What's So Powerful About the Gospel?
Dec-31-2017-AM-Whats-So-Powerful-About-the-Gospel.docxPosted by: craigaledbetter <craigaledbetter@...>
What's So Powerful About the Gospel?
Reviewing Our Theme – Mighty to Save!
Romans 1:16,17
Dec 31, 2017 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (Hebrews 7:25)
A. All this year we have tried to focus on how willing and able God is to save sinners
B. We called the theme, "Mighty to Save", because that is what God is – mighty, able, to save, anybody and everybody!
C. We have learned and memorized and prayerfully meditated on 12 amazing Scriptures throughout this past year. Do you remember them?
1. JAN The Power of God
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
2. FEB Simplicity of Salvation
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts 16:30, 31
3. MAR Priority of Repentance
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
4. APR The Transformations of Salvation
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
5. MAY The Beauty of the Gospel Preacher
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tid-ings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that published salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7
It's not his looks that are beautiful but his FEET because they carry the message of the Gospel
6. JUN The Glory of the Cross
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
7. JUL The Security of Salvation
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28
8. AUG The Importance of the Bible
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23
9. SEP The Barriers to Salvation
Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1, 2
10. OCT The Goal of the Gospel
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
11. NOV The Mediator of Our Salvation
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1 Timothy 2:5
12. DEC The Birth of the Gospel
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
D. Our main Scripture verse will be our final Scripture we look at this last Sunday of 2017. Romans 1:16,17
II. Background (Romans 1:14-17)
A. The apostle Paul, a Jesus hating, self-righteous blaspheming Jew, LOVED the Gospel! His greatest desire was to tell it to someone, somewhere who had not ever heard of it before!
B. The Apostle Paul tried to summarize WHY he was so passionate, and so active in getting as many people as possible to hear and believe the Gospel
C. Listen to his words in just two verses of Scripture (1:16,17):
1. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ"
2. "for it is the power of God unto salvation"
3. "to every one that believeth"
4. "to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"
5. "For therein [IN the Gospel] is the righteousness of God"
6. "revealed from faith to faith"
7. "as it is written, The just shall live by faith. "
D. Those seven statements are from the heart of someone who was living proof of the power of the Gospel
E. Before we close out this year, make sure it has the same effect on YOU!
III. Message - What's So Powerful About the Gospel?
A. Paul says he was not ashamed of something called the Gospel
1. There are plenty of things I am ashamed of
2. And so are you!
3. But there is one thing never to be embarrassed of – to be ashamed of – to be uncomfortable discussing…
4. And that is the Gospel!
B. What is the Gospel?
1. Most everyone you meet, think they know what it really is
a. They know that it has something to do with God, and Jesus
b. But to so many, it is just a religious story for children, and old people
c. To others, it is only words on a page in an old book at the front of a church
d. To others, it is just another religious way of keeping people under control?
e. None of the above
2. Gospel meant and still means, Good News
a. There is so little GOOD news around
b. Yet, what we preach every week is GOOD news – is the Gospel!
3. Listen to the Good News
a. That the whole world is in trouble with God (Romans 1:18-22,28-32) – serious trouble
1) People are NOT stupid – they KNOW inside that they are doing wrong
2) No one has a valid excuse for sinning against people and sinning against God
3) People generally hate their Creator and sustainer, and don't want to honour Him, or even be grateful
4) And so they just continue to live as if there was no God, no Judge, piling up a sin-record against each and every one of them!
b. That no one is exempt from facing God's judgment for their sins – no excuses
c. Religious people are no better off than the heathen (Romans 2:1-3; 3:9,10,20)
d. So enters the Good News of the GOSPEL… (Romans 3:21-24)
e. It's Good News because
1) God loves ALL people who have ever sinned - NOT just SOME
a) John 3:16,17
b) Mark 10:20,21
c) Luke 2:9-11
d) When the Bible says ALL, it means ALL! Even the very very very very bad people
e) Thank God that He loves SINNERS, not good people, but sinful people! 1Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
2) Jesus Christ died for ALL people everywhere - NOT that Christ Jesus died for only SOME "elected" people, chosen by God, to the exclusion of everyone else!
a) 2Cor 5:14,15
b) Romans 5:18
c) There is not a people group, or a nation, or a gender or an age bracket that the Son of God didn't die for!
d) He died for ALL – that means every very very bad person who will ever be born
e) He took EVERYONE'S place in death, so that absolutely everyone could receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23)!
3) Christ's death was enough to forgive all sin of all time! His death was and always will be sufficient to forgive, and save, and make ready ANYBODY for eternal life with God forever!
a) 1John 2:2
b) THAT'S some GOOD news huh!
4) Lastly, the good news is that Jesus Christ INVITES anyone still breathing to turn from / trash their way of life, from their best efforts, and instead, accept the new life that only He can give you, just by believing it to be for you (Mt 11:28,29)!
f. So enters the GOSPEL… God Offers Sinful People Eternal Life (Romans 3:21-24)
C. So, Like Paul, I AM NOT Ashamed
1. Of the Gospel Message
a. There is NO greater message, no greater story to repeat than THAT!
b. I cannot and never will be ashamed of such a wonderful story as Jesus!
2. Of Jesus of Nazareth, my Saviour – of the Person of Jesus Christ
a. I know He is not so "hip" like He was in the 60's
b. I know most people only use His name for cursing
c. I know most people think of Him as a failure, a loser, a fake, a wimp
d. But I love Him! And I pray I will be faithful to stand for Him and with Him all through my life
e. Call me Jesus freak! Call me 'Preacher'
f. Call me Mr Goodie Two Shoes
g. Fine with me!
h. I cannot ever be ashamed of such a Man as Jesus, the Son of God!
3. Of my INSUFFICIENCY
a. I have been mocked as a Christian, accused of having to have a religious crutch
b. Well, YES, I needed a big crutch!
c. I am GLAD to say that I desperately NEED Jesus Christ for every second of every minute of every day of my life!
4. Of the way I was saved
a. I was not saved by some fancy baptism ceremony, holy water, bishop laying hands on me
b. Lighting and thunder didn't sound, and the earth didn't quake when I was born again…
c. I was humiliated, broken, embarrassed, hesitant, stupid, proud
d. And it took a faithful man of God preaching week after week for 8 solid weeks before the penny dropped!
e. I fought the invitation, but couldn't escape the conviction
f. I am NOT ashamed that I got down on my knees at a kitchen table and cried out for JESUS CHRIST to save my lost soul on the 15th of June 1980!
g. I am NOT ashamed of that DAY – as a matter of fact, it will always be the GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE!
h. That's MY testimony! Get your own! Mine is awesome!
5. Of what I am saved FROM
a. I am SO glad I was saved FROM my old friends, my own life-plans, pleasures and sin
b. Headed for a devil's hell – and I am SO glad Christ saved me FROM it!
6. And what I am saved TO
a. Saved from is not as good as what a sinner is saved TO!
b. Unto HOLINESS, godliness, to the perfect will of God, heaven,
c. For me, a life now of preaching, IN Ireland, a godly wife, 5 precious children, 6 grandchildren so far!
d. If YOU are saved, you also have been saved TO some GREAT THINGS!
7. I am NOT ashamed of everyone else that also simply believes
a. How can I be ashamed of them? They are family!
b. They are the family of God!
c. Not everything Christians do is right or good, and some is very embarrassing, but THEY themselves are MY kind of family!
8. Of the FAITH I am called to believe
a. As foolish as it may seem to just about everybody
b. To believe in someone I have yet to meet
c. To pray to someone I can't see
d. To trust Him to take better care of me than I ever could have
e. But I proudly do it every day of my life!
f. I have tested what I believe. I have tested the Bible. And I am NOT ashamed of it!
9. Of what I have had to go through – and may YET have to go through
a. I get frustrated at problems, and obstacles, and failures, and detours in my life
b. I am sure I will get MORE frustrated as I get older, and things get harder
c. But I am NOT ashamed of suffering, because IN the suffering, I find myself fellowship with my Saviour's suffering (Philp 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings")
10. Of all the persecutions that await me and every believer who tries to live Godly!
D. Paul says NO Christian Should be Ashamed of the Gospel
1. He expects believers to BOAST of the Gospel – tell people how extra-ordinary, amazing, wonderful it is
2. Romans 10:11
3. Romans 5:5
4. 2Timothy 1:12
5. 2Timothy 1:8
6. Mark 8:38
7. Are YOU ashamed of it? You shouldn't be!
E. So, What is so Powerful about the Gospel?
1. Think about how powerful God already is
a. Just look at His Creative power
1) Everything that there is came from nothing 'ex nihilo' – out of nothing
2) Finely tuned laws of physic that are perfectly balanced exactly for life. Even the slightest adjustment to the pull of gravity, and nothing would exist!
b. Consider His Intervening power
1) Joseph's slavery saved a tiny 75 person nation called the Children of Israel
2) Moses bringing in the Ten Plagues upon Egypt
3) God splitting the Red Sea for 12 hours and then collapsing it on the Egyptian army
c. How about His Incarnation power – for God Almighty to enter into Mary's womb and conceive Himself, and cell by cell become the Son of God, and be born, and live as a Man for 33 ½ years, perfectly, without sinning ever!
d. What about His Resurrection power? Of a lifeless body back to life, never to die again
e. Our God is the Almighty God – is able to do the impossible!
f. Don't forget about His Executive Power - His perfect justice WILL be executed against all ungodliness. His wrath will be unstoppable against all sin (Mt 10:28; Rom 1:18)
2. Well, that same all-powerful God made a CURE – "Salvation"
a. He made a way out for everyone to MISS the wrath of God, and the JUSTICE of God, and the eternal separation FROM God that awaits everyone who has ever broken His laws!
b. God's cure for sin is Powerful like dynamite (Tri-nitro-toluene T.N.T.) is
c. Forget about seeking the power to be rich, or famous or popular
d. It is able to actually & completely save EVERY filthy, wicked, ungodly, addicted, self-righteous, self-absorbed, egotistical, self-harming, destructive soul that has ever been born
e. It is more powerful than anything you have ever imagined because it doesn't BALANCE-OUT my bad/my sin – it PAYS-OFF my every sin!
1) More powerful than my entire sin record against me – maybe your record is shorter than mine, but imagine trying to pay it ALL off!
2) Than the grip and schemes of my adversary the devil against me
3) It is able to erase the entire record of my sins, past present and future
4) It is able to overcome and make up for all my frailties and limitations and inabilities to resist temptations
5) It is able to actually cleanse my guilty conscience
6) And change my desires and will
7) It is more powerful than depression, and guilt, and sorrows – it gives joy (1Thes 1:5,6)
8) It is so powerful, it not only SAVES, but it KEEPS me saved! (1Peter 1:5)
F. HOW Does Anyone Experience Such a Cure?
1. By mixing This BOOK, with YOUR Faith (Hebrews 4:2)
a. Believing that what Jesus did WAS FOR YOU
b. Believing it is all you will ever need
c. It will be LIKE mixing Nitrogen Dioxide with Glycerol – neither of which are harmful or do anything until they are mixed together – nitoglycerin!
2. Dump every last bit of pride, and self-righteous effort into the rubbish
3. And then accept the Person of Jesus now as a gift – like you would a gift (John 1:12)
a. Asking for Him (Rom 10:13)
b. Thanking God for giving Him
4. And then start following Jesus for the rest of your life – doing what He did, living like He lived, loving what He loved
5. And your life will be so different – so changed – so sane! Maybe poorer, harder, lonelier for a while, but overall, it will be sweeter, and fuller than you could ever imagine!
IV. Conclusion and Invitation
A. This year, I hope and pray that you have learned and experienced the reality that God is mighty, able, and ready to save, anybody and everybody!
B. If… a Jesus hating, self-righteous blaspheming Jew, LOVED the Gospel, shouldn't WE?
C. Do you BELIEVE the Good News? You have certainly heard it over and over and over
1. That the whole world is in trouble because of their sins
2. That no one is exempt from facing God's judgment for their sins – no excuses
3. That religious people are no better off than the heathen
4. That God loves even the very very very very very bad people
5. That Christ died in the place of every very very very very bad person who will ever be born
6. That Christ's death was enough to forgive all sin of all time
7. That Christ has opened the door to heaven to anybody who would become born again!
D. Are you ashamed of any of it? I'm not!
E. Have you experienced the POWER of the Gospel?
1. To forgive you before God
2. To change your state from sinner to SAINT
3. To cleanse your conscience from guilt and hardness to yielded and clean
4. To free you from sin's dominion – not its presence yet, but at least its chains around your neck
5. To save your home and family from Satan's schemes and darkness
F. If you HAVE, then you would agree we have all had a GREAT year in the Lord as a church
G. But if you have NOT
1. Mix this BOOK, with YOUR Faith
2. Dump every last bit of pride, and self-righteous effort into the rubbish
3. Accept the Person of Jesus now as a gift – like you would a gift (John 1:12)
4. And then start following Jesus for the rest of your life – doing what He did, living like He lived, loving what He loved
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