The Enduring Gospel - 10 Things that Haven't Changed

 The bridge illustration is the Gospel message.

2 Cor. 5:18-19 (ESV) "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message reconciliation."

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,"

John 14:6 (ESV) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

In the last 2000 years so much has changed, but the Gospel remains the same.

I. The  Message 

Acts 4:10-12 (ESV) "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Peter was speaking to the Sanhedrin .... 2000 years later it is the SAME message.

II. The Simplicity of the Message

It is incredibly profound, that God became a man and yet it is so simple that a child can understand the message.

Roman 10:9-10 (ESV) "because, 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

It is as simple as A. B. C  Admit, Believe, Confess. It is simple so you can share the Gospel message.

III. The Need for the Message

Matt. 1:21 (ESV) "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

There has been no change in man's condition or man's need for a savior. All of the advancements we have made it doesn't change our sinful nature.

IV. The Primacy of the Message

1 Cor. 15:3-4 (ESV) "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"

It is a basic message. The world needs teaching on family, finance, forgiveness etc. The Gospel is the FOUNDATION...where Christ's teaching begins.

V. The Offense of the Gospel

Why was Jesus crucified? Because He was at odds with Jewish leaders...He offended them. Just because the message may be offensive doesn't mean that it is untrue.

Sin equals separation from God. Jesus is the only way to salvation and reconciliation to God.

You don't have to be offensive when you share the Gospel just because the message is offensive to some.

VI. The Responsibility for Conveying the Message

2 Cor. 5:18-20 "All this from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Romans 10: 13-14 (ESV) "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

The Great Commission... we are called to share the Gospel message.

VII. The Means of Conveying the Message

We have seen the message move from scroll to codex to printing press to radio to TV and to the internet. But still need people telling people about Jesus!

Matt. 5:18-20 (ESV) "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Acts 1:8 (ESV) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

You didn't have to witness miracles or the resurrection, but you are a witness to what God has done in your life. You share your testimony.

VIII. The Power of the Message

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV) "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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

1 Cor. 1:18 (ESV) "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

You may not feel the power, but how many millions have been "touched" by the power... obviously it is there.

IX. The Response of the Message

Some will accept...some will not, but that is not our responsibility. We present, God draws and THEY decide. Free will

X. The Central Figure in the Message

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

It is not about me. It is about Christ.

If the Gospel is not true... 1 Cor. 15:14-19 "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are all people most to be pitied."

Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am always with you always, to the end of the age."