The True Gospel Part 3 - Pastor Rick

 Good Sunday morning Church,

Hope you all have had a blessed week.

If you haven't yet changed to daylight saving time, now is the time to turn your clocks forward one hour.

Perhaps you have heard the good news; it looks like churches will soon be permitted once again to have 25 people in attendance during services. More information will follow.

But for now, here is the third and final segment of, “The True Gospel”

Blessings in Christ,

Rick

The True Gospel – Part III

6. The genuine gospel produces: Assurance of Salvation

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

1Thessalonians_1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance...

1John 5:10 - 13 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

7. The genuine gospel: Produces Repentance and Faith in Conversion

Repentance From Sin:

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent:

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Believing The Gospel:

Mark 1:14–15 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John_20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Romans_3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Acts_13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts_16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans_10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

8. The genuine gospel: results in spiritual birth i.e., being born again by the Spirit.

John 1:11-13  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

John_3:3, 5-7  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Jn_5:1,4,18  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him... 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith... 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

9. The genuine gospel: results in believers being indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Rom 8:6-17   For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

10. The genuine gospel: Offers One Hope of Our Calling which is a Heavenly Hope

Ephesians 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

Colossians 1:3-5  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  4  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,  5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 

1Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

Old Testament Saints also have the same heavenly hope:

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 73:24-25 You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.

Matthew 8:10-11 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Hebrews 11: 9-10, 13-16 9 By faith he (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.... 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

B. HOW TO EXPLAIN THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION TO ANYONE

SALVATION EXPLANATION

The gospel which Paul preached is the gospel by which we are saved. (I Cor.15:2)

1. There are three aspects of spiritual salvation in the New Testament

Salvation from:

sins penalty – Ro.6:23, 5:16 - Justification (past, accomplished)

sins power – I Cor.1:30, 6:11, Heb.13:12 - Sanctification (progressive process)

sins presence – Ro. 8:30, I Pe. 5:4 - Glorification (future heavenly hope)

I Pe.1:3-4, Col.1:3-5

NOTE: WE ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSING ONLY ON JUSTIFICATION

2. Justification – Benefits:

Man receives:

forgiveness of sin Ro.8:1; 5:16; Eph 1:7

eternal life I Jn.5:11

Christ's righteousness imputed Ro. 4:20-25

Sonship Jn.1:12; Gal.4:4-7 Ro.8:16

Indwelling Holy Spirit Ro. 8:9, Tit.3:4-7; Col.1:27; I Jn.5:11

New identity & nature II Cor. 5:17

Redemption by the blood I Peter 1:18-19, Heb. 9:12, 15

Reconciliation by the blood II Cor. 5:19-21, Col.1:20

3. Benefits of Justifications are Gifts:

Salvation/Justification received as a gift Ro.3:24; Eph 2:7-8

Forgiveness a gift Ro.5:15-16

Eternal Life a gift Ro.6:23

Righteousness a gift Ro.5:17

Sonship rights a gift John 1:12 Ro.8:15-17 Gal.3:26

Holy Spirit a gift Acts 2:38; 8:20; 10:45; 11:17

Jesus a gift II Cor.13:5 Col.1:27

4. Means of Justification - What we saved or justified by:

- JESUS ALONE,

- by GRACE ALONE,

- through FAITH ALONE,

- in Christ's BLOOD ALONE.

salvation in Jesus Alone Acts 4: 10-12

by Grace Alone Ro.3:24, Tit.3:7

through Faith Alone Gal 3:8, 24,26, Ro.5:1, Gal.2:16

in Christ's Redeeming Blood Alone 1 Peter 1:18-19 

5. Role of our achievement in justification – nil:

(Grace vs Merit) (Faith vs Works) (Gift vs Debt)

Titus 3:5, Ro.4:1-7, Ro.11:6, Eph.2:8-9, Ro.5:16-17, Acts 2:38, Ro.6:23

6. By the grace of God we  respond to the gospel by:

Repentance and Faith Mk.1:14, 15

All need to repent - Acts 17:30

All need to believe – Jn.3:36

7. Can we have assurance of personal salvation in this life?

Jn.3:36, 5:4, 6:47; I Jn.5:9-13

C. OBJECTIONS TO JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE

James 2:20 - 26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

This passage serves as a needed correction. Many people say they have faith, which their works deny. James concludes that dead or fake faith cannot save anyone and that genuine faith always leads to good fruit/works. He is right. But what about the apparent disconnect between Paul and James on the subject of Abraham's justification.

Comparing James with Paul on justification

James writes: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? James 2:21

Paul writes:  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Rom. 4:1-3

How can we harmonize James and Paul on the subject of justification?

It is critical to note that Abraham was justified by faith before God not only prior to the giving of the law but also prior to offering Isaac on the alter, and actually even before Isaac was conceived. Genesis. 14:6

The solution then is that Paul was talking about justification before God, while James was talking about justification before men. “I will show thee my faith by my works,” says James. So faith is justified in the eyes of those that behold us by our works;” but Paul speaks of justification in the sight of God, who justifies those that believe in Jesus, purely on account of the redemption that is in him.” Thus we see that persons are justified before God by faith, but faith is justified before men by works.

CONCLUSION: Genuine faith is invisible to all but God. Visible works alone can demonstrate to others that a person is truly justified. Works alone can attest to whether faith is genuine i.e., saving or justifying faith. However works are not the basis of salvation but rather the product of salvation. 

Praise His Holy Name