THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
The Gospel - Defined and Declared
Text: Mark 13:10
LESSON REVIEW
Alright – so once again brethren we are exploring...
“...those things most surely Believed among us” (Luke 1:1).
As you now know, this weekly Bible study is about us...
Knowing what the Scriptures teach – and therefore becoming confident about what we believe.
Last week, we discussed the fact that we Believe in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ.
And when it comes to Christianity and to the things we hold to here [in the Bible],
There are few truths more critical this.
To know God – you must first know the Gospel...
To be a Christian you must have first received Christ...
And in order to be Saved – you must first come to accept Jesus as your personal Saviour,
And all of this is encapsulated in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Gospel underpins everything we believe,
And is the basis of everything we want to share.
When it comes to “...those things most surely believed among us”
This is where it all begins...this is the first step.
Its coming to know and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
But what is the Gospel exactly? And what does this message involve?
Well last week we looked to just to just one verse to help us
Unravel the Gospel message and things we believe as the Bible teaches us.
The verse was John 3:16 – and it’s a very simple way to understand and to share the Gospel.
It contains just 25 words – but there is more said with these few words,
Than most people can readily comprehend.
It is not just that there is great truth conveyed in these words...
But there is great power in these words.
There is the power to change one’s very existence in these words,
And there is the power to change the eternity of every man, women and child.
The greatest message mankind will ever hear – is recorded for us in John 3:16...
Because its all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So just how great is this message?
Well it tells us first about the Greatest Person – For God...that’s how the verse begins.
And it begins with the greatest person of them all.
There is no one greater than our God...
Or greater message than the one He declares through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us.
Psalms 145:3 - Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
and His greatness is unsearchable.
You see God is the greatest person – And the Gospel is His great message.
But this is only where John 3:16 begins...
Next the verse tells us about the Greatest Love stating – For God...So loved the world
Now the World is a pretty big place – and yet God’s love covers it all.
Every man, women, and child on the planet - is not only loved by God,
But provided for eternally by God - because of that Love.
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is no greater love – than the love God
Next the verse reveals to us the Greatest Gift saying – ...that He [God] gave His only begotten son,
There is no greater gift you or I could ever receive than that of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the one and only way to salvation – and He gave His life freely to atone for our sin.
Its only through Him that we can be saved.
6 Jesus saith unto Him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6
From the greatest person, greatest love, and greatest gift
John 3:16 then reveals to us all the Greatest Invitation – That whosoever believeth in Him...
“Whosoever” is broad invitation...It includes anyone and everyone.
This invitation is all inclusive – and it’s an invitation but to believe.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…Acts 16:31
Greatest Promise - ...Should not Perish but have everlasting Life
The promise of everlasting life and salvation through Christ is an extraordinary thing
And this is not the only place in the Bible this promise is made either.
Jesus said - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, - John 10:28
While 1 John 2:25 declares to us: This is the promise that He hath promised us,
…even eternal life.
Salvation of the Gospel – is the Greatest Promise of them all.
And all of this of course leads us to the Greatest Choice
You see, Hearing the Gospel is one thing – accepting it is another.
And make no mistake, accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is a personal decision.
In fact, it’s the greatest choice anyone can make.
INTRODUCTION
Today, I want us to take another step in the Scriptures
To affirm what exactly we believe about the Gospel.
Let’s all to turn to Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
In the immediate context here...
Jesus is speaking in private with Peter, James, John and Andrew,
And He is beginning to reveal and explain some of the things
That will begin to transpire during end time events.
Of course, we don’t have time to get into all of that detail today...
But what is interesting to note however,
Is that in the middle of this discourse with the disciples...
Jesus makes this simple declaration saying:
…The gospel must first be published among all nations.
In others words, yes – all of these other things are going to happen and take place eventually,
But what is of critical importance is that this one thing needs to happen first.
“The Gospel must first be published”.
Today, I just want to take a really simple approach to our study
And talk about two things relating to the Gospel:
Firstly, “What is the Gospel?”, and secondly, “What we do With the Gospel?”
In other words – I want to talk about Defining the Gospel,
And I want to talk about Declaring the Gospel.
WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?
Last week we established that we believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Something summed up for us quite well in John 3:16
Revealing to us the Greatest message, Greatest Person, Greatest Love and Greatest Gift,
While also emphasising to us the Greatest Invitation, Greatest Promise...
Along with mankind’s need to make a Great Choice
All of that in just one verse – but still we need ask: “what is the Gospel?”
I mean how do we define it and what’s it really all about?
THE GOSPEL DEFINED
Well we are provided with some clarity about this in Mark 13:10
The original Greek the term for Gospel – can be literally translated to mean:
“Good News” or “Glad Tidings”
And I think that’s neat – The Gospel of Jesus Christ is “Good News”
And it brings “Glad Tidings” to all who hear it.
You know anymore, sometimes it seems like we live in a world...
Filled only with “Bad News” and “Sad Tidings”.
You turn on the news, you read the papers...
And so many of the messages we see, hear and receive are negative.
And yet in a world full of wrong – the Gospel message stands as a glorious beacon of light.
In fact, the Scriptures declare to us in the book of Proverbs:
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country - Proverbs 25:25
You know, we may stand half a world away from one another,
Brethren from distant countries...and yet we share a common theme and belief,
And that is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen.
In a world that is progressively being overcome by bad...
We look to the Lord for that which is good.
Psalms 34:8 says: O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
God news, even in this day and age,
Is still being proclaimed the world over from a good God
It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
And His message is one that will make our hearts glad.
Brethren, I want you to understand this...
Because the Gospel is the “Good News” message of Jesus Christ.
It is the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ,
And it reveals the way of salvation to all of mankind through Jesus.
And for a lost and dying world...
For those with no hope and no sure future – these are “glad tidings”.
On a basic foundational level – this is what the Bible teaches the Gospel is,
And Brethren this is what we believe.
THE GOSPEL DECLARED
Now knowing and understanding that this message of the Gospel is truly great,
And that it’s a message that this world so desperately needs to hear,
The obvious thing to do next is - Declare it.
We have already defined the Gospel as being the Good News and Glad Tidings of Jesus Christ,
The thing that naturally comes next - is for us to share it.
Don’t you just want to share good news when you have it?
In fact this is something that even Christ Himself alluded to in our opening text in Mark 13
Remember, He was openly teaching the disciples about the end times…
And about things that were yet to come and yet in verse 10 He says:
And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
That term published there in the Greek means:
“To proclaim”, “to announce”, “to preach” or to “declare openly”
Brethren this is what we are to do with the Gospel.
Matthew 24:14 gives us the same account where Jesus spoke saying:
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is what needs to happen first Jesus says,
Before the tribulation...before my second coming...before the end comes,
This is what will take place first – The Gospel...
The very same message we are talking about today – will be declared before all nations.
Jesus even issued this as a command to His Disciples
Before His final ascension into Heaven’s glory.
In fact during proclamation of The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 – Jesus said:
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
You see we are to be sharing what we have received...
We are to be teaching all that we have learnt...
And we are to openly declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Regardless of what race, culture, and country we live in.
If we are to be true disciples of Jesus Christ–Then we need to be declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Declaring the Gospel – Is the great Command of our Lord
And as Children of God – that is the mandate we have received of Him.
What do the Scriptures declare about this?
Why is it so important for us to declare the Gospel?
Turn with me to: Romans 10:13.
Brethren this is why we are called to share the Gospel:
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ that saves people from the eternal consequence of their sins
And opens up the way to heaven for all who would accept it’s message.
Acts 16:31 says: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved
And now here through Romans 10:13 we are told:
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Brethren – this is why the Gospel is just so important!
All who choose to believe in Jesus Christ…
And call upon Him to be their personal Saviour – shall be saved!!!
This is what we believe – because this is what the Bible teaches.
But again, please notice with me why – we must openly declare the Gospel before all
Read on with me in verses 14 and 15:
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The Gospel the “good news” and the “glad tidings” of Jesus Christ.
It’s message proclaims God’s love, the forgiveness of Sins...
And the free gift of eternal salvation and a home in heaven forever through Christ alone.
Wow – The Gospel is the greatest truth anyone will ever hear...
But what do the Scriptures declare to us regarding this?
Well what did we just read?
How is anyone going to call on Jesus – when they don’t believe in Jesus?
And how is anyone going to believe in Jesus – When they have not heard about Jesus?
And then this is key – How is anyone going to hear, unless someone is first willing to share?
And how is anyone going to share – unless they first be sent?
Well as Christ’s Disciples today - we have been sent...
To preach and to declare the Gospel to every Nation.
This was what His Great Commission was all about.
Now - this is about the time that some people are filled with doubt.
“I cannot share the Gospel” - they say.
“Who am I to declare such a message – I don’t know what to say”
Well there are two things I want to say to help alleviate all such self doubts now:
Firstly, Don’t make sharing the Gospel hard – because it’s actually easy.
And Secondly, Don’t rely on your Words – Just share God’s Words.
Let me explain this a little more clearly.
What do I mean when I say: “Don’t make sharing the Gospel hard?”
I say this, because sometimes I think we make it so much harder than God ever intended it to be.
The Gospel Message is simple – Trusting in Jesus to get Saved is simple...
The problem though is sometimes we think the Gospel depends on us.
We think it’s about what we say...What we do...
Because that is ultimately going to make a difference in people getting saved.
Brethren let me reveal to you a wonderful truth...
You don’t have to save the world – because Jesus has already done it.
When you recognise this simple truth – then it’s easy to remember that...
The Gospel is all about Jesus – all we really need to do is tell people about Him.
And this brings us to our second point
Don’t rely on your Words when sharing the Gospel – Just share God’s Words
Look at Romans 10:17:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
How do people come to believe in Christ?
How does anyone come to place their faith, hope and trust in Him?
Well that kind of faith can only come by hearing the Word of God.
You see – declaring the Gospel is not about you.
It’s not about your skills or your ability...
It’s about simply having a heart to share the Word of God with others.
That’s it. That’s all God has called any of us to do.
We don’t save people – only Jesus has the power to saved people,
All we need to do – is be willing to tell people about Him.
Sadly, not everyone is going to listen to the message,
Not everyone is going to accept the Word...
And many will reject receiving salvations free gift through Christ.
In fact, this has happened to all who have shared the Gospel.
It happened to Jesus Himself – many rejected Him and His Words.
It happen to Paul and to all the Apostles...
It even happened to the Old Testament Prophets.
Back up with me and read verse 16:
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith,
Lord, who hath believed our report?
You see, many are going to reject the message we share...
And forsake the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
But that does not mean we should ever stop sharing.
Turn with 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
What happens when we lose heart and stop sharing the Gospel? Look at verse 3:
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Brethren this is why we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
It’s so that others can be saved!
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. - 1 Timothy 2:3-4
CONCLUSION
So then Brethren – what do we believe about the Gospel?
Well as the Bible Defines the Gospel...
It is the “Good News” and “Glad Tidings” of Jesus Christ.
And this is a message that this world so desperately needs to hear.
So that’s why we see the Lord calling His faithful disciples to Declare it
This is our privilege and this is our calling – to share the reality of Jesus Christ with others.
And the gospel must first be published among all nations - Mark 13:10
Amen!!!
