Rescue: the Gospel of salvation

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survey

1) Having a warm feeling in my heart about God

2) Being made right in our relationship with God

3) Helping others who are less fortunate

4) Talking to God throughout the day

Salvation or ‘being saved’ means:

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“Most Evangelicals can lead someone to

Christ... but very few can state the Gospel

succinctly”- Kent Hughes

GETTING PRACTICAL

Often in Church we are exhorted and encouraged to READ THE BIBLE, TO PRAY, TO WITNESS TO OTHERS...

BUT, we often fail to TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO DO THESE THINGS or EXPLAIN THEM

This morning letʼs get practical for a bit and talk about the Gospel of our Salvation. In particular, building a framework for each of us to individually SHARE THE GOSPEL

1) HOW DOES THE BIBLE ARTICULATE IT? 2) WHAT IS IT? 3) WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE GOSPEL? Is there a framework from which we can personalize this message of GOOD NEWS?

Sadly, I think this quote is far to often a reflection of the truth (I know it was for me!):

READ QUOTE KENT HUGHES, Senior Editor of Christianity Today: “Most Evangelicals can lead someone to Christ...but very few can state the Gospel succinctly”

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the ‘Good News’

Titus 3:4-7

the message of redeeming grace and eternal life

Mark 1:14-15

the good news of the Kingdom

2 Corinthians 4:4-6

Jesus is the Gospel

Luke 4:18

the Good News

DEFINING THE GOSPEL: THE BIBLE

Literally ʻThe Good Newsʼ: Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Jesus is the GOSPEL: 2 Corinthians 4:4-64 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants [2] for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Message of the Kingdom, General Salvation has come!: Mark1: 14-15 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The Message of Redeeming Grace: [OPEN TO THIS PASSAGE] Titus 3:4-7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [Donʼt miss the Trinity in action here!]

READ: Take note of this: In the NT Epistles (The letters of Paul, John, Peter, Jude, etc...) the Gospel is more specifically Christian. These writings define the Gospel as an invitation to all the world to place faith in Jesus Christ, as Godʼs Savior of the world. It beckons people to believe and have faith in the Savior's death for our sins through which the believer is JUSTIFIED by faith and freed from sin.

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The Good News of JESUS CHRISTthe SON of GOD

who DIED in SINFUL MAN’s place to make us RIGHT WITH GOD,

and of GOD’s KINGDOM by whichHe will RULE ALLL THINGS

DEFINING THE GOSPEL Letʼs look at a simple, working definition of the Gospel: You also have this definition on page 2 of your WORKSHEET.

In this definition we see Theological issues that we dealt with in our WORKSHEET: PERFECT SACRIFICE: Only God can satisfy God; SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT: Died in sinful manʼs place (the righteous for the unrighteous); RECONCILIATION & JUSTIFICATION: Right with God; ADOPTED AS HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM; All according to He who wills all things, and rules all things. AMEN! Friends, this is the Gospel. ****OPTIONAL MATERIAL IF NECESSARY****

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1) “No WAY!”

2) “Maybe”

3) “Sure, but it may not be totally right”

4) “Dude, do it all the time!”

Do you feel like you can share the Gospel?

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a Gospel framework

Jesus died for us on the cross and bore our punishment for sin

We have sinned against God, rejecting his plan, and rightly under judgement

This Good God has made himself known by sending Jesus his only Son

We were created in God’s Image for relationship with him

God calls us to believe in his Son Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance of eternal life

A FRAMEWORK FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL

Read from ʻThe Gospel in Trinitarian Perspectiveʼ

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survey

1) 0-30 minutes

2) 30 min. – 1 hour

3) 1 – 3 hours

4) 3 hours +

How much time do you spend in ‘dedicated’ PRAYER each week?

242 PRAYER REMINDER

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PLURALISMSo far weʼve defined the Gospel, undergirded with Scripture, and worked through a framework to share it. NOW, letʼs switch gears. I have question for you: ʻDoes God who is love, Hate?ʼ

READ: “Therefore, I hate every false way” Psalm 101: 3; "I hate the double-minded" Psalm 119:113; "I hate and abhor falsehood" Psalm 119:163a

'There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises a wicked plan, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.' Proverbs 6:16; "Pride, arrogance, the way of evil and perverted speech I hate" Proverbs 8:13b; 'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to love, and a time to hate.' Eccl 8:1,8a

Well I feel safe in saying that I really hate (dislike then) the following bumper stickers! COEXIST, but this one I detest the most! Have you ever heard someone say thatʼ It doesnʼt matter what you believe as long as you believe it SINCERELY!”

This idea of COEXISTING is a LIE, its UNBIBLICAL, and it represents our CULTURES PLURALISTIC ʻGet alongʼ bent.,..EVEN at the eternal destruction of Men, Women, and Children.DEFINITION: Wikepedia defines Pluralism as a term used to describe the acceptance of all religious paths as equally valid, promoting coexistence. Itʼs setting all religious views, paths, and beliefs on equal, valid footing. Itʼs tolerance. Itʼs being nice and getting along. PLURALISMʼS chief VIRTUE is TOLERANCE.

INVADING THE CHURCH: PEW FORUM POLL (The latest Pew poll surveyed 2,905 adults July 31-Aug. 10)In the survey, 47 percent of professing evangelicals said they believe "many religions can lead to eternal life," Pew then asked that same group how many non-Christian religions they believe can lead to eternal life, 72 percent of those who said "many religions can lead to eternal life" cited at least one other non-Christian religion.

But letʼs define PLURALISM more accurately as the acceptance of NON-BIBLICAL ideas and practices as compatible with biblical faith and life

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‘Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,

and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”’

John 14:6

EXCLUSIVENESS (truth in the face of Pluralism)The TRUTH of the GOSPEL stands in stark contrast to the LIE of PLURALISM! In speaking of the Gospel we must talk about the Cross! “Without the CROSS, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, THERE IS NO GOSPEL”. BUT MORE Specifically the EXCLUSIVITY of the CROSS, of CHRIST, of CHRISTIANITY!

WE are walking on CONTROVERSIAL GROUND HERE! You see, what we profess to believe about our Savior and his plan of salvation (THE CROSS) flies in the face of CULTURE, the face of the “TOLERANCE” and the worldʼs idea of “LOVE”.

When we profess that there is ONLY ONE GOD, ONE PATH OF SALVATION, ONE SAVIOR, ONE TRUTH we are spitting in the face of OPEN MINDEDNESS, GLOBAL PEACE and COEXISTENCE. One might ask, ʻCanʼt we all just get along?ʼ

FRIENDS GET READY, If we speak THAT which we say we believe than we will be labeled INTOLERANT, UNLOVING, CLOSE MINDED ZEALOTS, who are UNEDUCATED CRETANS!

READ: BUT... The CROSS stands as the greatest historical symbol of Christian faith and the Gospel message. IT is the symbol of what God did for us through Jesus Christʼs death at Calvary. That Christ died while we were still sinners- this is the Gospel! And the CROSS was necessary. And the CROSS was the only way to preserve Godʼs JUSTICE and HIS MERCY! And there IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE RECONCILED TO THE FATHER: the ONE TRUE GOD!

As Christians we are exclusionary, we are EXCLUSIVISTS.

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answer these questions

Is Jesus the only Savior?

Is faith in Christ necessary to be saved?

YES NO

YES NO

NOW, if you answered YES TO BOTH than you are an EXCLUSIVIST! Your UNLOVING and INTOLERANT as well! (Joking)

Conversely, The PLURALIST answers NO TO BOTH. The Pluralist believes that Jesus is one of several paths to salvation AND that people can get to Heaven or Nirvana or 3% body fat by other means.

Now if thatʼs you, donʼt get nervous! Letʼs talk through these one at a time.

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“I am the way...”Christ ALONE was born of a virgin

Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-28

Christ ALONE is God incarnateJohn 1:1-18, Philipians 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Christ ALONE lived a sinless life2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 1Peter 2:21-24

Christ ALONE rose from the deadActs 2:22, Romans 4:25, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Letʼs look at the first question: Is Jesus the only Savior? Letʼs consider the ways in which Jesus alone qualifies as the EXCLUSIVE SAVIOR:

Christ Alone Was Conceived by the HOLY SPIRIT and BORN of a VIRGIN as such he alone qualifies to be Savior.Why does this matter?

0. Only as the HOLY SPIRIT takes the place of the human father can it be true that the one conceived is both FULLY GOD and FULLY MAN1. Christ MUST BE both GOD and MAN to atone for our SIN2. No one else in the history of the world was conceived by the SPIRIT and BORN of a VIRGIN MOTHER... THEREFORE, Jesus alone qualifies as savior

Christ Alone is GOD Incarnate, as such he alone qualifies to be Savior.0. In order to take our place on the Cross, Jesus must be FULLY GOD to be a sacrifice that has infinite VALUE to satisfy the demands of an infinitely HOLY GOD1. He must also be man, but a mere man simply couldnʼt make the infinite payment for SIN2. But no one in the history of the world is BOTH MAN and GOD...THEREFORE, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior

Christ Alone Lived a Sinless Life as such he alone qualifies to be Savior.0. the imperfect sacrifices of the OLD TESTAMENT prefigured the sacrifice of CHRIST who was SINLESS AND ABLE TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF OTHERS and not for himself1. But no one else in the history of the world has LIVED a SINLESS LIFE... THEREFORE, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior

Christ Alone Rose From the DEAD Triumphant Over Sin as such he alone qualifies to be Savior.0. The Bible indicates that others had been raised from the dead (Lazarus, the widowʼs Son)1. But only Jesus was raised from the dead NEVER TO DIE AGAIN!2. So his resurrection from the dead demonstrates that he accomplished the FULL PAYMENT of SINʼs penalty and FULL VICTORY over SINʼS greatest POWER: DEATH

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Christ ALONE qualifies as Savior, and

Christ ALONE is Savior.

conclusion

CONCLUSIONIs Jesus the only Savior? YES

As John 14:6 says: ʻI am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO the Father except through ME.ʼ

And the Apostle Peter Confirms: ʻAnd there is salvation in NO ONE ELSE, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.ʼ (Acts 4:12)

Why think that Jesus is the only savior! Of all the people who have lived and ever will live, Jesus ALONE qualifies, in HIS PERSON and HIS WORK, as THE ONLY one capable of accomplishing atonement for the sin of the world.

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Luke 24:44-49

Jesus taught that people MUST HEAR the Gospel

Romans 10:1-4 & 13 - 15

Even pious Jews and ‘decent Gentiles’ must hear

‘no other name...’

Our Second Question: Is faith in Christ necessary to be saved?

Letʼs consider the following passages that support the conviction that people are SAVED ONLY AS THEY KNOW and TRUST in Christ as their Savior:

1st, Jesusʼ Own Teaching shows that the Nations need to hear and repent to be saved READ Luke 24:44-49 44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

0. Jesus commands that ʻrepentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nationsʼ1. To be forgiven they must repent, BUT TO REPENT THEY MUST HEAR the Gospel proclaimed!2. And this is true for all People including JEWS WHO HAVENʼT trusted in Christ3. Believers MUST preach the message of the Gospel for people to be saved!

2nd, Paul teaches that even Pious Jews, and ʻdecent Gentilesʼ everywhere, people in general, must hear the Gospel and believe to be saved READ Romans 10:1-4 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them {Jews} is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. AND 13-15 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? [3] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

0. Paulʼs desire is for the salvation of his fellow Jews. EVEN THOUGH they have ZEAL for God, these pious Jews are not saved1. Godʼs righteousness comes only through FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST2. So these Jews, and any other pious persons, are NOT SAVED UNLESS they call upon the name of the LORD3. BUT this requires that someone TELL THEM: Missions then is NECESSARY since people must HEAR the Gospel to be SAVED

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The Gospel MUST BE

PREACHED for people to come

into a saving relationship with

the almighty God!

conclusion

CONCLUSIONAgain the conclusion is clear: Jesus is the only Savior AND people must Know and believe in Christ to be saved [The Gospel Must be Preached for Salvation!]

As John 14:6 says: ʻI am the way, the truth, and the life. NO ONE COMES TO the Father except through ME.ʼ

And the Apostle Peter Confirms: ʻAnd there is salvation in NO ONE ELSE, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.ʼ (Acts 4:12)

Why think that Jesus is the only savior! Of all the people who have lived and ever will live, Jesus ALONE qualifies, in HIS PERSON and HIS WORK, as THE ONLY one capable of accomplishing atonement for the sin of the world.

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Finally Letʼs turn to Ephesians 2If we have encountered the Risen Christ as Paul did, then we must preach these truths: Jesus is the Only Savior AND people must believe in Christ to be saved.

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