Category: The Gospel in a Nutshell

Healings and Miracles Testify to the Truth of the Gospel

Peter said that Jesus’ miracles proved that he is the Messiah.

People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.Acts 2:22 (NLT)

Some people discount Jesus’ miracles and relegate them to the realm of mere legend, but the people of that day knew first hand that they were genuine. In fact, Jesus boldly challenged those who doubted his identity as the Messiah to believe in him because of his miracle.

...The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. John 10:25 (NLT)

When we share the gospel, we have the opportunity to bring people face to face with Jesus’ miracle working power, which testifies to God’s love and the truth of the gospel. We should stay alert to the Holy Spirit, who may prompt us to pray for those around us.

If we boldly pray for healing and miracles in Jesus’ name, we give the Holy Spirit a chance to demonstrate God’s love and the truth of our message.

Paul understood that God wants the gospel to be our words accompanied by a demonstration of power through the Holy Spirit.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true... 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)
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God is a real person who can and will respond to us.

 

Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32) in the following part of his gospel proclamation on Pentecost.

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21 (NLT)

What exactly does it mean to “call on the name of the Lord”?

The Star Wars movie series presents God in an Eastern religion way as an impersonal “force” that can be tapped into by those who have knowledge. The God of the Bible, the true God, is a real Person. Not a human, but a person. Humans are created in his image. We have personality because that is an important aspect of God’s being. Personalities can think and communicate.

God has no problem at all in communicating with us. When we seek him, he tells us that we will find him.

Calling upon the Lord means we pray or speak to him as a genuine personality who listens to us and will respond. Jeremiah the prophet wrote:

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)

When we share the gospel, we should encourage our hearers to engage Jesus on a personal level by “calling” to him in prayer. We have the sure promise that he will allow us to find him when we seek him with all our hearts.

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Silent Belief Reveals a Lot

Gospel in a Minute

Have you ever felt convicted by God’s Spirit because you chose to be silent about your faith in Jesus? If we have the courage to publicly confess Jesus, it reveals that we value God’s praise more than men’s. 

Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42–43 (NKJV)

Evil generally is unashamedly vocal and perfectly willing to vilify and shame anyone standing for truth. The Old Testament prophets usually were very unpopular because they spoke unwelcome words of truth. They had to choose between bowing to obedience to God or to the intimidation of men. The same is true for followers of Christ today. If we stand for biblical truth and Jesus, we will suffer persecution, sometimes from other believers, but usually from the world.

If we want the praise of God, we may have to forsake the praise of men by refusing to be silent.

Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Psalm 25:20–21 (NKJV)
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Forgiveness… on what basis?

Gospel in a Minute

I have heard it said that God forgives us because it is his “job.” It is amazing to me how cavalier people can be regarding God’s mercy, as if they know for certain that he will forgive anything and everything and that they have nothing at all to be concerned when they one day face God. I believe this attitude reveals a woeful lack of appreciation for God’s justice and an absence of a proper sort of fear of the Lord.

Jesus warned his disciples:

But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luke 12:5 (NLT)

Jesus was anything but reassuring when it came to God’s justice. That being the case, how could Jesus so blithely grant forgiveness to a person, as in the following passage?

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2  Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:1-2 (NLT)

The Pharisees who were present accused Jesus of blasphemy, realizing that granting forgiveness before God is a divine prerogative. They condemned him for assuming to have such authority, not realizing who he was. But how is God himself able to forgive without violating his perfect justice? On what basis did Jesus forgive this man and others?

The answer is simple. When Jesus forgave anyone in the gospels, he made an advance draw from his account, guaranteeing he would have to be crucified. He would soon pay an incalculable price by dying on the cross as the Lamb of God to satisfy God’s wrath against sin and purchase our forgiveness.

Never forget: God does not forgive because it is his job. He forgives because he loved us enough to allow his only Son to die for us.

Have you told God how much you appreciate what he did for you?

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The Gospel Causes Division

Gospel in a Minute

Paul and Barnabas traveled to Iconium where they preached the gospel with the following results.

In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2  But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3  Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4  But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. Acts 14:1-4 (NASB)

Principle: The Gospel Causes Division

Jesus warned his followers that the message he gave us to preach exposes people’s hearts and causes division.

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 34  “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35  I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  Your enemies will be right in your own household! Matthew 10:32-36 (NLT)

Those who share the gospel should expect to encounter hostility from those who reject their message.

The announcement of Christ’s lordship invites people to surrender their lives to Jesus. Those who accept God’s provision of mercy and grace will be overjoyed, but those who reject God’s offer reveal that they have hardened hearts and a rebelliousness against his rule. Their deep seated hostility toward God should not intimidate us from boldly sharing the good news.

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Gospel in a Minute: Get Started Right Away

Gospel in a Minute

The account of Saul’s conversion is an amazing example of Jesus’ sovereign ability to communicate directly with people. Once he became a believer, Saul’s allegiance to his new Lord was unswerving. He launched into the ministry of sharing the gospel immediately.

Afterward he [Saul, later Paul] ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20  And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” Acts 9:19-20 (NLT)

Principle: Get Started Right Away

Peter Block wrote an amazing book entitled The Answer to How is Yes. In it he argues that generally people believe there is a “right” way to do things, and until we discover what that is, we should delay taking action.

In other words, we use the excuse of ignorance to avoid doing the brave thing that needs to be done.

The reason we do things is because they ought to be done, not because we have it all figured out. If we make the choice to move forward in the doing, God will help us along the way. This is certainly true with ministry. Yes, studying the Bible is crucial. No, ignorance is not a virtue. Nevertheless, doing nothing is disobedience. Delayed obedience is often pure and simple rebellion.

The night I became a believer in Christ, I began to share the good news with my friends that Jesus is real and can be known. I did not have a very good knowledge of the Bible. I was confused and misguided on some important points, but I did know Jesus and wanted to make him known. God worked with me in my ignorance and zeal. God never suggested that I should delay telling people about Jesus until I knew more theology. In fact those who know the most theology are sometimes the least engaged in evangelism. When Jesus set the demoniac free, he told him to go tell everyone what great things God had done for him. (Mark 5:19-20) He did not have to first take a class.

We should get started right away with sharing the good news. If you have been sitting idle, it is time to get going.

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Gospel in a Minute: The Spirit Will Lead Us to People Who Are Ready and Open to Believe the Gospel

Gospel in a Minute

After sharing the gospel with the Samaritans, Philip was led by God’s Spirit in an amazing way.

But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert road.) 27  So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28  and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29  Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." 30  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31  And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:26-30 (NASB)

Principle: The Spirit Will Lead Us to People Who Are Ready and Open to Believe the Gospel.

The eunuch was hungering to know more about God and the scriptures. Only the Spirit knew this, and he individually guided the evangelist to him. Philip led this man to receive Christ and baptized him in water on the spot. Luke put this account in Acts to let us know that God’s Spirit is available to guide us in a similar way. The Great Commission is a partnership between us and God. We need the baptism and gifts of the Spirit in order to be as effective as God desires. Our Lord wants us to be able to detect the “still, small voice” of the Spirit as he leads us through the day.

There are people all around us in whom God is working, preparing them to receive and believe the gospel. Are we open to God’s directing and using us as he did Philip?

Prayer

Holy Spirit, use me as your ambassador of reconciliation. I am ready for you to direct me to those you have prepared to hear the gospel. Help me to be alert to your guidance each day. Grant me boldness, compassion, and courage to be Christ’s witness. Help me to properly articulate the Good News. Amen.

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Gospel in a Minute: Preaching the gospel requires great courage.

Gospel in a Minute

The Jewish leaders applied pressure on the apostles to shut down their bold preaching.

“What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17  But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18  So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20  We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:16-20 (NLT)

Principle: Preaching the gospel requires great courage.

Satan and his allies do everything in their power to keep us from believing the gospel, but once we see and believe that Jesus is the risen Messiah and Lord of Lords, their next attempt is to keep us from telling others the good news. Evil spiritual forces use cooperative people to accomplish their agenda, but our battle is never really with human beings. (Ephesians 6:12)

The gospel is God’s powerful means to liberate the captives held by the kingdom of darkness. (Isaiah 61:1 and Romans 1:16)

Satan cannot nullify the gospel’s power, but he does try to keep it from ever being spoken. He mocks, threatens, and persecutes those who proclaim the glorious good news. (2 Timothy 3:12) It is our responsibility to refuse to cower to this intimidation.

God wants us to be like Peter and John who feared God more than what might be done to them. Like Moses of old, they valued the reward for serving God more than the temporary tranquility that comes from making peace with the devil. (Hebrews 11:24-27) The Spirit of God filled them with boldness and courage.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
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Gospel in a Minute: Jesus is God’s plan to bless the entire earth!

Gospel in a Minute

Peter connected the gospel message to God’s promise to Abraham found in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18.

Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. 25  You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ Acts 3:24-25 (NLT)

Principle: Jesus is God’s plan to bless the entire earth!

The entire Bible points to one person, Jesus the Messiah. He is its grand theme. He is God’s wonderful purpose. As Paul put it:

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10  And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 1:9-10 (NLT)

When we communicate the gospel message, we have the opportunity to let people know about God’s amazing Son, the eternal Word of God who became a human being in order to pay the penalty for our sins, reconcile us to God, and rescue the entire creation from the chaos of sin and death!

Jesus is God’s plan to bless all the families of the earth. He is the One through whom all blessings flow. For those who receive him as Lord and Savior, he is the fountain of life itself.

But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 (NLT)
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