The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Text: Mark 1:1-13

Introduction: John Mark, influenced strongly by Peter (1Peter 5:13), wrote his Gospel for the average individual.

His language is direct and down to earth-

*abrupt

*conversational

*colloquial

*graphic

*realistic

There is never a dull moment in reading Mark.

Theme: For all who wish to be true and faithful

servants of God, this Gospel is a wonderful

manual of service.

I. The Gospel

A. What is The Gospel?

1. good news, glad tidings, i.e., hearing about

the recovery of a kidnapped child

2. Satan holds unrepentant ones in bondage.

3. It is good news-

a. from God to man

b. from heaven to earth

c. from the infinitely holy to the lowest

depths of human wretchedness and sin

d. a voice from heaven, breaking through the

serious inadequency of the unsaved

condition

e. quote: "Oh, if only the tumult of this

life cease to fill our ears, we might hear

another sound--good news from God to each

of us." ___J. A. Alexander, D. D.

4. The Gospel is good news in relation to sin,

salvation, and eternity. It remedies the

greatest evils and supplies the deepest wants

of man.

B. Whose Gospel is it?

1. It is not an impersonal or abstract gospel

2. It is not the gospel of man, nor yet of a distant god.

3. It is the Gospel born of God and man.

4. It is described as the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

5. It is "the gospel of Jesus," that is , the good news of a Savior.

6. But it is also the gospel of Christ: the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King of His people.

7.But who is sufficient for these things, or who is equal to the great work shadowed forth by these titles? The necessity of a Divine Person to assume this trust is evident from the nature of the trust itself; the Son of God is the Savior and Prophet.

II. The Beginning of the Gospel

A. Where did it begin of old?

1. In the eternal counsel of the Divine will.

a) in the eternal purpose of the God who sent it

b) must not be regarded as an after thought to replace the failure of another method of salvation

2. That the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ

a) was not in the New Testament

b) but in the Old

c) It began in the simple first promise to our first parents.

3. The gospel may be said to have been made ready by the ministry of John the Baptist.

B. Where does this gospel begin now?

1. It begins for the most part in religious education--in the simple teaching at maternal knees.

2. In the moving of the Holy Spirit.

3. at God’s behest to declare the gospel both to communities and to individuals.

____adapted from the works of J. A. Alexander, D. D.

Conclusion: Isaiah and Malachi predicted that a messenger would come ahead of the Mesiah, calling on folk to be morally and spiritually prepared for Christ’s coming.

When hearers repented, John the Baptist beptized them as an outward sign of an inward about face.

Never cease telling the good news about salvation being found only in the Savior, the Anointed One.