What is the Gospel? 01/14/2018: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 the gospel [unclear] this is our first session and we’re going to be covering the different uses of the word the different descriptions and the power of the gospel the word itself in the greek means to [unclear] good news or glad news or good instruction or glad [unclear] and that’s what the word means alright. But it’s important for you to know that when you’re reading your Bible you’re reading about the gospel and you may not know it because different words are used so we’re going to take a look in this scripture the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the word gospel is used and the description is it’s the gospel of Jesus Christ the son of God John 1:1 says in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and we knew him as the only begotten son of God Jesus Christ so the gospel of Jesus Christ is also the gospel of God God in the flesh amen oh yeah now in this scripture Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God the kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost okay and he preached that kingdom but in this verse it says he just preached the gospel of the kingdom he left off the description.

▶ 1:28 Part of the description and when you read the Bible there’s a kingdom of God there’s a kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of Christ they’re all the same kingdom don’t get mixed up by people trying to say they’re different it’s one kingdom one God amen. Alright so this gospel is about the kingdom of God it’s about Christ the anointed one and it’s about the kingdom of righteousness peace and joy in this verse we have an angel saying I bring good tidings [unclear] there’s the use of the gospel instead of gospel he says good tidings of great joy the description is this gospel brings great joy to all people everyone.

▶ 2:12 Okay and this verse Luke 3:18 with many other exhortation John the baptist preached the word used is preached it’s the same word as the gospel got it the description is many other exhortations he was telling them to bring forth fruit suitable for repentance and giving them encouragement comfort and strength and inviting them to follow on that’s what exhortation is amen and so there’s many exhortations in the Bible about the gospel and not just Jesus Christ and his death on the cross in this verse and the word used is preach the description is Jesus is the Christ the anointed one the messiah alright and where they preached it was in the temple where many Jews didn’t accept Christ and house-to-house.

▶ 3:11 They literally went from house into house preaching the gospel not their opinions the gospel amen and that’s all we have authority to preach by the way in Acts 20:24 the gospel of the grace of God the divine enablement the divine favor of God that’s all part of the gospel in Romans 1:1 it’s called the gospel of God all right Jesus is God the Holy Spirit is God we only serve one God he demonstrates himself in three ways but it is one God don’t let anybody tell you that Protestant Christians believe in three gods alright we don’t.

▶ 4:05 Romans chapter 2 verse 16 is very interesting Paul says according to my gospel what Paul is saying the message I’m bringing to you is the same message that God Jesus Christ the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of God and so forth it’s the same message the apostles preached the same gospel correct and this is important in Romans 10:15 it’s called the gospel of peace the absence of a conflict the absence of a war I’m not at war with God I’m not [unclear] conflict with God anymore I have total peace that passes understanding. In 2nd Corinthians 4:3 our gospel now he brings in all the other apostles. If it’s hid it is hid to them that are lost them that reject in other words the gospel was not hid from anyone all of it all the exhortation all the truths in the gospel is not hid from you because you’ve embraced it you’ve responded and accepted it but he uses our meaning.

▶ 5:20 The other apostles and those on his ministry team that he took around to the Gentiles and I submit to you folks when someone is quoting an author of a Christian book or some popular author you better watch out because we need to listen to the gospel of the apostles the gospel of Jesus the gospel of God. could I have an amen I cannot quote [unclear] Calvin I cannot quote Wesley I cannot quote St. Augustine I must quote the apostles Jesus or God’s word is that an amen you better be careful of reading these books and people giving you their opinions and twisting the scriptures to say what they want to say you better do what he said our gospel is the same gospel of God of Christ amen so we need to stick to the apostle we need to stick to the Bible if you’re gonna quote anybody quote the Bible and quote it right.

▶ 6:36 Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you turn to a different gospel what he said is if I or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel than this gospel that we’ve been told about he said let him be accursed. okay [unclear] he says they preach a gospel that pleases men men’s doctrine they want to please people they want crowds they want money so they teach whatever the people approve he said the gospel of Christ [unclear] pleases God. It may not please everybody but it pleases God that you’re preaching his gospel his message his good news amen everything clear so far so when you’re reading your Bible you got to be tuned into this now.

▶ 7:35 In Galatians 2:7 there’s a gospel for the uncircumcised the unbeliever and a gospel for the circumcised does that mean there’s two gospels no same gospel for the unbeliever as for the Jews okay for the Catholics and the Baptists and the Pentecostals and the Mormons [unclear] there’s only one gospel you can’t add to it you can’t take away from it you’ve got to preach the gospel when you add to it. The Revelation says he’s gonna take your name out of that book of life you can’t add to it or take away from it let’s stick to the apostles [unclear] stick to Jesus’s word you agree yes watch the Christian bookstore books a lot of it is nothing but men trying to please men stick to your Bible it works you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free Jesus said my word is truth amen.

▶ 8:36 [unclear] Revelations 14:6 there was an angel [unclear] heaven the everlasting gospel ok the description it’s eternal this gospel is eternal it’s unchangeable it’s irrevocable. And this gospel is the mystery of God in Revelation the mystery of God is finished and the word used is declared that’s the same word as gospel to his prophets the mystery of God the things hidden in the Old Testament are all now revealed and not just revealed they have been fulfilled and brought to pass alleluia that takes a powerful God to predict and make it happen and only a supernatural God can do that so.

▶ 9:30 Let’s go to the meat of this message I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation the word used is gospel the description it’s of Christ and it is power. Amen power supernatural ability the gospel the word this is found in Romans 1:16 and 17 the power of God to salvation. For everyone. You don’t get saved by any other means and this gospel this is the message of salvation. to everyone that [unclear] believes it accepts it we respond to it for the Jew first and also the non Jew the greek and here is the important thing of this gospel that saves you.

▶ 10:27 In the gospel is the righteousness of God revealed. You cannot separate the gospel of Christ and the gospel of righteousness he come to forgive you of your sins turn you from sin turn you from wrong and you can’t take one part of this gospel Jesus and not accept the other part righteousness. Is that true. [unclear] gospel is revealed the righteousness is revealed that’s why he says repent turn from your sin he come to save you from your sin okay and turn you to righteousness and these people that want just Jesus and believe on him and yet live the way they want they are mistaken about the total or full gospel you can’t separate righteousness from Jesus all right so it’s revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith the just live by faith what faith their own faith the faith in their church bylaws the faith in some Christian book author what is their faith in what faith do we live by is that a good question yes.

▶ 11:56 Right here the righteous gospel of Christ and the power of God faith in the gospel that is a power to. Empower you to live rightly. Amen that’s the faith that we have not faith in Wesley not faith in Calvin not faith in Joel Osteen but faith in the power of the gospel that will enable you to live rightly and that’s what your spouse needs that’s what your kids need that’s what your parents need that’s what your neighbors need is somebody that lives and speaks rightly I’m going to make a statement okay there are two great supernatural miracles above the nine gifts remember last week we learned that each one of you can have the spirit of God and spiritual ability to one is given the word of wisdom which I never hear in the churches another the word of knowledge another faith another not one person with it all but each member of the church at some time can be used of God.

▶ 13:13 Then it’s the word of faith and discernment of spirits miracles healings these things are not just to the mighty [unclear] man or woman of God not to [unclear] person he says this is for the body of Christ do we understand that when you come together each one of you [unclear] the spirit of song or whatever see we’re supposed to come in [unclear] this morning the next morning was perfect [unclear] worship service okay. Body of Christ being used. So above the nine gifts healings miracles tongues and interpretation tongues which everybody’s so scared to death of and prophecy then remember at the end of Mark it says these signs shall follow them that believe believers can [unclear] cast out demons it doesn’t take an apostle doesn’t take a prophet believers can cast out demons believers can speak in new languages new.

▶ 14:15 Languages it said languages you never spoke before believers can pray for the sick and the scripture says they will be restored be healed believers can do that. But we’ve been programmed to run to the mighty men of God to run to Joel Osteen to run to [unclear] or to run to the pope [unclear] know the power of God is in the church members. that way nobody gets elevated oh yeah. when a little ol’ puny member of the church can pray for somebody sick and they get healed that is much more powerful than the pastor doing it. isn’t that right.

▶ 15:09 Hallelujah God knows what he’s doing see when we start elevating a man God backs off. But that other that church member may not be used for another month or a year so there’s nothing to elevate. Are you there allelujah it’s powerful okay. also in Joel and in Acts it says [unclear] you will be baptized in the Holy Ghost and you’ll prophesy and you’ll see visions and dream dreams these two miracles that I’m going to talk about are above all this and this is powerful isn’t it yes and what are they number one is salvation the miracle of salvation saved from sin and its destruction. Saved from Satan and his destruction saved from yourself and you destroying yourself.

▶ 16:06 Deliver thyself. you can be your worst problem [unclear] he wants to save you from yourself and your bad choices are you with me all right [unclear] also saved from the day of wrath there’s a day of wrath coming upon the earth and don’t think we’ve got to be raptured out to get through this God will save us from that day of wrath he can keep us can I hear an amen and the wicked are going to be judged right here on earth they’re going to go through some horrible horrible torments.

▶ 16:44 And you’re gonna be saved from it and you’re saved from the eternal lake of fire and just to make sure you understand salvation the Bible says that Paul was the chiefest of sinners. Nobody can surpass him he’s the world’s worst sinner and God saved him that’s how powerful the salvation message is and it’s higher than all of this how God can come to you and me and turn us from our way to accept the gospel and pursue him is just amazing all right Matthew nineteen twenty five Jesus got through talking and saying this it’s easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven so the disciples turned to him and said well who can be saved.

▶ 17:40 And Jesus made this very important statement with men this is impossible you [unclear] can’t get saved [unclear] because the church gives you a baptism certificate or because a church says you’re saved or because some man tells you to do something some kind of ritual only God can save you and nothing is impossible with him can the rich man be saved that’s what Jesus is saying the rich man come even though it’s impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle he says God can accomplish this because God is the savior Jesus is the savior amen. Very powerful and so Paul the number one sinner got saved.

▶ 18:32 because with God all things are possible don’t ever give up on anybody just keep preaching the word let God do the work now the second one is the second miracle is making his followers a new creature in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are passed away that old lifestyle goes and it goes probably in steps I don’t know anybody myself that ever just changed instantly from wrong to right they turned in a process could that be true yes all right that’s why he says we go from faith to faith he opens our heart to another area that we’re wrong in and we correct it we go from faith to faith we put our faith in the gospel amen.

▶ 19:32 This new creature old things passed away all things made new and I have watched it in my lifetime but I’m going to use two Bible examples. in Philippians 1:6 he who has begun a good work in you will complete it and finish it until the day of Jesus he is going to be working with every one of his believers till he comes back and he’s going to be working [unclear] every one of us to complete us to mature us to finish the good work here on earth that he began in us to make us that new creature amen so if you’re not quite a new creature you have great hope huh he’s gonna finish the good work in you don’t you give up on yourself don’t you give up on God don’t you give up on the gospel he promised to finish the work he began in you and it’s a good work because it’s good news the gospel is good news.

▶ 20:35 Alleluia people will give up on you because you haven’t straightened up yet but God won’t he’ll keep working and this is a miracle now let’s use two people Peter. Peter even told the Lord I’ll never deny [unclear] these other [unclear] eleven people they might deny you but I won’t deny you. He bragged and boasted great testimony and the testimony time I’ll never deny the Lord never and very quickly he denied God three times and Jesus said if [unclear] deny me before men I will deny you before my father. Wow and Peter denied him three times and he cursed God. Wow. So much for the big testimony huh.

▶ 21:32 And even though Jesus said if you deny me I’ll deny you before my father. This law of a new creature and this law that he will finish the good work is higher than that law. See the higher law always nullifies the lesser law. And so Jesus came to him Peter went back fishing he went back [unclear] Jesus told him I’m gonna make you a fisher of men and after Jesus died he went back to fishing he stopped being a fisher of men and then Jesus came to him on the seashore. on the seashore and he hollers out to the apostles [unclear] fish and he got all the other apostles to go fishing with him that’s what he did when one turns their back on God when one you know the crowd follows them that’s how it works so Jesus on a seashore said hey children do you have any food.

▶ 22:45 You remember the story don’t you yeah and then Peter immediately recognized it was Jesus and what did he do he didn’t wait for that boat to get to shore he jumped in that water and he swam to Jesus Jesus came he responded and Jesus restored him cause the higher law negates the lower law. His denying was forgiven his cursing God was forgiven him going back to his old lifestyle was forgiven just like that isn’t that powerful see Jesus keeps his word the other guy [unclear] like to bring up is Paul Paul was not a believer in Jesus now you’ve got to get the picture here. Not only was he not a believer in Jesus but he hated those that follow Jesus and he persecuted them and killed them and mistreated them.

▶ 23:49 But Paul was a believer in God. He was a believer in God the father in heaven he was not a believer of God in the flesh Jesus Christ and he punished anybody that believed it but he believed in God. Now what does he say don’t give up on people that believe in God and have not accepted the gospel yet of Jesus Christ are you there. Jesus came to Paul personally and. first blinded him and then opened his eyes he spoke to him personally and Paul immediately responded.

▶ 24:43 he [unclear] mess around. And he became a believer got baptized got filled with the Holy Ghost and became the chiefest apostle who was the chiefest sinner [unclear] because he would finish the good work came to the chiefest sinner and made him the chiefest apostle now that is a powerful God amen and if he can do that can he work in your life absolutely these are the miracles you need to focus in on now how does it work Jesus in John 3:17 you must be born again alright and then he describes it the wind blows where it wishes he gives a natural illustration. The wind decides where it’s going to go man can’t decide it the wind decides where it’s going to blow you can hear the sound of the wind Jesus said all right specially in a tornado it’s got a ferocious sound.

▶ 25:45 But you can’t tell where it comes from or where it goes so is every one born of the spirit the spirit blows where it wishes religion can’t hold it back atheists can’t hold it back the spirit blows where it chooses to blow can I hear an amen thank God. And we can hear the sound of the spirit in our conscience convicting us of sin righteousness and the judgment to come that’s what the spirit does he convinces you he convicts you and you can hear his voice speaking in your conscience not an audible voice but very strong in your conscience how many of you experienced that yeah yeah you feel guilty when you do something that’s the spirit talking to you we can hear his voice all right.

▶ 26:42 so [unclear] like the invisible wind. We can feel it when it blows we can see the results of the wind the leaves blowing or if it’s a tornado cars flying through the air yeah. And we can use it to mount up into the heavens bird uses it to mount up into the heavens plane uses the air to mount up into the heaven but science cannot contain the wind and they cannot regulate it they cannot control it they’re at the mercy of it. As great as they think they are. Mother nature is superior. She does what she wants to do amen this is the natural illustration so in the spirit we can feel the invisible spirit like we did this morning if you really were tuned in and were looking for God he was here and was touching people you can feel him you can feel that love you can feel that comfort you can feel that strength of the presence of the spirit of God you can see the result in your life changing.

▶ 28:01 You can see the result and other people’s lives changing from faith to faith. we can mount up into the third heaven where God is in a worship service like this or not even here you can do it at your home through prayer and worship and praise you can mount up into the heavenly realm the spiritual realm and religion cannot control it. he just goes where he wants that’s why even in a cult you can actually experience the presence of the spirit of God because they that are genuinely looking for him that spirit comes and convicts and draws people to him that’s why when you read about all these Muslims it started in the 90s and it’s just getting bigger and bigger Jesus appearing to Muslims in a vision and telling them it’s me that you should be following and I’ve checked into these stories cuz I’m a skeptic when it comes I want to know it’s the real deal and it is Bible for God to come he appeared to Paul [unclear] can he appear to other people yes these people they worship God but they reject Jesus and so.

▶ 29:28 Like Paul God will come and say hey it’s me that you’re wanting it’s me come to me isn’t that beautiful yes it’s happening in our day it’s amazing what’s going on in the [unclear] in the world. All right. John the baptist by the way did no physical miracle. But he did the greatest miracles he got people to come out into a desert area no air conditioning no seats to sit on it’s hot. blistering. But the people came out because he had the salvation message the miraculous salvation message and they come out to go to that hot dry place to hear the message and get water baptized they traveled to him wouldn’t it be wonderful if that happened today.

▶ 30:31 It can happen when the church starts exercising itself like God told them to every member supply every member being a part. Is that an amen yes when they see that God’s in you they will come now. Yeah not just born of the spirit but in first Peter 1:23 born again not of corruptible seed bad seed but an incorruptible good seed through the word so the word is the seed and the word is what incorruptible. You can’t make it bad you can’t destroy it it’s incorruptible.

▶ 31:20 We’re born again by the word of God which lives and abides forever so the word and the spirit work together to what make us a new creature birth us and give us a spiritual birth is that an amen see and a word and the spirit is in agreement the word never denies Christ never talks of itself I mean the spirit never talks of itself it always talks of Christ it always talks of the gospel and when somebody is saying they have the spirit and they’re not talking that way it’s not the spirit is that an amen now so the gospel of Jesus the gospel of God the gospel of the apostles is the power to save and [unclear] live right [unclear] when you try to do it with just brain

▶ 32:14 power you’re gonna fail but when you respond to God and that spirit comes in that word comes he’s going to empower you and you keep doing that what brings life maintains life okay. Now. First Corinthians 1:18 the preaching of the cross is the power of God to save the preaching of the cross that’s part of the gospel that God chose the foolishness of preaching to save believers and I want to submit to you that Stephen used the scriptures the gospel when he was brought before the church council when he was brought before his adversaries his opponent he did not use apologetics. He didn’t say well you know we could get all the animals in [unclear] or yeah the earth was created in one day [unclear] Jonah he was swallowed in the whale and he didn’t go into all that stuff.

▶ 33:22 He didn’t say the scriptures are authentic because they have more copies than any other book he didn’t say the scriptures are authentic because they have the copy closest to the action when it happened than any other book that is the humanists the secular measurement of an authentic book God’s measurement of authentic book is he can save you and he can keep you saved and turn you into a new creature. Amen. That’s what proves the Bible is authentic is God can fulfill his word in his people and we have millions [unclear] following Christ today. He didn’t use psychology he didn’t use political correctness or personal.

▶ 34:14 Opinions he used strictly the scriptures and look at this he is going to use the first gift of the spirit the first gift of the spirit is a word of wisdom all right they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Holy Spirit by which he spoke. When you got the Holy Spirit speaking in you and you got the gospel you don’t need apologetics you don’t need psychology you don’t need anything the spirit and the word will do the work and didn’t Jesus say when they bring you before the councils and before kings don’t worry about what you’re gonna say the Holy Spirit will give you what to say in that hour didn’t Jesus say that absolutely. So he didn’t defend the scriptures he preached the gospel to them.

▶ 35:12 He went through almost a whole book of the whole Old Testament preaching to them. Did they accept it no. the gospel isn’t always popular as [unclear] oh thank you oh thank you for enlightening us no they got mad at him and they killed him why because the Holy Ghost brought conviction on them could that be an amen and let me submit this to you. The youth are leaving the church in America in great numbers. Christianity in America has fallen from 80 some percent to 70 some percent and it’s continuing declining and the young people are leaving the church could it be because we have turned to apologetics trying to convince them mentally why you should believe could it be that we are using psychology that the world uses to try to get them to find their answers in psychology could it be the lack of really preaching the gospel of the power of God to salvation and they experience being born again.

▶ 36:33 Something to think on because folks in South America in Africa and Pacific Asia people are coming to Christ by the millions and miracles are happening and lives are being changed I mean you can read about if you do any research I do a lot of research the very thing we want God to do in America he is doing in other continents is that a good amen but don’t we want God to move here well they’re preaching the gospel there. they’re not into focus on the family and focus on finances and you know focus on whatever we focus on they’re into focusing on the gospel and the Holy Spirit people are actually getting filled with the spirit speaking in tongues not everybody speaks in tongues but they’re still filled with the spirit and he’s empowering them and things are happening drunks are not drinking anymore prostitutes are not prostituting anymore that power of God unto salvation is working over there amen and [unclear] if that simple gospel will work in South America and in Africa and Asia Pacific it will work in America if we get back to it amen it is the power of God unto salvation.

▶ 37:57 There’s no substitution. Now let me submit this to you. We all know our history we all know that America and our politicians mistreated the African the black African the Indian and all of those politicians claim to be a Christian. Every one of them. whether they’re Methodists or Baptists or whatever and yet they enslaved black people they killed Indians because they were savages they took their property away from them. Andrew Jackson lied to the Cherokee nation.

▶ 38:52 Cherokee nation was accepting Christ living in homes like the normal people but somebody found gold on the reservation and Andrew Jackson broke his word and took those people on what they call the trail of tears where many of them died out to the west and Andrew Jackson claimed to be a Christian. Now let me submit this to you. Many other exhortation John the baptist taught the people the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t want somebody taking your property then you what don’t it’s not deep Revelation here folks it’s simple Revelation basic christianity if you don’t want someone enslaving you then you want don’t enslave them you love your neighbor as yourself as you would like to be treated you treat your neighbor and Christians.

▶ 39:57 Are killing Indians taking their property not all but many of them that said their Christian and our politicians who said they’re Christians did this. Protestants killed Catholics burnt their houses. Catholics persecuted Protestants over in Europe now it’s reversed are you with me what could be lacking here I submit to you what’s lacking is the power of the gospel we turn to men’s ideas and men’s opinions instead of sticking with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen the power of God to save the power of God to live right is it right not to enslave someone because you don’t want to be enslaved yeah it’s that simple is it right not to mistreat someone.

▶ 40:58 Because of their race their social status or whatever their religion or whatever because you don’t want to [unclear] isn’t that just simple that is not a complicated gospel truth is it it’s that simple I submit to you we need to get back to the gospel the gospel that the apostles talked about that Jesus talked about that God talked about and the Holy Spirit talks about and forget men’s opinions do you agree hallelujah. Luke 6:22 blessed are you when men shall hate you. Separate you from their company. Insult you abused you mistreat you and speak evil of you.

▶ 41:58 For the son of man’s sake because you chose the gospel and you’re living right and you’re sticking with the gospel they separate from your company. Have you ever experienced that do you know the Bible says a man’s enemies are they of his own household. [unclear] don’t let it surprise you when your own household turns against you hang in there. Amen. See that’s the new creature why are they separated why are they rejected because they’re actually turning into a new creature. First Peter 4:3 in times past we walked in the desire of the Gentiles the lust of the Gentiles and [unclear] describes it unbridled sex lust intoxication whether it’s drugs or alcohol or [unclear] partying idolatries and they think it’s strange that you don’t accompany them in their excess of [unclear] loose living see they have no standards and no moral standards.

▶ 43:12 Or not totally good moral standard and they speak evil of you you’re no good you’re extreme you’re the bad guy folks that is the new creature and Jesus. Can do a miracle above every other miracle and save you and make you a new creature he can save you from yourself he can save you from your sins and the destruction of it and he will and he’ll finish the good work he’s begun in you and if you’re here this morning and you want a little more salvation and you want to be changed a little more into a new creature will you accept the gospel message the power the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit to do it by standing this morning as we distribute the communion.