The Gospel Of Christ

The Gospel Of Christ

Introduction — Galatians 1:6-12

⁶I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: ⁷Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. ¹⁰For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. ¹¹But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

A- It is an interesting thing to simply look up a word or subject in Concordance or Bible Dictionary

1- Then after reading every occurrence and being fully informed as to what the Bible says about that thing, formulate our belief in it. Not by opinion, but by the word of God. I presented the subject of "Baptism" here where we read together every occurrence, and then decided what we would believe based on the word of God.

B- This past week it came to my mind to preach on "The Gospel of Christ"

1- I thought that it would be good to approach the subject much the same way…. I looked up the phrase "Gospel", and to no surprise, I found the term appeared in the New Testament 101 times. We certainly won't have time to read every occurrence, but perhaps that would be a good homework assignment.

2- I want to talk about the gospel because when I looked up the phrase, and read every verse, 101 of them, I was impressed as to what the Bible had to say about the Gospel. I have chosen some that impressed me most, for our study for this period.

3- First in our text, as we observe these six short verses, the thing that arrests our attention is that the phrase GOSPEL is used 5 times. The language of our text is very strong, it makes us tremble at the fearful responsibility that rests upon a preacher — notice verses 8-9 again.

⁸But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

4- The American Standard version and others used the word [ajnavqema] anathema. Why did they do this? The word anathema is much stronger than our English word accursed. It is the Greek word that the Holy Spirit gave… To be accursed is simply to come under disapproval or condemnation, but the Greek word [ajnavqema] means to be hopelessly cut off.

5- There is then a serious warning to all who would stand before you to proclaim the Gospel, that they fall not short, neither go not beyond teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Beloved even it he be an angel fresh from the courts of heaven….. God's word says…. Let him be [ajnavqema]

6- Be impressed then, first, that the Gospel of Christ, is not to be altered…under a serious condemnation of one who would do so….

B- Paul would have you know that the gospel he preached was not of man... Hear it verses 11-12

¹¹But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1- It seems reasonable to me then.. that if we would simply look at the gospel Paul preached, learn what it teaches… we could rely upon it as the word of God. Paul says:

¹¹But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ

2- But I don't want you to think tthat the gospel Paul preached is differently from that of the other apostles… Paul preached the same gospel as the others , and is no more an authority on the subject than is Peter, John.. or James… Phillip… Stephen.

C- We have today what is commonnly called the red letter versions of our New Testament…

1- What is it? Well this was devised by someone for the purpose of calling our attention to the words of Christ…. Now there is nothing wrong with that I can appreciate it in my studies…. But sometimes I fear that it has created the impression that the words of Christ are more important, than what Paul or Peter said…

2- Beloved this is not true… The wwords of Christ are no more inspired than those of the other writers.. When Jesus sent the disciples out He said: Luke 10:8 and following —

⁸And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁹And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹⁰But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ¹¹Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹²But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. …….¹⁶He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. Luke 10:8-12 and 16

3- When we hear the Lord's disciples we hear The Lord Himself… When we hear what Christ revealed to Paul we hear Christ. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:36-37

³⁶What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? ³⁷If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. Therefore, as long as I am faithful in presenting what Paul preached as I stand before you, you are as accountable as if Christ Himself had spoken to you!

II- That statement leads me to the next thought in our study of the gospel

A- Namely this, there is a warning placed upon the perverting the gospel,

1- And there is a warning against not receiving the gospel of Christ?

¹⁶He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent …….. ¹²But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city

2- In 1 Peter 4:17-18 there is a significance statement by Peter the apostle hear it

¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? ¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

3- This passage suggests a judgment, and asks " what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? " Judgment is something we don't like to hear about….

4- When we preach on it , people call it negative preaching.. But it was a large part of the teaching of Christ and his apostles… think of His parables… Matthew 24, 25 and the Rich man and Lazarus…

B- The Bible is replete with pleas for you and I to make ready for the coming judgment

1- In 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 we rread —

⁹Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ¹¹Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men

2- Notice what this passage affirmms — 1^st everyone of us are going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ… next we are going to receive according to the things DONE in the body,…. Not what we had meant to do…

3- Then in 2 Thessalonians 1 beginning with verse 7 Paul would impress upon you the importance of obedience to the gospel

⁷the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, ⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

4- The second coming of Christ is a reality. He (Christ) will render vengeance on every person who fails to obey the gospel…. From that I learn something new.. the gospel is something that can and must be obeyed….

III- Now I become wonderfully interested in the question, "What is the Gospel?

A- I know that it is something that must be obeyed…. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

1- When Jesus commissioned the disciples shortly before His ascension … He made this statement:

¹⁵Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

2- Now I know that the gospel is something that heaven wants preached…

B- But what is the gospel?

1- I turn Romans 1: 16 a reference I found in my concordance and I read these words

¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2- Here I learn that the gospel is God's power [duvnami"] to save all humanity. To "every one that believeth" From this Greek word we get "DYNAMO, DYNAMITE, DYNAMIC " The Gospel is God's power to save….. Any other method to save man? Beloved search from cover to cover and you wont find an alternate method .

3- No wonder then .. God has placed a curse upon any who would pervert the gospel…. No wonder God has placed a judgment of eternal damnation upon all who disbelieve and obey not the gospel. The Gospel is God's Power to Save.

C- More determined therefore to understand just what the gospel is.

1- I turn to the Greek dictionary.. I look up the word Gospel…. I find the word [eujaggevlion] I look for the meaning and find this entry…. The good news.

2- Alright but how can I obey the good news. What good news…I turn back to the New Testament.. I turn past Romans chapter 1 and come to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and I began to read in verse—

¹Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel – Here is what I am looking for….

3- I anxiously continue to read

¹Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ²By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

4- This gospel is becoming more important than I first imagined. Paul says here's the gospel I preached, and you received, and are saved by if you keep in memory what I have delivered… Here it is brethren the very Gospel Paul delivered.

³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time

D- Notice this statement contains certain facts….

" Christ died for our sins " D

"⁴And that he was buried, " B

" and that he rose " R

1- But how can anyone obey facts? Here's a fact —

The Declaration of Independence was signed into effect 1776 — I can believe it but, how can I obey fact?

…..I continue my search….

2- In Romans 6:16-18 we find a significance statement

¹⁶Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

3- Well I know we are supposed to obey the gospel, a curse is placed upon those who would pervert it, damnation is placed upon all who disbelieve it, and God's wrath will be brought down on all who refuse to obey it.

4- Here the Romans — obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (gospel was preached) and Note what happened — ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness

E- Well the form of doctrine was the gospel… that what Paul preached,

1- That's what all the early disciples preached… Paul told the Corinthians

¹And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. ²For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1 Cor. 2:1-2

2- Hence I have the doctrine…. The gospel…. I began looking for the form [tuvpo"]. That Greek word means an "Exact image of a mold"…. Surely I missed something… I go back to the first verse of chapter 6 and I began reading again…..Romans 6:1-6

D B R

Death - burial - resurrection

Baptism

3- Hence we have found the form, in baptism there is a likeness to Christ's death…. His burial…. And His resurrection. No wonder Jesus said:

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

F- You can become a Christian as did the Romans,

1- You can obey from the heart that form of doctrine that has been delivered you by "Repenting of your sins" Luke 13:5 "Confessing Christ's Precious Name" Acts 8:37, and being baptized into the dead of Christ and into Christ, and for the remissions of sins. (Romans 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26-27, and Acts 2:38). Would you do that today?