Category: The Gospel in a Nutshell

Gospel in a Minute: Gospel proclamations upset some people while saving others.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter’s second gospel presentation, which was precipitated by a miraculous healing, caused a great stirring among the people. It also “greatly disturbed” the religious leaders, the ones who had crucified Jesus.

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2  being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.Acts 4:1-2 (NASB)

The Sadducees were a sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

Principle: Gospel proclamations upset some people while saving others.

Jesus told his followers that he would cause division among people.

“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 10:34-36 (NLT)

Jesus is a king. His kingdom is real and is opposed by the forces of evil in the world. People will come down on one side or the other. Those who appear not to care, the ones Jesus called “lukewarm,” are actually opposed to the kingdom because they refuse to acknowledge and serve the king.

We should not be surprised when we encounter hostility when we preach the gospel. In fact, we should expect it. If we properly present the gospel, we will stir things up, not because we are trying to cause trouble, but because our message is authoritative and demands a response of submission to the King.

Some will respond properly. Others will be hostile. At least the hostile ones are not lukewarm.

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Gospel in a Minute: Repentance – gateway into God’s blessings or death to fun?

Gospel in a Minute

Peter concluded his second preaching of the gospel message by calling for his hearers to turn away from sin.

When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways. Acts 3:26 (NLT)

Principle: Repentance – gateway into God’s blessings or death to fun?

The Greek word normally translated as “repentance” is metanoeo, which simply means to change the mind. The gospel is intended to bring us to a radical change of mind because we finally understand that God is in charge of our lives, not we. This shows us our enormous need to be forgiven for our previous acts of defiance and rebellion against God. When we have such a change of mind, we are said to “repent.” It is impossible for us to repent properly without God’s help. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds and motivates us to take this absolutely critical step. Repentance is a gift. (Acts 5:31, 2 Tim. 2:25) True repentance will always change how we live. As Peter said, we will turn back from sinful ways.

Sin carries within it the sentence of death. It always breeds sorrow and destruction. When we turn away from sin, it opens the door to God’s many blessings in our lives. Jesus is the fountain of life, fulfillment, and joy. The gospel restores us to our heavenly Father, from whom all blessings flow. (James 1:17)

Those who are at the threshold of making the decision to follow Christ should be told that turning away from sin brings blessing and life. The devil and their own sinful minds will be telling them that following Jesus will ruin their lives and steal all their fun. They could not be more wrong!

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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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Gospel in a Minute: The gospel is a gem set in the context of God’s history with Israel.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter referenced Moses’ prophecy found in Deuteronomy 18:15-19.

Moses said, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ 23  Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’ Acts 3:22-23 (NLT)

Principle: The gospel is a gem set in the context of God’s history with Israel.

Someone once said that if you cannot put your theology on a napkin, something is amiss. I have presented the “four spiritual laws” in this fashion, which is an effective way to explain what some call the “plan of salvation.” But napkin theology is not the gospel.

The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ set in the context of God’s dealings with Israel. Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return were all promised in the Old Testament scriptures. A proper presentation of the gospel will reference these promises in an effort to provide context and corroboration of the truth of the gospel.

Jesus did not just “show up” out of nowhere. He came to fulfill God’s eternal plan on our behalf and to bring his Father great glory. If we want to become more accurate and effective gospel communicators, we will make the effort to study how the apostles preached the good news and follow their lead.

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Gospel in a Minute: The gospel promises salvation for the entire creation, not just individuals.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter informed his listeners that Jesus will return as the Messianic King who now waits in heaven until his Father’s appointed time to restore his creation to its original intent.

Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21  For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:20-21 (NLT)

Principle: The gospel promises salvation for the entire creation, not just individuals.

One of the tragedies of the consumerist packaging of the gospel is that its enormous scope has been lost.

People conceive of Jesus merely as some kind of “personal savior,” whose impact is reduced to bringing peace and security to individuals who turn to him for forgiveness of sins. This is indeed one of the many benefits of declaring allegiance to the risen Lord, but it does not do justice to who Jesus is and what he accomplished on the cross and through his resurrection. People who put their faith in Christ are made new creatures, children of God, who will live and rule with him for eternity over a new creation.

And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:4 (NLT)

The restoration of the creation to God’s original intent under God’s benevolent rule will bring God enormous glory and satisfaction at the culmination of all things at Jesus’ return.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20  Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21  the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:19-22 (NLT)

This is an important part of the gospel message.

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Gospel in a Minute: Sharing the gospel strips away people’s excuses.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter issued a call to repentance to his listeners.

And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:17-19 (NASB)

Principle: Sharing the gospel strips away people’s excuses.

One of our most natural sinful tendencies is to avoid, deny, and suppress the truth when it comes to our sin. Jesus addressed this flaw in our nature.

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20  "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. John 3:19-20 (NASB)

The gospel strips away people’s excuses and shines a light on the sin of refusing to honor and glorify God by acknowledging his right to ownership of our lives. Mankind’s rebellion against God’s rule climaxed at the cross. We were all responsible for what happened there. Jesus carried all our sin, not just that of the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers.

The gospel offers each hearer an opportunity to lay down arms and surrender to the God who created, who sustains, and who redeemed us.

Those who repent from their sin and rebellion will find forgiveness and refreshing.

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Gospel in a Minute: The Jesus who forgives sin is the same One who heals.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter told his hearers that faith in Jesus was the key to the miracle they just witnessed.

And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16 (NASB)

Principle: The Jesus who forgives sin is the same One who heals.

The Bible makes it clear that forgiveness of sins and physical healing are linked. When Jesus was being interrogated by Jewish leaders for having the audacity to declare that a man’s sins were forgiven, he asked the crowd:

"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? 6  "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." 7  And he got up and went home. 8  But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:5-8 (NASB)

Rather than accept the challenge to provide the Holy Spirit with an opportunity to demonstrate Jesus’ power to forgive sins by offering to pray for the sick, many sharers of the gospel theologically choose to divorce his authority to forgive sins from his power to provide physical healing, something the Bible does not do. Is this because we are afraid he will not heal?

Jesus understood that to us physical healing seems more difficult, which is why he still uses it to convince people of the truth of the gospel.

The Jesus who forgives sins is the same One who heals.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)
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Gospel in a Minute: The gospel calls people to declare allegiance to Jesus the Messiah.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter packed a lot into the two sentences below.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15  but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.Acts 3:13-15 (NASB)

Principle: The gospel calls people to declare allegiance to Jesus the Messiah.

There is no middle ground when it comes to the gospel. We either declare allegiance to the Lord Jesus or we end up denying or disowning him. One of the core meanings of the Greek word “pistis,” which is translated “faith” in our English Bible, is allegiance. (For a well-reasoned argument in support of this, read my summary of Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates.) Faith responds to the gospel message by repenting from a self-directed life and turning in trust and obedience to Jesus, who is Savior and Lord.

Those who are indifferent or hostile to the gospel, end up disowning the Lord of Life. They will be disowned by him at the Last Judgment.

We must help people understand the gravity of their decision, just as Peter did.

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33  "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 (NASB)
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Gospel in a Minute: Divine healing opens the door for the gospel.

Gospel in a Minute

Peter launched his second sermon, found in Acts 3, by praying for a lame man who was immediately healed.

But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!" 7  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8  With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10  and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11  While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12  But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Acts 3:6-12 (NASB)

Principle: Divine healing opens the door for the gospel.

Someone once said that the gifts of the Spirit are the “dinner bell” for salvation. When our kids were small, we rang a large bell to call them to supper. No matter where they were in the neighborhood, when they heard its clear sound, they came running, knowing that a good meal awaited them. When God heals people, it gets their attention. We make the best use of the manifestation of God’s gracious gifts when we take advantage of people’s interest to preach the gospel.

Demonstrations of God’s power break past the intellectual and emotional barriers men and women erect in their hearts and open them to the truth about Jesus.

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