Over the past few weeks, we have discussed how we as Christians should "Stand in the Gap" regarding some of the social issues of the day; ones that not only plague our society but have leeched their way into the church. It seems that the farther along we go as a church in the USA, the more and more like the world we become.
We have discussed how the church has compromised on issues such as sexual immorality, and will be discussing topics such as abortion, homosexuality and other issues but before we go much farther we should take a look at one key failing of the church: LIVING the gospel message. This message is based upon John MacArthur's "The Conduct of the Gospel", found in the MacArthur Study Bible.
II) What Does The Word "Gospel" Mean?
In the Greek language, the word that we translate as 'gospel' is euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on); a good message, or good news.
Now let me ask you folks a question: Have you ever had such good news to tell that you just couldn't keep it in? I can tell you of quite a few:
New girlfriend
Winning my first wrestling match
Graduating from High School
Marriage
Pregnancy
Turtle was born
Seeing a life saved on TV
But of all of the good news that we could offer to anyone, don't you think that we should be willing to do our best to spread the news our Savior? Of all of the "good news" that we can share with anyone, seeing someone saved from an eternity apart from God should be the top of the list.
How can we make the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, our top priority? Let's see what God's Word tells us this evening.
II) The Conduct of the Gospel
A. Declare it:
In the gospels of Matt, Mark, Luke and John Jesus repeatedly shares the good news of Himself with others. In Matthew, we can see that he went directly into Galilee, a 'rough neighborhood' if there ever was one:
Matthew 4:23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
I had mentioned a few months ago that an athiest had written Ray Comfort a few months back and stated that if the gospel were true, that we as Christians are indeed cruel for watching people going to Hell without saying a word. That man likened our conduct to that of us seeing a man standing in the street, about to be hit by a bus and, not saying a word, letting him be hit.
Instead, we are to be bold in expressing our faith. Now not everyone is going to be a Billy Graham, and not everyone is going to be able to go door to door witnessing. But God gives us opportunities to share the good news with others and for those times that we have been given the opportunities to share the gospel and not declared it, we will have to answer for.
In Romans 10, Paul speaks of the 'beautiful feet' of those that share the gospel message:
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" (NKJ)
Does that mean that I have beautiful feet? No, not really--Kay and Turtle will tell you this is not the case. What it means is that the my action of moving my feet to spread the gospel is a move that is beautiful in God's sight because I'm spreading the good news about His Son.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
As I've mentioned before, we are to Go Win Baptize and Teach. A key component of a growing church is one that is a soul winning church. When Jesus tells his disciples (and no, this is not just directed at the Disciples with a captial D, but all of his followers, if you check the context) to 'Go', is that a request or a command? It's a command. It's not just a good idea, but it's a command.
B. Defend it:
Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
When Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote that little book of Jude, he was not just saying to defend, or contend, for the faith. He was saying something stronger.
The word in Greek for "contend" is the word
epagonizomai (ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee);
to struggle for. The main root word is "agnonizomai", which we learned last week means "to angonize over, or to struggle and sweat" as someone that trains hard for a competition. But get this: it's preceded by the root word "epi" which is like adding a turbocharger to the word "agonize". It's not just training and running the race with agony, but instead it's training and running with the most effort that you can muster.
The idea here is that we must sweat and strain to defend our faith. Sometimes we meet those that will dispute what we say regarding the gospel when we witness to someone. It's kind of like getting razzed from the stands by an opposing team, because that's just what it is. When you are young at witnessing, you may not know what to say, but in time you will be able to defend the Gospel of Christ. This is called "apologetics", and it's my goal soon to have an 'apologetics" class for new believers and teens by fall.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Acts 6:8-10 (NKJV)
What can we learn from Stephen? Simply this: when we defend our faith, we're not alone. It was not that Stephen was wise on his own, but instead God first had given him a gift of discerning the scriptures but secondly the Holy Spirit was with Him and gave Him the victory.
Let's take a moment and recall one basic, important fact. When we witness to someone, it's not us that saves them. When we defend the faith, it's not our wonderful knowledge that makes the difference. No, instead it's the working of God the Holy Spirit that moves the heart and soul.
C. Demonstrate it:
Let me read these three scriptures and see if you can find a common thread:
Philip. 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel...
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV)
So what is it that God is telling us through the Apostle Paul? He's saying this: Act Like A Christian. I feel that the greatest damage is done to the cause of Christ by people that call themselves Christians. Those people that are Christlike in church but live like hell the rest of the week. Those people that act like snobs in the church, instead of living like Paul stated: with all lowliness and gentleness. I think that some of us think, as Christians, that we show love towards others by tolerating their sinful actions. While there are times that are trivial and we should 'turn the other cheek", there are some actions that we instead have to deal with. Folks, sometimes the best love that we can show to someone is to call them along side and tell them that we love them so much that we don't want to see them sin. It's called a loving rebuke.
D. Dispense it:
Now see if you see the common thread in these scriptures:
Phil 1:3-5
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, (NKJ)
Rom 12:10-13
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (NKJ)
1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NKJ)
Phil 1:3-7
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. (NKJ)
What is the common thread in all of these verses? Fellowship and care. That's why it's important to be in church, to fellowship together at the covered dish socials, to participate in Vacation Bible School, to call someone when they haven't been in church for a few weeks.
I Jn 3:14, 16
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (NKJ)
Phil 4:11-14
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. (NKJ)
E. Suffer for it:
2 Tim. 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Churches today are more concerned with building up their self esteem than enduring persecution. We live in a fast food society. What do I mean by that? People want what they want not now, but yesterday. People have no patience because McDonalds can make it fast and cheap, Burger King can make it "your way" and the church by and large has fostered the same philosophy. The church is spending time and effort in comforting those that have guilt issues over things that they should have guilt over, yet has not picked up the cross of their sins and bore it. For the church to move forward, for the church to take a stand for what is right instead of compromising for the sake of church growth and money in the checking account.
Have you really suffered for Christ? Have you taken a stand for Christ when it could hit you in the wallet? Have you taken a stand for Christ when it could mean that you could lose a friend? Have you taken a stand for Christ when you knew that rejection and ridicule might be the answer?
Rom 8:16-18, 35-39
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJ)
In verse 38, angels, prinicipalities and powers refers to Satan's organized crime unit. His organized system of evil throughout the world. Nothing coming down the pike can change our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Why be concerned about the moment? Because the moment is fading, but eternity is forever. Keep "looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith". Death, that is physical death, cannot separate us from God!
III) The Conduct of the Gospel Part II
These last four "conducts" all relate specifically to each other. If you lack one, you will lack all four.
A. Don't hold it back:
1 Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
The word "woe" in the greek is the word 'ouai' (oo ah hee) which means "grief, horror, calamity, disaster". "How horrible it will be". To hold back giving someone the gospel, the good news, was horrifying to the Apostle Paul, and just like the agnostic man I mentioned earlier, we should be as horrified as he was at the thought that we, as Christians, if we are right, are holding back the Good News.
B. Be not ashamed:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
I know people that are ashamed of the gospel of Christ. They know that they will be made fun of, that they will be picked at. Many well meaning Christians will witness using a "social gospel" message, building up self esteem and telling people that they are worthy of heaven as long as they trust in Jesus. We must not offend them with too strong a gospel message.
My Bible tells me that there are none righteous, no not one. My Bible tells me that we are dead in our trespasses and sins. And the Bible also tells me that the Law is our schoolmaster, to bring us to faith in Him.
The gospel, we are told, is an offense to the unsaved but we must keep in mind that it is precisely that offense that must wound the heart in order to heal it.
C. Preach it:
1 Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
You'll notice that I used the same verse from point A, don't hold it back. There's a reason: if you look at the sentence in the middle you will find that it's because necessity has been laid on Paul. It's the same with me. I have this drive to see everyone that I know and meet be saved. I'm a witnessing fool, and people sometimes look at me like I am a fool. Well, then, I'm a fool for Christ`.
D. Be empowered:
1 Thes. 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
It's like I said earlier. It's the Holy Spirit that saves, but it's also the Holy Spirit that empowers you to give the message. I submit to you that if you hold back, if you are ashamed of the gospel, if you don't preach the gospel message, then you are not yielding to the Holy Spirit. Why? Perhaps you haven't been studying the Word of God. Perhaps you haven't sought out God in prayer enough, or perhaps you didn't see until right now the great importance of the conduct of the gospel. I encourage you--bone up, pray up and preach up!
E. Safeguard it:
Galatians 1:6-8
[6] I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— [7] not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
[8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Whew! This is a powerful passage of scripture. Paul was dealing with Judaizers--those that wanted to mix law and grace by adding works to the salvation equation--and warp and distort the good news of Christ. What can we do to be saved? Nothing. All we can do is ask God to be saved and Jesus does the rest. In fact, it is Jesus Christ Himself that not only saves, but also gives us the faith to be saved!
For those that warp and skew the word of God, including the gospel itself, they are entering dangerous ground. Those people, which would include Jehovah's Witnesses, will have to deal with Jesus at the Great White Throne Judgment. How can I say that? Look again at verse 8:
[8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Paul uses hyperbole--an exaggeration--by saying that if he and his companions in Christ or even--get this--an angel straight from heaven--were to misrepresent the gospel message that they were to be anathama: they were to be cast into Hell.
Yet, the Galatians took the Judaizers story hook, line and sinker. They weren't guarding their faith. They were letting their faith be stolen little by little, and though they couldn't lose their salvation what about those that heard a false gospel that didn't have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
You see, when someone attacks our beliefs in front of others, we need to stand our ground. When someone says "I believe you have to be good to get to heaven", it would be the easy way out to agree with that statement. But that's directly against scripture. My Bible tells me "By grace you are saved by faith...
