Category: The Gospel in a Nutshell

Consider Yourself Warned!

Paul concluded his gospel presentation at Antioch of Pisidia with these words.

Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, 41  ‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’” Acts 13:40-41 (NLT)

No Jew would have ever imagined that Israel would be cut off from Abraham’s promises! Their rejection of the Messiah brought judgment upon that nation in 70 AD when Titus and the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem.  Gentiles will encounter a similar judgment on the Last Day, if we reject the gospel. Those who reject the message doom themselves to a continuation of their present condition as spiritual orphans in the universe – an eternity away from God’s loving presence.

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8  in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10  When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 (NLT)

The presentation of the gospel puts us in a place of decision: will we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior or reject God’s amazing offer? 

With how we spend our eternity on the line, the loving thing to do is warn our hearers about the enormous consequences connected to our response to the gospel.

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The Gospel Offers Forgiveness and Reconciliation to God

The gospel offers forgiveness and reconciliation to God. Paul delivered the extraordinary good news that through the risen Jesus, the Messiah King who was rejected and crucified, God offers forgiveness and reconciliation to all who believe and declare allegiance to him.

“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39  Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do. Acts 13:38-39 (NLT)

God does not hold our rebellion against his rule and our rejection of his person against us, if we repent, believe the good news, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. This good news includes giving us a personal relationship with Father God and making us a part of his eternal family through the new birth!

This means we are able to reconnect with the Source of Life and all that is good and true! We will be spiritually reconnected to the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe through our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus!

Only a fool or a hardened rebel would pass up such an offer; yet, without the Holy Spirit’s help, that is exactly what people do. We can ask the Spirit of God to open our sin-blinded eyes, unstop our deaf ears, soften our hardened hearts, and bring us back to God.

Prayer

I have been a rebel long enough! Today I turn away from the path I have been following that leads to judgment and death. Holy Spirit, come into my life and help me. Change me on the inside. Jesus, I acknowledge that you are the Lord that I have spurned these many years. I give you my life and receive your forgiveness. Father God,  I have heard about you but never known you. Thank you for sending your Son to die for my sins. I want to know, love, and serve you from this day forward. Amen.

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The Old Testament Points to Jesus

The Old Testament points to Jesus. It is important for us to include in our gospel presentation how Jesus fulfilled promises made in the Old Testament.

And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, 33  and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus: ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.’ 34  For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’ 35  Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’ 36  This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. 37  No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay. Acts 13:32-37 (NLT)

The Old Testament points to Jesus and can only be properly understood in reference to him.

The birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming of Jesus the Messiah is the goal of God’s interactions and promises made in the Old Testament. Jesus’ resurrection caused verses that seemed mysterious or unclear to come into sudden bold relief, such as the ones quoted by Paul above.

So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening. Acts 28:23 (NLT)

Once Paul’s eyes were open to Jesus’ true identity, the entire Bible came to life for him. Jesus is the focus and goal of the entire Bible. Eventually all things will be summed up in him.

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Colossians 1:16–18 (NASB95)
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How Have I Responded to the Gospel?

It is important for everyone to ask him or herself, “How have I responded to the gospel?” Paul summarized the gospel message in a paragraph.

“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! 27  The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. 28  They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway. 29  “When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 30  But God raised him from the dead! 31  And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel. Acts 13:26-31 (NLT)

Paul told his listeners and us that Jesus is the one promised by God in the Old Testament, who was rejected by the Jewish leaders, put to death, buried, rose again from the dead, and appeared to many. All that remains is to explain what this means to those who believe and receive it: forgiveness of our sins and being restored to a right relationship with God.

The gospel is a spoken or read message that requires a response.

We can hear it and believe. We can hear and reject it, or we can simply ignore it. Only one of these responses results in salvation. How have you responded?

Prayer

Jesus, I finally “get” it. You died for my sins and rose again. I receive you as my Savior and my Lord. I receive your forgiveness and give my life to you. Holy Spirit, come live in and through me. Thank you for eternal life. Help me to tell others about this amazing gift. Amen.

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God Promised Israel a Messiah Who Would Save the World

God promised Israel a Messiah who would save the entire world. On his first missionary journey, Paul the apostle preached the gospel to Jews living in Antioch of Pisidia. He correctly assumed that they were familiar with the promises God earlier made to King David, that one of his descendants would sit upon the throne of Israel forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13)

“And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! 24  Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. 25  As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’ Acts 13:23-25 (NLT)

When we share the gospel with those who are not as familiar with the Bible, we have an opportunity to explain how Jesus came in fulfillment of promises made to Israel long ago.

The gospel only makes sense when we understand its historical context. God promised that one day a Savior would defeat Satan and deliver us from his dominion. This began in the Garden of Eden, continued with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, was reiterated to Moses, amplified with King David, and prophesied by Isaiah and others.

What was not understood until God revealed it to Paul was that the Messiah was sent to save the entire world, not just Israel.

He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (NASB95)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB95)

By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, Ephesians 3:4–6 (NASB95)

One day in the not so distant future, the very real historical person named Jesus, the glorious resurrected Son of Man prophesied by Daniel, will return in the clouds with great power to judge all mankind.

At that point in time, all the earth will come to realize that the gospel is a wonderful announcement of mercy to those who believe it which is based on the historical facts relating to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is also a narrative of the historical fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Therefore, it is important for gospel preachers to familiarize themselves with the the Old Testament and how it points to Jesus and the glorious gospel that is offered to every person in the world, regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status. That is how the early church presented Christ, and so should we!

If you are inclined to learn better how to do this, I suggest Scot McKnight's masterpiece, The King Jesus Gospel. I wrote a summary, which you can access by clicking here.
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Water Baptism and the Baptism in the Spirit Are Distinct

Water baptism and the baptism in the Spirit are distinct. When Cornelius spoke in tongues, Peter arrived at an obvious conclusion. God accepted the Gentile Cornelius in exactly the same way he had the Jewish apostles!

The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47  “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48  So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ... Acts 10:45-48 (NLT)

The Bible promises that Jesus will baptize his followers in the Spirit. (Luke 3:16) The evidence of this outpouring or baptism is speaking in tongues, as first experienced by the Jewish believers on Pentecost. In Acts 10 it happened again with Gentiles, which astounded the ethnocentric Jews, who imagined that they alone were eligible.

The giving of the Spirit is a proof of our acceptance into God’s heavenly family.

Only born-again children of God are given this amazing evidence of God’s love. (Luke 11:13)

When we share the gospel, we should inform our hearers that the Holy Spirit will be given to those who put their faith in Christ, both as the indwelling source of life and identity and as an outpoured source of power and boldness.

These two experiences with God’s Spirit are distinct: the first is a result of being born again, and the second from being baptized in the Spirit. Believers are to submit to water baptism as a public testimony of allegiance to our Savior and Lord and then receive the baptism in the Spirit.

Promise of the Father

To learn more about the baptism in the Spirit, click here. I have also written a book on this important subject, which is available on Amazon.

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Expect the Holy Spirit to Draw People to Christ

We should expect the Holy Spirit to draw people to Christ. Something unanticipated and wonderful occurred while Peter was sharing the gospel with the Roman Centurion and Gentile named Cornelius and the people gathered in his home.

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. Acts 10:44 (NLT)

When we share the gospel with people, most of our listeners probably will not erupt in spontaneous tongues as did Cornelius, but we should expect to see some evidence of the Holy Spirit’s operation.

The preaching of the gospel relies upon the hidden work of God’s Spirit inside our listeners if we are to see results.

Jesus spoke about this.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! Matthew 11:25-26 (NLT)

Paul taught us that God uses the “foolishness of preaching” (1 Corinthians 1:21-24) to bring people to Christ. Preaching works because there is power in the words of the gospel and because of the hidden operation of God’s Spirit in those who hear. If we do our part, we can depend on God to do his by drawing people to Christ and opening their hearts to the message.

Jesus said:

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 45  As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. John 6:44-45 (NLT)
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God Will Forgive Those Who Believe

Peter concluded his gospel presentation to Cornelius with the good news that God will forgive the sins of those who believe in Jesus.

He [Jesus] is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Acts 10:43 (NLT)

Once we believe and confess that Jesus is the glorious Lord who is risen from the dead, God wants us to understand that he does not hold our past sins against us.

We may not have been the ones who actually drove the nails into his hands and feet, but we all have participated in the sin of turning our backs on God. He died for all of us because we all had an impossible debt to pay to God. Only he could settle accounts on our behalf, and he did!

After his resurrection, Jesus told his disciples:

...“Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48  You are witnesses of all these things. Luke 24:46-48 (NLT)

That is really good news!

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We Can Escape the Coming Judgment

The good news is that we can escape the coming judgment. Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by sharing that Jesus commanded his disciples, including us, to tell people he is coming back one day to judge every human being who has ever lived.

And he [Jesus] ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. Acts 10:42 (NLT)

It is not popular to tell people that Jesus will hold every human being who ever lived accountable to God for how we lived and whether we accepted him as the Lord, but it is the truth. Jesus is the only one through whom anyone can be saved and he is the Judge. Imagine standing before a powerful judge who has your back! That will be the case for all who declare allegiance to him!

The coming judgment at the end of time is not something invented by his followers years later to drum up converts. Jesus clearly taught this to his disciples and told them to preach it.

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. Matthew 16:27 (NLT)

Jesus is the divine Son of Man prophesied by Daniel the prophet centuries before (Daniel 7:14) who is the coming king and judge. Our Lord confirmed his identity as this divine being before the Sanhedrin the night before his crucifixion. 

But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” Matthew 26:63–64 (NASB95)

Since we are all going to face him in judgment one day, isn’t it in our best interest to take advantage of his promise that we can escape condemnation by simply putting our faith and allegiance in him?

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB95)

I beg you to take advantage of God’s gracious offer. How heartbreaking it will be for anyone who refuses!

Prayer

Jesus, I ask you to forgive me for rebelliously living for myself. I surrender my life to you and declare that you are the risen Lord. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Thank you that I no longer need to fear the last judgment. Help me to live for you and tell others about this glorious good news. Amen.

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Jesus Rose Bodily from the Dead

Jesus rose bodily from the dead. Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by testifying to being with Jesus after his resurrection.

...They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40  but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41  not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. Acts 10:39-41 (NLT)

The assertion that Jesus rose from the dead is the heart of the gospel because it confirmed that God accepted his sacrifice as the Lamb of God and made him Lord of lords.

who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:4 (NASB95)

But in Paul’s day, as now, people denied that the resurrection ever took place. He wrote:

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13  For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14  And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15  And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16  And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 (NLT)

Jesus “ate and drank” with the apostles after his resurrection. He talked with them. He allowed them to touch him.

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NLT)

Admittedly his resurrection body is different from ours. He could walk through walls and appear or disappear. Nevertheless, it was a body. His bodily resurrection proved his claim to be the Messiah and Lord. It proved that Father God accepted his sacrifice for our sins. It validated Jesus’ promise that one day he will raise us up as well.

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 (NASB95)

The gospel boldly declares that Jesus rose from the dead bodily, which was verified by eye witnesses. Those who believe this in their hearts and declare his lordship with their mouths will be saved.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)
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