Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
24, 2017)
Introduction:
Good morning to everyone. Before we continue let us first have a moment of prayer…
The gospel, broadly speaking, is the whole of scripture: The divine revelation of God that has
been given to us people. Specifically, it pertains to the good news concerning Jesus Christ and
the way of salvation. To fully understand the gospel is to know why it is good news in the first
place. Why was it needed? Its contrast to the bad news reveals to us why it is truly good. The
bible gives us a clear picture on all of these things so that we would know and understand just
how important this is. The bible tells us that none of us are good, and none of us are righteous.
Even with the best of intentions, and the greatest works of charity, we would still come up
lacking. That is where grace comes in. What man cannot achieve God gives freely through His
grace, His unmerited favor. It is why we are here, and it is why we continue. Grace is central in
the Christian Doctrine, it is the essence of the gospel, of salvation, and of everything that we
do. That is why the title of our message today is: The Good News of Grace
Exegetical Idea: God’s grace has been revealed and all people have an opportunity to be saved.
Those who are saved are also being trained by God to be Godly, to be pleasing to Him.
Proposition: God’s free gift of salvation has already been given. It is the only way for man to be
saved. Those who reject it have no other means of entering eternal life, while those who do
accept it, find that God’s grace brings more than just salvation, and is abundant in every aspect
of the life of a Christian.
Application:
2Cor.6:2b God’s grace has brought us salvation, all we need to do is believe. The first
step in accepting this grace is the realization of the need for salvation. People immediately
reject offers they deem that has nothing to do with them. People reject because they do not
accept their sinfulness. Remember: Christ came for sinners. Luke5:31-32 we see the value of
grace when we look upon our own sinful condition. We appreciate this grace when we realize
just how undeserving and unworthy we all really are. But because of God’s grace, we are saved!
Application:
Grace trains us to reject sin, because we know where that road ends. Grace trains us to
choose what is pleasing to God, because we know that God and His grace are far sweeter than
anything the world can offer. Remember that the keyword here is process: this needs time,
effort, discipline, instruction, and a whole lot of prayer. No one becomes the ideal person
overnight: we have to let ourselves be transformed by the grace of God. Living under grace
does not mean that we have license and freedom to sin. We know that this is a lie and
abomination to God.Titus1:16 we are to reject sin, continue in godliness, all the while waiting
for Jesus Christ’s return: our blessed hope.
A. The gospel is for all people no matter their background or culture – Acts 1:6-8
Jesus final words on this earth before His ascension were simple: His disciples
were to become the agents of the gospel, being the firsthand witnesses of all the things
that had happened during Jesus’ life and ministry. More than that, power will come for
their witness through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the promised helper that Jesus had
told them about. Acts 1:6-8 an important aspect of Jesus command was in the places He
had mentioned to them. Being Jews, it came as no surprise to them to go into Jerusalem
and Judea. But Samaria? That was a different story. Samaritans were despised as a
whole by the Jewish people. They were notoriously known for being half-breeds and
idolaters. They regarded them as the worst of the human race, and wanted nothing to
do with them. Those coming and going from Galilee and Judea would rather circle
around the entirety of the Jordan river, rather than pass through the land of Samaria.
Yet Jesus broke down all the barriers through the gospel. The good news of the grace of
God had now come and is made available for all people. Consider the fact that the Jews
themselves were no better: they were the ones who crucified the Christ and rejected His
message, yet the gospel was still to be preached to them. While the Samaritans who
were idol worshippers got the same grace as well. The gospel was given for all people,
regardless of race, background, culture, or history.
B. The gospel is powerful to save even the worst of sinners – Rom.1:16; 1Pet.3:18
God displays the immeasurable power He possesses in the saving grace of the
gospel. Rom.1:16 No one is outside the reach of the finished work of Jesus Christ, no
matter how heavy or enormous the sins committed. Christ’s blood is able to cleanse us
of all unrighteousness. Consider the failings of Peter: He had denied Jesus three times,
yet was forgiven, becoming an important figure during the life of the early church. Look
at the christians found all over the new testament. More epistles were written
addressed to gentile people: pagans, idolaters, sexually immoral, and evil people. Most
of all remember Paul, who terrorized the early church, putting early christians to prison,
and worse, putting them to death. Acts 26:10-11 No one could have thought or even
imagined that Saul of tarsus would change his views and outlook as a Pharisee. To think
that He could be an ally of Christianity would have been just wishful thinking for the
believers. But he became more than that. He became an apostle, an agent used by God
to deliver the gospel to more and more people. He established churches, taught the
truth of the gospel, and discipled others to become ministers as well. Many would
consider the early life of Paul as truly evil in the sight of God. And yet, the gospel saved
him and transformed him. We must not look down on others as well as ourselves as
outside the reach of God: By His grace even the worst of sinners are saved. 1Tim.1:15-
16
C. Jesus Christ is the heart of our message – 1 Cor.15:1-4
The center of the gospel is the person of Jesus Christ. you would think that it
would be easy to remember, but often, the good news gets diluted or constrained by
things that are not in line with the word of God. The gospel is not about finding our
personal happiness. It is not about being rich or getting out of poverty. It is not about
following a path of good works to get to heaven. It is not about making new friends and
expanding our connection with other people. it is not about our enjoyment or pleasure.
The gospel is all about who Jesus is, and what He has done for the sake of sinful people,
who do not deserve a second glance from a Holy God. 1Cor.15:1-4 Let us not soil the
pure gospel with our own additives or extenders. It does not need such things in order
to be effective or powerful. What God has done needs no garnish or touching up.
1Cor.2:1-5 Paul avoided such things so that people would put their faith in Jesus Christ
who was crucified rather than the ability of the messenger. Would we rather people
believe wholeheartedly in the gospel? or be amazed at the preacher? When we
proclaim the gospel, stay focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Tell people
who He is, God in human flesh. Tell them why He came to earth, to offer Himself as the
sacrifice that God’s justice requires as the penalty for our sins. Show people from
Scripture that we cannot add our good works to what Christ accomplished on the cross.
We can only receive His salvation from our sins by faith in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
For my conclusion, the good news of grace has been proclaimed to us all: Jesus Christ
came, He suffered and died, and He rose again so that all who would have faith in Him would
be saved from hell. We are reminded to “not receive the grace of God in vain.” What we have
heard we must believe and what we now believe we must practice and proclaim. God’s grace
for salvation is more than enough for our greatest needs.. I exhort each one of us to rely upon
this grace, to obey God in whatever we do, and share this great news to others while we still
have the opportunity. To God be the glory.