Category: The Gospel in a Nutshell

The Gospel Is a Spoken Message that Demands a Response

Gospel in a Minute

Paul summarized the message of salvation 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)

Principle: The Gospel Is a Spoken Message that Demands a Response

Having framed his gospel presentation within the history of Israel, Paul summed up the salvation message by telling 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.

The gospel is a message that must be spoken. Acts of mercy and love are not sufficient to properly communicate it. Such acts can open people’s hearts, but unless the gospel is spoken, people will not understand what God has done for them and who Jesus is. They will not be able to properly respond.

Following such a gospel summary, all that remains is to explain the meaning – our forgiveness and justification and Jesus’ lordship over all creation. And what would Paul’s listeners do with this amazing news? What is the proper response?

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Gospel in a Minute: Frame the Gospel within the History of Israel

Gospel in a Minute

On his first missionary journey, Paul the Apostle preached the gospel to Jews in Antioch of Pisidia. He assumed they were familiar with the promises God 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)

Principle: Frame the Gospel within the History of Israel

When we share the gospel with those who are not as familiar with the Bible, we must make the effort to explain how Jesus came in fulfillment of promises made to God’s people long ago. The gospel is not a philosophy that has meaning outside of real history. I have heard a serious lie regarding God’s Word phrased something like this: “It’s not true, but it’s the truth.” The meaning is that the gospel is not historically true, but it “contains” eternal truth. This reduces the gospel to “whatever works for you.” Nothing could be farther from reality. The gospel is historically grounded in fact. One day in the not so distant future, the actual risen Messiah King Jesus, the glorious 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 grounded in historical fact. For now, we must help to convince people that…

the gospel is a narrative of God’s historical promises to Israel and their fulfillment  in real time.

As such, a proper gospel presentation will frame Jesus’ coming, ministry, death on the cross, resurrection, ascension, and future Second Coming in light of those promises and prophecies. It is important for gospel communicators to familiarize themselves with the the Old Testament and how it points to Jesus and the glorious gospel. 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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Gospel in a Minute: Water Baptism and the Baptism in the Spirit Are Distinct

Gospel in a Minute

Peter made the 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)

Principle: Water Baptism and the Baptism in the Spirit Are Distinct

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 proof of our acceptance into God’s heavenly family.

Only born again children of God are eligible for this amazing gift of love. (Luke 11:13) Our spiritual identity carries God’s own being, a kind of spiritual DNA, if you will.

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.

The two experiences of God’s Spirit come as distinct processes – the first from being born again, the second from being baptized in the Spirit. Believers are to submit to water baptism as a public testimony of allegiance to their Savior and Lord. The two baptisms are distinct as well.

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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Gospel in a Minute: Expect the Holy Spirit to Draw People to Christ

Gospel in a Minute

Suddenly something unanticipated happened while Peter was preaching to Cornelius and company.

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

Principle: Expect the Holy Spirit to Draw People to Christ

While most of our listeners probably will not erupt in spontaneous tongues as did Cornelius, we should expect to see some evidence of the Spirit’s operation.

The preaching of the gospel relies upon the hidden work of God’s Spirit for success.

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. This whole things was his idea anyway. 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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Gospel in a Minute: Preach the Forgiveness of Sins

Gospel in a Minute

Peter concluded his gospel presentation to Cornelius by offering forgiveness of sins to those who put their faith and allegiance in Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah King of Israel, the Divine Son of Man who is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

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)

Principle: Preach the Forgiveness of Sins

Once we know who Jesus is, the glorious risen from the dead Lord of Lords who will judge all mankind, we need to understand that he does not hold our past sins against us, if only we will repent from our rebellion against God.

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 do it, 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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Gospel in a Minute: Preach the Coming Judgment

Gospel in a Minute

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)

Principle: Preach the Coming Judgment

It is not popular to tell people that Jesus is coming back again to hold every human being who ever lived accountable to God, but it is the truth. Jesus is the only one through whom anyone can be saved. The coming judgment is not something invented by his followers years later to drum up converts. Jesus clearly taught this to his disciples.

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), the coming king and judge. Our Lord confirmed his identity as this divine being before the Sanhedrin the night before his crucifixion. (Matthew 26:63-64) It is who he is!

The last judgment is a non-negotiable part of the gospel, and preaching it is one way we show our allegiance to our Lord and our faithfulness to the truth.

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Gospel in a Minute: Jesus Rose Bodily from the Dead

Gospel in a Minute

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

...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)

Principle: Jesus Rose Bodily from the Dead

The assertion that Jesus rose from the dead is the heart of the gospel. But even in Paul’s day, people denied it. 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. He talked with them. He allowed them to touch him. Admittedly his resurrection body was different from ours – but it was a body. His 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.

The resurrection of Jesus was a bodily one, verified by eye witnesses. This is the gospel. This is our hope.

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Gospel in a Minute: Jesus’ Ministry Revealed His Identity as Messiah

Gospel in a Minute

Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by describing Jesus’ earthly ministry prior to his crucifixion.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  Acts 10:39 (NLT)

Principle: Jesus’ Ministry Revealed His Messianic Identity

The Old Covenant scriptures predicted the ministry that the Messiah would have. Several chapters in the second half of Isaiah, called the Suffering Servant section, are especially relevant. Jesus referenced snippets from several verses in Isaiah to reassure John the Baptist of his Messianic identity. (Isaiah 29:18-19, 35:5-6, and 61:1)

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3  “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4  Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— 5  the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 6  And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’” Matthew 11:2-6 (NLT)

Jesus, the Messianic King, went about revealing the nature of God’s kingdom by liberating captives from the kingdom of darkness.

The gospel is part of an intricately woven tapestry. A proper gospel presentation will show people how Jesus’ earthly ministry fulfilled Old Covenant prophecies.

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Gospel in a Minute: The Prince of Peace Is Lord of All

Gospel in a Minute

When Peter was summoned to the home of the Roman Centurion named Cornelius to make the first gospel presentation to the Gentiles, he opened his remarks with this summation.

This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:36 (NLT)

Principle: The Prince of Peace Is Lord of All

The gospel always presents Jesus in the dual role of Savior and Lord.

We have peace with God because Jesus died for our sins as the Lamb of God, taking our guilt and punishment upon himself. His resurrection proved that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted. It also validated his claim to be the Lord of Lords, the Jewish Messiah King. We have peace with God, having been justified or put back into a right relationship with him through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Lord.

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 (NLT) 
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (NLT)

When we share the gospel we owe it to God and to our listeners to present Jesus in his dual role of Prince of Peace and Lord of All. Otherwise we may misrepresent God and shortchange our hearers.

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Gospel in a Minute: Can you prove that Jesus is the Messiah?

Gospel in a Minute

Saul was highly trained in the Old Testament scriptures; so, with the Spirit’s help he immediately connected the dots when he compared its prophecies and promises to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. Acts 9:22 (NLT)

Principle: Can you prove that Jesus is the Messiah?

This is where many, if not most, Gentile believers start feeling woefully inadequate, but the remedy is fairly easy. This is one reason why I am writing these meditations. I want you to understand how to share the gospel as the early apostles did. It is not “rocket science.” It only requires some study and practice, and you too can use the Old Covenant to show how Jesus truly is the Savior and Lord promised to Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, to name a few key players.

Don’t limit yourself to sharing the “plan of salvation” when the amazingly powerful gospel is not too hard to master.

To learn more, click on this link.
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