Scriptural Foundation for the Gospel - Part 1 of 3 / Pastor Rick

Hello Church

The following is part 1 of a 3 part message providing the scriptural foundation for the gospel. We know that the gospel is Jesus Christ and what He has done for us through His life, passion, death and resurrection. Paul warns us against preaching another Jesus and another gospel. If we stick to scripture alone, we will not fall under the curse he outlined in Galatians 1:6-9

How the scriptures present the true biblical gospel?

1. The genuine gospel: labeled

In the King James version, the word gospel appears 98 times. The scriptures identify the gospel in a number of ways. An exemplary scriptural reference follows every identification.

the gospel Mt.11:5

this gospel Mt. 26:13

the gospel of the kingdom Mt.9:35, Acts 20:24-25

this gospel of the kingdom Mt. 24:14

Christ's gospel II Cor. 2:12

the gospel of Christ Ro.15:29

the gospel of Jesus Christ Mk 1:1

the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ II Thes. 1:89

the gospel of God Ro. 15:16

the gospel of the grace of God Acts 20:24

my gospel II Tim. 2:8

our gospel I Thes 1:5

the gospel of peace Eph. 6:15

the everlasting gospel Rev. 14:6

the gospel of your salvation Eph. 1:13

Note: Jesus does not save us from the first or physical death which is temporary, but from the second death which is eternal.

2. The genuine gospel: Content

The risen Christ clarified the true gospel that was to be preached to all nations 

Like 24:44-47 And he [Jesus] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Peter preached the true gospel to Cornelius and company in Acts 10 this way: 

Acts 10:39-4339 And we are witnesses of all things which Jesus did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (See also Acts 2:22-37)

Paul summarizes the content of the true gospel in I Corinthians 15 this way: 

I I Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have. received, and wherein ye stand; 2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Paul and Philip preached the gospel of the kingdom by preaching Christ: 

Acts 28:23: " So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening."

Acts 8:5, 35 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him (Eunuch) Jesus.

3. The genuine gospel: Applicability

i. Christ died for all of humanity

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behind old the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Roman's 5:18 Therefore by a he offense of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

II Corinthians 5:14, 15, 19 14. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again... 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

I Timothy 2: 3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who desires all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; :6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

I Timothy 4:10 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.

2 Peter 3:9 9 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.

I John 2:2 And he (Christ) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

I John 4:14 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

ii. All Believers in Christ are Justified

 John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. See also verses 16-17

Acts 2: 38-39 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 13:38-39 38 Therefore let it be known to you, men and brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and from all [the things] from which you were not able to be justified by the law of Moses. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

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.

Romans 3:21-26 21 But now God has shown us His righteousness; the law and the prophets tell us about it...God's righteousness comes to all who believe, just by their believing in Jesus Christ. There is no distinction. All have sinned and are without God's glory. They become righteous by a gift of His love, by the ransom Christ Jesus paid to free them. God set Him up publicly to pour out His blood before God to take away sin through faith, to show His righteousness...Now He wanted to show His righteousness, to be righteous Himself and make righteous anyone who believes in Jesus. (Beck)

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (All Justified will be glorified)

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

iii Condition of those who reject the gospel

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 John 8:24 24 I (Jesus) said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

In part 2 of this message we will see the scriptural evidence that we are saved or justified - in JESUS alone, by GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, in His BLOOD alone.

Blessings in Christ,

Rick