrath of God and that if you die like that you'll go to an eternity of a similar nature of Mis and wretchedness and unhappiness my friend stop for a moment face the facts face these events in history that led to epis going to colassi and receive them as these people at colassi did and you'll become a saint and one of the faithful Brethren and the gospel will bring to bring begin to bring forth fruit in you as it did in them and in all others whoever had believed very well I say face the facts and if you do so honestly and if you ask the Holy Spirit to Enlighten you I assure you the day will come when you'll be very ready to join in singing our last hymn which is 163 all hail the power of Jesus name let Angels prostrate fall bring forth the Royal dim to Crown himym Lord of all himym number 163. 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