What is the Gospel? Part 3

Yesterday we looked at the meaning of the Gospel, today it's mission. Again, it is rooted in 1 Cor. 15:1-11.

The mission of the gospel. What it does/accomplishes (Its application). In Gal. 2:14, Paul dealt with Peter’s issues by declaring that he was not living “in line with the truth of the gospel”. We see the Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our life by thinking, hoping, and living out the “lines” or ramifications of the gospel. The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating, working, and behaving. The implications and applications are huge.

Conformed belief. Beliefs conformed to scripture. 15:1-2 Preached, Received, in which you stand, By which you are being saved...past, present and future. In line with the truth of the gospel. Memorize it, pray it, sing it, share it, recall how it has changed you, study it. Romans 1:16 the Gospel is God's power.

Informed sharing. 1 Cor. 9:16. Evangelism shaped by scripture. We may not always share it as well as we would like to, but God’s goodness thrills our hearts, we are overwhelmed by His goodness to us, and therefore we want to share it. 2 Cor. 4:1-6 the gospel is hidden to the perishing but is clear to those being saved. 1 Cor. 1:18 folly to those perishing, to those being saved it is the power of God. In 1 Cor. 2:1-6 we see the power of the gospel vs. human power, wisdom and persuasiveness. Bringing the gospel into every area of life is the way to be changed by the power of God. It does not simply bring us power, it is the power of God itself, Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" Rom.1:16. Hold fast/hold forth. You see this in Phil. 2:14-16. Acts 4:12 no other name, no other way. Convinced therefore communicating.

Transformed living Living transformed by God's grace. 15:1 again the gospel preached, received, in which you stand and are being saved.
Transformed Rom. 12:2 says, by the renewing of your mind. Regeneration, renewal which comes by, through and because of the Holy Spirit. The sufficiency of the gospel for everything in life. Col. 1:5-6. We see the gospel is a living thing like a seed or a tree that brings more and
more new life--bearing fruit and growing. The gospel is "planted" in us to bear fruit as we understand its greatness and implications deeply—
understood God's grace in truth. The gospel continues to grow in us and renew us throughout our lives - as it has been doing since the day
you heard it. The NT shows Christians should hear the gospel as much as non-Christians. Rom. 1:15 I am eager to preach the gospel to
your who are in Rome. 1 Thess. 2:7-8. Preaching daily. Preach the gospel daily to yourself and everyone else.

How does an understanding of the gospel transform life? The gospel fills Christians with humility, hope, meekness & boldness, in a unique way. Religion operates on the principle: “I obey, so I am accepted,” but the gospel says: “I am accepted through Christ, therefore I obey.” Secularism inflates self; moralism crushes people under guilt with impossible standards. You can seek to be your own “lord & savior” by breaking God’s law, or by keeping the law to earn salvation. Choose your poison. The gospel humbles & affirms us, in Christ, we are at the same time just, and still a sinner. We are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, and more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope. Secularism makes people selfish and individualistic. Religion makes people tribal & self-righteous toward
others because they think they earn salvation by good behavior. The gospel of grace focuses on a man dying for us while we were His
enemies, removing self-righteousness and selfishness and leads us to serve others, regardless of their merits, just as Christ served us.
Secularism and religion conform people through fear and pride. The gospel moves people to holiness and service out of grateful joy for
grace, and out of love of the glory of God."

The gospel transforms life situations. When you are angry with someone; when someone has cheated you; when you have let someone else down; when the economic bottom falls out; when tragedy strikes a family member. Preach the gospel to yourself and everyone else. The
gospel is of first importance. God sent Jesus to earth, God in the flesh, to die on the cross for sin. All who trust in Christ alone apart from
what they could do are saved from the wrath of God, freed from the power and penalty of sin. God restores us to His purpose of reflecting
God’s glory. He’s at work conforming us to the image of Christ. We live and share this message daily. What usually happens is we substitute
being satisfied in God with something else. To remedy this tendency – only 1 thing will work: Preaching the gospel to ourselves every day.
There is no secret formula, just one magnificent truth: the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jerry Bridges wrote: “To preach the gospel to yourself means you continually face up to your own sinfulness and then flee to Jesus through
faith in His shed blood and righteous life.” Tell yourself the truth, say “self, listen to this…here is what you should focus on…You have hope
because Jesus sacrificed Himself for you. Be governed by that defining worth.” Every 1 of us is a preacher. You are already preaching to
yourself every day. Stuff like... I’m fat, I’m ugly, I’m no good at this or that; he’s arrogant; she’s gossipy; whey does everyone look at me like that? Don’t preach that. Let it be the gospel you are hearing. Don’t believe everything you tell yourself – be wary – the heart is deceitful – believe the gospel – tell it often to yourself! God has addressed my most serious problem - sin and judgment - at the cross. Let that
perspective have its intended transforming effect on you in the midst of daily troubles & stressful situations. Jesus died for me…
therefore I will respond differently based on that.

There are many opportunities to consider the implications of the gospel - this week: When I was tempted to answer someone rudely; when
I received disappointing and shocking news; when I was weary, feeling unable to help anyone. How does the truth of the gospel play out?
Jesus is my life. John Piper wrote “Today – as in every generation – it is stunning to watch the shift away from God as the all-satisfying gift of God’s love. It is stunning how seldom God Himself is proclaimed as the greatest gift of the gospel…The best and final gift of the gospel is
that we gain Christ.” Phil. 3:8 says "I count all things loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I
have suffered the loss of all things and count them rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria