“USE THIS GOSPEL”
Yesterday was the bleakest day on our North Star journey.
We discovered the tragic news that our sin separates us from God and there is nothing we can do to fix it on our own. Without Jesus, everyone will lead a meaningless life and die a hopeless death.
We are in desperate need of good news.
DON’T BE EMBARRASSED
In Romans 1, the apostle Paul begins one of the most important letters in human history (not an overstatement) with this statement: 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. (Romans 1:16 ESV)
We are in desperate need of good news.
The gospel is “the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.” Through the gospel, God can save Jews, Greeks, Africans, Americans, Asians, gay people, straight people, rich people, poor people, doctors, and the homeless. If someone has a pulse, they can be saved.
Paul is exclusive in his claim. It is “the” gospel, not “a” gospel. There are not many sources of good news. The gospel is God’s plan A; there is no plan B.
God can save Jews, Greeks, Africans, Americans, Asians, gay people, straight people, rich people, poor people, doctors, and the homeless.
That’s why Paul says he’s not ashamed. He refuses to be embarrassed by the only answer to the most important question.
So, what is the gospel?
THE JET FUEL OF OUR FAITH
We can find hints and shadows of God’s rescue plan for humanity on every page of scripture. But in 1 Corinthians, we discover a simple definition of the gospel in its most essential form:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:1-6 ESV)
Notice our relationship to the gospel: We receive it, we stand in it, we are being saved by it. We don’t graduate from the gospel. We rely on it every day.
We don’t graduate from the gospel.
I have heard it said that the gospel is not just the runway that gets us off the ground. It’s the jet fuel that propels us as we follow Jesus.
GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS
Here are five elements of the gospel listed in 1 Corinthians 15:
First, the gospel was promised throughout scripture. The Old and New Testaments tell one story: God on a rescue mission to save and dwell with the people he loves.
The first disciples did not invent a new religion. God’s prophets had been promising the Messiah for thousands of years.
Second, Christ died for our sins. Sin always separates us from God. Because we sin against a perfect and holy God, we deserve death. Someone has to die for our sins. But because God loves us, he sent Jesus to die in our place.
The gospel is the jet fuel that propels us as we follow Jesus.
On the cross, God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT). This is called The Great Exchange. When we trust in Jesus, he takes on our sin and we receive his righteousness.
Third, Jesus was buried. Jesus’ followers and the Roman guards who executed him recognized that he was dead, so they buried his body. He stayed in the ground on Friday night and all day Saturday; he rose again on Sunday morning.
When we are baptized, we identify with Jesus’ burial. Our sin is buried in the water, and we are raised to a new life in him. (see Romans 6:1-5)
Jesus paid for sin in his death. He defeated it with his resurrection.
Forth, Jesus rose again. Jesus paid for sin in his death. He defeated it with his resurrection.
On the first Easter Sunday, God proved, once and for all, that he was more powerful than sin and death. Because Jesus is alive, we can be alive. (see Romans 8:11)
Jesus’ resurrection was not invented in a backroom by a group of grief-filled, hallucinating disciples.
Last, Jesus appeared to over 500 people. This is a key point. Jesus’ resurrection was not invented in a backroom by a group of grief-filled, hallucinating disciples. Both his crucifixion and resurrection were public events. If 500 people see something, chances are they didn’t make it up.
When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, he pointed out that most of the people Jesus appeared to were still alive. In other words, “Go ask them!”
JESUS IS OUR ONLY HOPE IN LIFE AND DEATH
Jesus offers us meaning in life and hope in death.
Jesus brings hope in death. Each one of us deserves eternal death because of our sin. But Jesus paid for our debt on the cross. When we believe in him and receive him as Savior and King, God forgives us. We are confident that when we die, we will be welcomed into heaven.
The gospel is not merely a one-time event. It’s an invitation into an entirely new way of living.
Jesus brings meaning in life. We were created to walk through life with God. When Jesus comes into our lives, we discover true meaning and purpose. God partners with us to bring the hope of His kingdom to our world.
Jesus is our only hope. This is the gospel. This is the good news about Jesus.
TREASURE MAP
The gospel is not merely a one-time event. It’s an invitation into an entirely new way of living.
Think of the gospel like a treasure map. It invites you on a journey toward uncovering all the riches of knowing God. Over the next week and a half, we’ll learn about the two of the most powerful treasures the gospel brings us: the Holy Spirit and our identity in Christ.
Think of the gospel like a treasure map.
Understanding these two realities will change everything.
BELIEVE AND BROADCAST
If you don’t know Jesus, now is your opportunity. The “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT) Believe and receive the gospel. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and commit to following him as King and Savior.
God promises that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 ESV)
If you already know Jesus, broadcast your faith everywhere. Live a life that invites people toward Jesus. We are not going to be ashamed of the only answer to the most important question.
NEXT STEPS
1: Read Mark 7.
2: Spend 10 minutes in Solitude, reflecting on what you learned. Pray using the P-R-A-Y method.
3: Text one friend one thing that you learned.
TOMORROW: Week 4 – Day 3 – “Better Than Jesus”