1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,720 You're listening to Key Life Fellowships Pulpit ministry 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,920 podcast. We thank you for tuning in as we 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,320 learn from God's Word together. If you would like more 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,760 information regarding Key Life or to speak with one of our 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,960 pastors, please visit us at keylifefellow-ship.com. 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,640 Amen. I pray that you are thankful for 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,880 Christ, the cornerstone because it is truly in him that we 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,040 stand, and if we don't stand in Him, we don't stand at all. 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,240 Amen. You have your Bibles. 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,280 If you would turn to 1st Corinthians and the 15th chapter 11 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:45,880 as we continue in our series entitled There is One Gospel, we 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,600 will be looking today at verses one through 11 there in the 15th 13 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,560 chapter of the First Corinthian letter and a message entitled 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:01:00,600 Key Elements of the True Gospel. We know that it is no mystery 15 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:06,840 that in our day and in our time, there are many things that call 16 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:13,480 themselves in quotation the gospel, which are really no 17 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:18,720 gospel at all, as we learned the Apostle Paul taught there in 18 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:21,240 Galatians and our opening message to the series. 19 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,960 But in our day, we have all kinds of gospels. 20 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,560 We have the prosperity gospel, which many of you are familiar 21 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,120 with, that comes out of the charismatic movement that 22 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,000 proclaims a message that says that God wants you to be healthy 23 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,720 and God wants you to be wealthy. And if you're not rich and if 24 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,800 somehow you become sick, well, God is obviously mad at you and 25 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,760 you've got a spiritual problem. However, we know this, that 26 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,640 that's a false gospel, that because the Scriptures do not 27 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,800 confirm any such of a gospel at all. 28 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,080 We also see in our day the social justice gospel, that is 29 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,160 the gospel where Jesus came to fix all the problems in this 30 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,880 world, all the social injustices, all the man made 31 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,080 problems. Jesus came to this earth just to 32 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,080 fix those things so that you can have a better life, live a 33 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:19,280 better life and enjoy life more. That's no gospel at all either, 34 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,640 though it is very popular in our so-called church culture. 35 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,600 Then we know that there is the morality gospel where we we 36 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,080 simply preach the gospel that says just do right and live 37 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,440 right. Try to get your act together and 38 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,680 if you do right, you live right and you get your act together 39 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,760 and perhaps in the end the good is going to outweigh the bad and 40 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,520 God's going to just go ahead and let you in. 41 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:44,800 The problem with that is that's a legalistic gospel. 42 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,200 That is a law it has been set up for you to follow, whether 43 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,520 that's God's law, that's some law you made-up in your own 44 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,600 mind. But the morality gospel is no 45 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,640 true gospel at all because no one will be justified by the law 46 00:02:56,640 --> 00:03:01,200 only through faith in Christ. Then we have in our culture the 47 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,040 self help gospel. You, you know what I'm talking 48 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,720 about. Everything is about you helping 49 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,400 you deal with your problems, helping you deal with your 50 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,600 struggles, and helping you with this and you with. 51 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,160 That and everything is ME centric. 52 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,680 Focus on us. Well, the problem with that 53 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:20,640 gospel is that's not found in Scripture either. 54 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,680 Since Jesus preached the gospel of self denial, I don't think 55 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,120 there's any room for us to preach the gospel of self 56 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,840 inflation. So we know that's not a true 57 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,680 gospel. What about the universal gospel 58 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,520 that we see so prevalent in our time, right? 59 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,200 Everybody gets to heaven. They're just all going there, 60 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,640 their own different ways, and they're all going to end up in 61 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,480 the same place in the end because God's a good God who 62 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,480 would never, ever, ever contemplate even sending one 63 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,960 single person fell, right. So at the end, universal gospel 64 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,120 says, you know, we're all going to find our way somehow. 65 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:52,920 Some of us, we're going to find it easier than others. 66 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:55,600 Some of us, we're going to have a more difficult journey, but 67 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:56,840 we're all getting there in the end. 68 00:03:58,120 --> 00:03:59,960 Well, the problem with that is you're going to have to talk to 69 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:02,440 those in the last part of Revelation there who are cast 70 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,800 into the lake of fire for their unbelief because all people 71 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,920 won't be saved. And so we know that the 72 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,000 universal gospel just doesn't work, does it? 73 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,600 Universalism is a lie and it's a heresy. 74 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,959 We also have in our day very popular, the gospel of love. 75 00:04:20,399 --> 00:04:24,200 Now before you stand up to leave or you freak out, I'm not saying 76 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,680 that God is not love, and I'm saying that the Gospel does not 77 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,240 contain a message of love. For greater love has no man than 78 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:32,600 this. Then he would lay down his life 79 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:34,680 for his friend. And God demonstrates his love 80 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,360 for us in this that while we were still sinners, Christ died 81 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,720 for us. Of course the gospel is a 82 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,520 message of love, but it's not just love. 83 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,600 And the problem with the gospel of love that we have in our 84 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:51,640 modern. Culture is this, It elevates 85 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,400 God's love over all the other attributes and characteristics 86 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:58,080 of God, making God only love, right? 87 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,600 If he's only love, then there can never be any wrath. 88 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,600 There could never be any indignation towards sin. 89 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,840 There could sure never be any judgment and hell for any 90 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,960 unbeliever. And the one thing that all of 91 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,480 these gospels have in common is this. 92 00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:17,920 They're not true gospels and they're not true gospels as 93 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,600 we're going to see today, because they're missing some key 94 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,080 elements that the apostle Paul is going to teach us here in 95 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,960 First Corinthians chapter 15. And I want us to look at those 96 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,040 key elements. But before we do that, I want us 97 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,200 to look at the context of this give you give you a little 98 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,760 backdrop and a background on what's going on here. 99 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:42,640 Paul's addressing this congregation here at Corinth and 100 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,680 he's addressing them on the topic of bodily resurrection. 101 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,080 There were some who said we're going to be bodily bodily 102 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,960 resurrected just as Christ bodily rose from the grave. 103 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:52,440 There were others who were saying, no, it's just going to 104 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,280 be a spiritual resurrection. And they ran a debate about 105 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,040 this, and Paul is addressing them because he wants to clear 106 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,080 up the debate. And he does that very eloquently 107 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,360 as you read the entirety of chapter 15 here. 108 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,800 But before he clears that up for them, what he's going to do, 109 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,880 he's going to get them to refocus on the gospel that they 110 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,040 believed, the true gospel that has saved them, in fact, the 111 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:19,360 only gospel that saves sinners. And today, what I don't want to 112 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:23,600 do, as I don't want to expose at the entire 15th chapter and talk 113 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:27,640 to you about the fact that there is a bodily resurrection because 114 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,200 there will be. That's pretty cut and dry, but. 115 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,080 What I want? Us to do is I want us to revisit 116 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,080 Paul's teaching on the importance of the one true 117 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:43,000 Gospel and I want us to see the elements that he includes in the 118 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:46,560 one true gospel so that you will not fall into the trap of 119 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,160 believing an untrue unbiblical gospel. 120 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:55,200 And he makes this very clear again in light of the 121 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:56,920 resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why? 122 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,440 Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a very important 123 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,000 element to the one true gospel. In fact, without the 124 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,800 resurrection of Christ, you don't have a true gospel at all. 125 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,120 That's why Paul says in Romans chapter 10, verse nine, that if 126 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,080 you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your 127 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,760 heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 128 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,240 If you don't believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 129 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,440 you're not going to be saved because you're not believing in 130 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,640 the one true gospel or a gospel at all for that matter. 131 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,280 So in teaching this lesson to us today from first Corinthians 132 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:35,280 chapter 15, Paul's going to revisit the essential or the key 133 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:40,040 elements of the gospel message that the Corinthians would have 134 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:44,280 heard, that they would have believed as we're going to see 135 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:47,520 the message that would have save them. 136 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:53,320 So he says in verse 1 of chapter 15, he says, now brothers, I 137 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:58,280 want to remind you of the gospel underline that in your Bible. 138 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,280 I want to remind you. Of the gospel. 139 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,520 For those of you who you say, man, you know I want to hear 140 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,240 something other than the gospel. No, Remind yourself constantly 141 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,320 of the gospel. Be reminded constantly of the 142 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:12,040 gospel. Not only do you preach the 143 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,880 gospel to other people who are lost and in need of a Savior, 144 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:18,560 preach the gospel to yourself so that you get it right. 145 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:23,800 Because if you get it wrong. There are eternal consequences, 146 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,760 he says. Now, brothers, I want to remind 147 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:30,080 you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on 148 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:35,320 which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you were saved, 149 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,760 making it an exclusive gospel, Not by any other gospel, not by 150 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,280 any of the Gospels. That I mentioned. 151 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,080 To you before or any gospels that people could come up with, 152 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,320 he says. By this gospel you were saved. 153 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,720 If you hold firmly to the Word, I preach to you. 154 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,000 Otherwise you have believed. In vain from. 155 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:58,400 What I received I passed on to you as a first importance. 156 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,200 That Christ died. For our sins, according to the 157 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:05,160 Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third 158 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,120 day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, 159 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:14,080 and then to the 12. After that he appeared to more 160 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:19,160 than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are 161 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:22,760 still living, though some have fallen asleep. 162 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,400 And then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles. 163 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:34,400 And last of all, he appeared to me also as to 1 abnormally born, 164 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,280 for I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve 165 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:42,040 to be called an apostle. Paul says the reason why? 166 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,840 Because I persecuted the Church of God. 167 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,000 But by the grace of God I am what I am. 168 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,160 And His grace to me was not without effect. 169 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,680 No, I worked harder than all of them, yet not I, but the grace 170 00:09:56,680 --> 00:10:01,400 of God that was with me, whether then it was I or they. 171 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:08,720 This is what we preach and this is what you believed. 172 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,640 Let's pray together, Father, in the name of Jesus. 173 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,920 We come to you now asking that your Spirit would give us 174 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:20,520 insight, wisdom into Your Word as it goes forth, that you would 175 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:24,960 use that wisdom and that insight as you give us discernment and 176 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,160 knowledge in regard to the Scripture that we would use. 177 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,160 This. We would use it in our lives and 178 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,320 sharing the gospel. We would use it and treating the 179 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:40,000 gospel to ourselves, reminding ourselves of these truths, God, 180 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,680 that we would truly stand in the one true gospel, that we would 181 00:10:43,680 --> 00:10:46,440 stand with a heart and with an attitude that says we shall not 182 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,880 be moved. God, I thank you for these 183 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:55,000 reminders in your word. They call us to go back to the 184 00:10:55,000 --> 00:11:00,160 true gospel to evaluate our lives in light of it. 185 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,000 May we do that now. Lord, I pray for the person 186 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,200 who's here does not know Christ. Lord, I pray that you would 187 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,320 shower Your mercy upon them today. 188 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,880 That you would open their eyes to see in their ears, to hear 189 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,400 the truth that we will uncover from Your word today, or that 190 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,920 You would allow them to hear them, to see them and to believe 191 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,360 them for the very first time. They would repent of their sin. 192 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,840 They would turn to Christ that they would be saved today. 193 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,080 God, I pray for every St. who's in this room as they hear the 194 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,240 gospel one more time. Lord, I pray that they rejoice 195 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,720 because this is the gospel that has saved them. 196 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,440 Thank you for it. Thank you that you have allowed. 197 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,840 US. To receive it, to proclaim it, 198 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:49,840 and to rejoice in it once again. And we give you all the glory 199 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:56,720 for it in Jesus name, Amen. So as we walk through these few 200 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:03,120 verses today, I want us to see three elements that Paul is 201 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,480 going to highlight for us that are essential to the true 202 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,720 gospel. And without these three 203 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:12,360 elements, I don't mean three together. 204 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,800 If you take one out, you don't have the true gospel. 205 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,400 Without these elements, there is no true gospel at all. 206 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,680 And I say this so that you don't fall into the trap that many 207 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,920 others have fallen into. So if you're taking notes, write 208 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,720 this down. Element 1, The true gospel 209 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:38,160 promises redemption. It promises redemption, he says 210 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,440 in the 1st 2 verses. Now, brothers, I want to remind 211 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,000 you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on 212 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:49,360 which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved. 213 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:54,520 By this gospel, you are redeemed, you are forgiven, you 214 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,800 are made right with God. Salvation has been declared to 215 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,880 you through this one true gospel. 216 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,040 It's the gospel that Paul would have preached and that the 217 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:10,240 Corinthians would have believed. So we see that he begins with 218 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:14,200 the first element, that the true gospel promises redemption. 219 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:20,120 And who does the true gospel promised redemption too? 220 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:24,000 Well, we know it doesn't promise redemption to everyone because 221 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,640 that would be the universalism that we talked about a moment 222 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,560 ago that we said is no true gospel at all. 223 00:13:30,680 --> 00:13:32,880 But in fact, Paul makes it very clear. 224 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:35,440 He says, Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I 225 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:42,320 preached to you, which you received, which you received. 226 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:48,320 This true gospel promises redemption to those who receive 227 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,560 Christ. In fact, if you don't receive 228 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:55,120 Christ as your Lord and as your Savior, you will not be 229 00:13:55,200 --> 00:14:00,000 redeemed. Redemption is promised to all 230 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:07,720 and to no more than those who receive Christ according to His 231 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,440 Word. According to the true gospel, in 232 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,920 fact, Acts chapter 10 verse 43 says this, All the prophets 233 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,480 testify about him. Excuse me? 234 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,280 That everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins 235 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:29,840 through His name. So we must receive Christ by 236 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:33,200 faith. Redemption is promised to all 237 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,280 who do receive Christ. How we do this? 238 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:40,040 We receive Christ by grace alone, through faith alone in 239 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,680 Christ alone. To make that clear for you, 240 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,560 grace is the offering of the gift. 241 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:55,480 The fact that God offered his only begotten Son and belief is 242 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:59,480 the receiving of that gift, John says. 243 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:00,880 This in John chapter one verse 12. 244 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:05,280 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name. 245 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,560 He gave the right to become children of God. 246 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,280 Now I want you to understand what he's saying there. 247 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,120 Who gave them the right to become the children of God? 248 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,280 God himself. And how did he do this? 249 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:22,680 He did this by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ 250 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,680 alone, and for. Those who believe. 251 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,240 By grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, receiving 252 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:34,840 Christ as Lord and Savior, they have the promise of redemption. 253 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:41,320 And because it's grace, we know that it is a work of God, not a 254 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,640 work of man. As I said, grace is the offering 255 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,320 of that gift. Belief is the receiving of that 256 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,640 gift. The gift would have never been 257 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,000 offered had God not offered the gift. 258 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,480 And you would have never believed had God not birthed 259 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:00,800 faith in you to believe. Both His grace and your faith 260 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:05,680 are God wrought works. You say help us to have clarity 261 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,400 on that. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9. 262 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,440 Paul makes it ever so clear when he says this, For it is by grace 263 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:14,520 you have been saved through faith. 264 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:19,160 What did I tell you? I told you that the promise of 265 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:23,760 redemption comes to all who by grace through faith, trust in 266 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,840 Christ. So he says for it is by grace 267 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,400 you have been saved through faith and this is not from 268 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:29,960 yourself. He's saying you didn't do this, 269 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:32,920 he goes on. He says it is the gift of God. 270 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,200 What is the gift of God? Many would argue. 271 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:37,480 Is the gift grace or is the gift faith? 272 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:40,160 Look at it in its context, grace through faith. 273 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,840 This is the gift of God. It is God who graced us with his 274 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,560 Son, and it is God who gives us and gifts to us graciously. 275 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,680 The faith to believe in his Son, promising redemption to all who 276 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,080 believe in Him by grace through faith. 277 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:03,120 So the true gospel promises redemption to those who receive 278 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:07,440 Christ, who receive him biblically by grace through 279 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:12,280 faith, but who also resolved to stand in Christ. 280 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,160 He says. Now, brothers, I want to remind 281 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:18,359 you of the gospel I preached to you, what you received and on 282 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,920 which you have taken your stand. He says where you were planted, 283 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:28,880 where you were planted, where you are steadfastly standing, 284 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,480 that same gospel that you believed, that you're continuing 285 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,400 in. Those who receive Christ will be 286 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:41,920 resolved to stand in Christ. You will take your stand on 287 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,520 Christ. Christ will dictate every stand 288 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,320 you take in your life, whether that is in your marriage, that 289 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,360 that is in your home, that is in the lives of your children, that 290 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:54,000 is in how your children will be educated, how they will be 291 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:59,440 raised, The life of this church. Those who truly have found 292 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,280 redemption in the promise of redemption in Christ, they will 293 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:07,440 receive Christ and then they will resolve to stand in Christ. 294 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,760 Those who aren't standing in Christ have no evidence that 295 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:17,000 they truly have received Christ. Paul addressing the Corinthians, 296 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,720 he says that's this is the gospel you received and the 297 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:23,120 gospel that you have taken your stand in. 298 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,960 This is why it's so important that we know what the true 299 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,920 gospel is, because if we don't know what the true gospel is, 300 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,600 how can we stand in the true gospel? 301 00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:38,040 And if we believe a false gospel and we are standing in that, we 302 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,280 are standing in an untruth. We are basing our entire lives 303 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,520 on something that is not right and is not biblically accurate. 304 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:53,480 So the true gospel promises redemption to those who receive 305 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:57,920 Christ according to the Scriptures, receiving by grace 306 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:02,280 through faith, and that alone they resolved to stand in Christ 307 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,800 their entire life. This is true surrender. 308 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,960 I know in the American gospel this is left out so many times, 309 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,360 but if you're really going to stand in Christ, you have to 310 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:14,560 truly surrender to Christ. And we're going to see, as this 311 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:18,040 text unfolds, the men who have gone before us, who truly took 312 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,080 their stand in Christ, and they even took their stand unto 313 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:25,400 death. That one who has received Christ 314 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:30,640 will be resolved to stand in Christ forever, denying 315 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,800 yourself, denying your life, surrendering completely to 316 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,720 Christ. Jesus confirms this in Luke 317 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,880 Chapter 9 verse 23. It says Then he said to them 318 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:42,320 all, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves 319 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,880 and take up their cross daily and follow me. 320 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,840 It is a gospel of self denial and it is a gospel of daily 321 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,480 standing in Christ surrendered to him completely. 322 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,120 And if someone is preaching you another gospel that does not 323 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:01,120 have these elements, it is no true gospel at all. 324 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:05,560 It is some man made gospel that comes through the depraved minds 325 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,840 of human. True gospel promises redemption 326 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,480 to all who received. Christ receiving by grace 327 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,520 through faith and who resolved to stand in him for their entire 328 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,840 lives because those who truly have received Christ will 329 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,720 confidently stand in Christ all of their days. 330 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:29,880 According to Colossians chapter 2 verse 6 Paul giving 331 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,440 instructions to the church there Colossae. 332 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,000 He says this so then, just as you received Christ Jesus as 333 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,600 Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built 334 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,520 up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and 335 00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:44,680 overflowing with thankfulness. See to is that no one takes you 336 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,280 captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which 337 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,640 depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces 338 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,560 of this world rather than on Christ. 339 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,560 What is Paul saying to those at Colossae? 340 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,040 He's saying take your stand in Christ. 341 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:00,680 Be resolved to stand. In the true gospel, do not 342 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,320 compromise on any of these things. 343 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,080 And haven't we seen enough compromised enough compromise in 344 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:14,200 the so-called American Church? Let us not fall into the trap of 345 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,560 being guilty of doing the same thing. 346 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,400 We cannot compromise on the gospel. 347 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:25,960 All says this gospel. That you received and on which 348 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,880 you've taken your stand. It's the true gospel. 349 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,440 He's Speaking of those who receive Christ, but he's also 350 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaking of those who remain steadfast. 351 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,280 Now, what I'm about to teach you is not real popular in the 352 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,360 American Church, and I'll go ahead and just give you that 353 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:41,240 preface. But though it not be popular in 354 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,240 the American church, you're going to see that it is quite 355 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:48,800 biblical. He goes on in that second verse 356 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,400 and he says by this gospel you are saved. 357 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,520 But then there's a clause. And I don't want you to miss 358 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,840 this clause because I'm afraid that many have missed this 359 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,840 clause. He says by this gospel you were 360 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:06,920 saved. If you hold firmly to the Word, 361 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:12,560 I preach to you otherwise. You have believed in vain 362 00:22:14,240 --> 00:22:18,400 otherwise. You have believed in vain. 363 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,480 So the true gospel in this element that we're looking at 364 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:25,840 promises redemption to all who received Christ again by grace 365 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,040 alone through faith alone, and Christ alone who are resolved to 366 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:34,920 stand in Christ, but also only to those who remain steadfast. 367 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:39,640 We have all but erased the sin of apostasy from the American 368 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,160 mind in the churches. What is an apostate? 369 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:45,440 I'll give you an example. Judas Iscariot, who looked the 370 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,600 part, who played the part, who do all the lingo. 371 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,000 He did all the things, but in the end he abandoned Christ for 372 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,440 30 pieces of silver. That is an apostate. 373 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,360 And So what we have in our modern time, we have many people 374 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,840 who think that they can walk an aisle, pray a prayer to ask 375 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,720 Jesus into their heart, and then live any way that they want to 376 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,200 live outside of the church, doing their own thing, never 377 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,640 giving one inclination of their thoughts to Christ ever again. 378 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,440 And I know it because I see it all the time. 379 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:19,560 And then a man in a black suit is going to get up at their 380 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,880 funeral and he's going to preach that that person is somehow 381 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:27,920 going to have eternal life. But I present to you the fact 382 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:33,880 biblically a person who only has a profession of Christ, who does 383 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:41,720 not continue in Christ holding firmly. 384 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:48,640 To the word that was preached to them, they have believed. 385 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:50,720 In vain. What does that mean? 386 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:53,760 That means that their faith is not true saving faith. 387 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:57,240 It is human reckoning. All they did is they said, yeah, 388 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:58,920 OK, historically, I believe there was a Jesus. 389 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:00,480 And biblically I see him on the pages. 390 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,960 And yeah, I think it's cool if I get to have eternal life. 391 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,080 And so I want eternal life. And so they do what someone 392 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,600 tells them to do, and they parrot some little prayer after 393 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:09,720 some man who told him to repeat after him. 394 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,080 But never was there a work of God in their life bringing them 395 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,440 to the promise of redemption in Christ. 396 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,920 And they won't remain steadfast. In fact, they have no true 397 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,840 saving faith at all. John said this. 398 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:28,720 Before someone accuses me of preaching that someone can be 399 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:30,920 saved and then lose salvation, I'll make it very clear to you 400 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,480 that is untrue. There are many people who can 401 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:39,600 make professions, and then by their life and their lifestyles 402 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,880 and their true beliefs, they can deny Christ, proving that they 403 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:47,680 never knew Him at all. Jesus didn't say depart from me, 404 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,360 you workers of iniquity, for I knew you at one time and then 405 00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:54,200 you forgot about me, he says. Depart from me, you workers of 406 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:58,720 iniquity, for I never knew you. That's the language Jesus uses, 407 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,560 John says. They went out from us because 408 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,280 they were not of us. You know who John had in mind 409 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,480 there? I'm sure John had his old friend 410 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:10,880 Judas Iscariot in mind there. We spent over three years of his 411 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:14,520 life next to. So I'm not telling you that a 412 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,560 person comes to faith in Jesus Christ and can lose it. 413 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:20,680 I'm saying that a person can come to an intellectual 414 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:24,720 knowledge of the fact that Jesus Christ did exist and that he 415 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,080 did. Walk this earth, and that 416 00:25:26,080 --> 00:25:33,640 perhaps he did die on a cross, and you still not have true God 417 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:38,280 wrought saving faith, because God wrought saving faith is not 418 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,880 a work of man, it is a work of God. 419 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:44,640 And the work that God does last forever. 420 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:49,320 That's why Paul says being confident of this, he who began 421 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,640 the good work in me will carry it on to completion. 422 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,560 And so if God has truly started this good work in you through 423 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,320 the preaching of the true gospel birthing in you. 424 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:06,560 True faith and true repentance. You're secured by that faith and 425 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:10,040 you'll remain steadfast. It's the hated doctrine of 426 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:13,120 perseverance that so many people don't like to entertain. 427 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,840 However, it is all over Scripture that God. 428 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:23,800 Preserves those who truly belong to Him securing them. 429 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:28,600 For all of their days. Because true saving faith does 430 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,040 just that, doesn't it? That's why the author of Hebrews 431 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,320 could say this. In Hebrews chapter 10, verse 39, 432 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,160 he could confidently say we do not belong to those who shrink 433 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:39,200 back and are destroyed, but to those who have. 434 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,880 Look at it faith and are saved, he says. 435 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:44,680 We don't belong to a group of people who are going to 436 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:48,680 apostatize. We belong to a group of people 437 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,720 who are truly saved. And because they are truly 438 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:55,120 saved, they will remain steadfast, holding firmly to the 439 00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:58,280 word that was preached to them, and they will remain steadfast 440 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:03,640 all of their days, secured by the faith that saves them. 441 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:10,080 A man with intellectual faith alone says I have faith, 442 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:16,080 therefore I'm saved. The man who understands true 443 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:20,480 biblical faith says faith has me, therefore I am saved. 444 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:23,720 Aren't you thankful for those of you who are in Christ that faith 445 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:27,440 has you? You couldn't unbelieve if you 446 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:28,680 wanted to. Why? 447 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:34,240 Because it is a work of God, and that work of God secures us. 448 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,200 Therefore we remain steadfast as Paul was declaring here. 449 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:44,080 We're not going to be like the example in Luke chapter 8, verse 450 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,040 13. You know it as the parable of 451 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,920 the sower. He presents us with many 452 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,720 examples, but in 813 he gives us the example of the seed that 453 00:27:53,720 --> 00:27:55,280 fell on the rock. I want you to pay. 454 00:27:55,280 --> 00:28:00,160 Close attention to this it says those on the rock are the ones 455 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,760 who received the word with joy when they hear it, but they have 456 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:07,680 no root. They believe for a while, but in 457 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:12,040 the time of testing they fall away. 458 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,240 What happened? There was never a route. 459 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,480 It didn't say there was a route and it rotted. 460 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:21,320 The route doesn't rot. There was never a route. 461 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,480 There was never a life changing encounter with Christ. 462 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:29,280 It was never true faith. They heard the old ABC's of 463 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,760 Christianity and told, and we're told that if you don't submit to 464 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:36,120 this, Hell's your option. If you do submit to this, 465 00:28:36,120 --> 00:28:40,640 heaven's your option. Now, I don't know about you, but 466 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,960 I can't speak for me without any spiritual activity going on in 467 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,320 my heart. I can tell you in my mind I can 468 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,840 reckon that heaven is a better option than hell. 469 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:59,040 But did you know the gospel was never intended as a message to 470 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:05,280 sell real estate in heaven instead of real estate in hell? 471 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:12,480 The gospel is a message about Christ and true surrender and 472 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,400 true repentance and true faith in Christ. 473 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:18,680 And if it's true faith, you'll be. 474 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,040 Secured by that faith. If it's true faith, you'll be 475 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,720 striving in that faith. It will be your entire life. 476 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,640 It's funny, in American Christianity, we look at someone 477 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,240 who their life is consumed by Christ and we look at them as if 478 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,960 they're an anomaly and say what is wrong with this person? 479 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:35,200 We use terms like they're radical. 480 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,600 No, they're not. They're biblical. 481 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,800 We think something that is biblical is radical. 482 00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:45,680 It's not a person who truly comes to faith in Jesus Christ. 483 00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:47,480 They will be striving in that faith. 484 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,200 They will abide in him. They will live in Him. 485 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,840 They will walk in Him. They will fellowship with him 486 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:55,520 constantly. That's true Christianity. 487 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,720 The problem is the American church has sold a false gospel, 488 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:04,280 so we have false converts. We have false Christianity. 489 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,160 True Christians will strive in the faith. 490 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:13,160 Hebrews chapter 3 verse 14 says We have come to share in Christ, 491 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,320 if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very 492 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:21,120 end. So, well, Kirk, I don't like all 493 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:25,480 these stipulations put on it. I don't care if we like it or 494 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,400 not. This is what Scripture says. 495 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,000 Jesus himself in Matthew chapter 24. 496 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,000 He who endures through the end will be saved. 497 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,920 What does that tell us? Those who make a hollow 498 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,880 profession and then they fall back into the world, they won't 499 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:45,680 be saved. Because the true gospel preaches 500 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:49,800 striving faith, the faith that Paul speaks of in Colossians 501 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:53,960 chapter one verse 22, when he says, but now he has reconciled 502 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:56,320 you by Christ's physical body through death, to present you 503 00:30:56,320 --> 00:30:58,280 wholly in his sight, without blemish and free from 504 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:03,040 accusation. Watch if if you continue in your 505 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,400 faith established and firm. This is striving in the faith, 506 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:11,440 not moved from the hope held out in the gospel, he says. 507 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:13,840 This is the gospel that you heard and that has been 508 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,800 proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, 509 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,040 Paul, have become a servant. He says this is the gospel. 510 00:31:19,040 --> 00:31:22,320 That I, the apostle Paul preached to you that if you 511 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:26,280 strive and you continue in faith in this one true gospel, 512 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:29,600 remaining in the truth, never shrinking back, he. 513 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:37,280 Said you'll be saved, but for all of those who have fallen for 514 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:41,280 the bait and switch of pray this little prayer and ask Jesus in 515 00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:44,040 your heart only to go back and live your life just as you've 516 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:51,320 always done. You won't strive in faith. 517 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:56,320 Soon as things get difficult and you're tested, you know what 518 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:59,720 you're going to do. You're going to run right back 519 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:01,240 to the world that you're familiar with. 520 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:05,760 You're going to bury yourself in it just like you've always been 521 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:09,720 buried in it. True believer will strive in the 522 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,080 faith, persevering in the faith, remaining in the truth. 523 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,920 And so the true gospel promises redemption to all who come to 524 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:19,680 Christ, believing that he is the Christ, the Son of God. 525 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:23,960 The one who came to. Offer Himself as a sacrifice to 526 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,440 rescue and redeem helpless sinners. 527 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:34,760 That promise of redemption is for all who trust in Him and 528 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:39,920 continue in their faith. For all who trust in Him and 529 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:44,160 continue in their faith, they will be saved because continuing 530 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,680 in your faith is the proof that your faith truly is genuine. 531 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:53,360 We move to the second element today as we examine the true 532 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:58,880 gospel according to Paul. Element #2 The true gospel 533 00:32:59,720 --> 00:33:03,800 always, just as it always, promises redemption. 534 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:07,320 The true gospel always preaches Christ. 535 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,040 Without the preaching of Christ, there is no true gospel. 536 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:17,800 Paul says for what I received in verse three, I passed on to you 537 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:22,040 as of first importance that Christ died for our sins of 538 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:23,840 first importance. Now when you see Paul say 539 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:25,880 something is of first importance, you might want to 540 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:30,120 listen up. He says that Christ died for our 541 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:31,360 sins according to the scriptures. 542 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:32,920 Underline that according to the scriptures. 543 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:36,480 What scriptures are he is he referencing here? 544 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:39,760 What are we talking about? He's not talking about the New 545 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:41,680 Testament because he's pinning the New Testament right now 546 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:42,760 under the power of the Holy Spirit. 547 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:45,160 So he's obviously talking about the Old Testament scriptures 548 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,440 that we talked about last week that prophesied the cry. 549 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,840 We know that those scriptures did declare that Christ died for 550 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:56,920 our sins, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third 551 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,440 day. According to here it is again 552 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,520 the Scriptures. And so a gospel message, a true 553 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:06,760 gospel message must contain the element of Christ centered 554 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:11,000 preaching. Let me help you out the gospel 555 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,280 message. This is going to force some of 556 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:14,840 you. Are you ready? 557 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:23,679 Is not your testimony. I'm glad your life has changed. 558 00:34:23,679 --> 00:34:25,440 I'm glad you're different than you used to be. 559 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:28,120 There's lots of people who are different than they used to be 560 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:29,679 and they've never heard the one true gospel. 561 00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,760 They found Alcoholics Anonymous or they found some other kind of 562 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:35,600 help for whatever problem that they had. 563 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:42,360 The one true gospel is not your testimony. 564 00:34:43,360 --> 00:34:45,960 It's not your story. Stop thinking that when you 565 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,719 share your testimony that there's power in your testimony. 566 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,000 There's not power in your testimony. 567 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,560 Paulson I'm not ashamed of the gospel. 568 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:57,640 Why? It is the power of God, the 569 00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:01,000 gospel. Now you may be involved in that 570 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,400 meaning that you heard the gospel story and the power of 571 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:07,000 God revealed through the gospel saved your soul. 572 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:08,280 Share that story. Why? 573 00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:12,200 Because it points all the glory to Christ and it takes the glory 574 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:16,520 away from you. So it's not your story and it's 575 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:24,680 not your testimony. The true gospel will be centered 576 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:25,440 around. Christ. 577 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,560 So many modern gospels leave this out, don't they? 578 00:35:30,720 --> 00:35:33,720 It's about us. It's about our life and it's 579 00:35:33,720 --> 00:35:36,560 about our eternal existence, and it's about what makes us. 580 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:39,840 Happy or that makes us content or full of joy. 581 00:35:41,240 --> 00:35:44,480 That's not the gospel that Paul. Has preached to these 582 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:49,120 Corinthians that they have believed because the true gospel 583 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:53,360 preaches Christ and places him in a preeminent. 584 00:35:54,120 --> 00:36:02,520 Position Paul says it's of first importance that you can't have a 585 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:08,800 gospel unless you preach. Christ, that's for all of you 586 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,240 who know you should share the gospel with your lost family 587 00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:13,400 members or your lost friends, and instead of sharing the 588 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:15,200 gospel, you invite them to church. 589 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:20,600 Inviting someone to church is not sharing the one true gospel. 590 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:23,720 Did you hear that? I'm glad you're inviting them to 591 00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:24,600 church. But you know what I would 592 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:25,840 rather? And you know what God's Word 593 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:28,600 would rather you do? Sure. 594 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,160 With Him the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation. 595 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:34,760 Sure, within the gospel and when they believe on the Lord Jesus 596 00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:37,480 Christ, then invite him to church because then they're a 597 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:39,480 part of the church, then they'll fit in just fine. 598 00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:46,640 Around here. You're afraid to preach Christ? 599 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:51,080 What if it offends people? What if it does? 600 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:54,800 What if it bothers them? What if it does stop? 601 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,880 Thinking like that, what if they hear the true gospel and they 602 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,160 see the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus 603 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,760 Christ, and God uses that to open their eyes to their need 604 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:05,280 for a savior and they repent of their sin and they turn to that 605 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,120 risen Savior for salvation that day? 606 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:10,080 Stop using your what ifs incorrectly. 607 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:15,600 What if by design you go out and you share the gospel boldly and 608 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:19,880 by design God adds to the number of believers, those who are 609 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:23,320 being saved. So the preaching of the gospel 610 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:26,600 will always be an element of the true gospel. 611 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:32,480 The preaching of the gospel will contain a proclamation first of 612 00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:38,120 Jesus sacrificial death. We have people standing in 613 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:44,760 pulpits today who claim to be preaching the gospel who are not 614 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:47,280 going to talk about the sacrificial death of Jesus. 615 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:51,040 Christ at all. Can I help you? 616 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,840 If you are not declaring the sacrificial atoning work of 617 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:02,000 Jesus Christ for the Sinner, you're not preaching. 618 00:38:02,400 --> 00:38:05,320 The true gospel. You are entertaining. 619 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:08,720 People in a social club that you call a church. 620 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:13,200 Preaching of the gospel will contain a proclamation of Jesus 621 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:16,040 sacrificial death. Every time you present the 622 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:19,440 gospel, you will present the death of Jesus Christ. 623 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:24,080 Paul says this is a first importance, what I received and 624 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:25,840 how do you receive it? From Christ himself. 625 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:29,200 He says, and I passed it on to you as of first importance, that 626 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,360 Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. 627 00:38:35,080 --> 00:38:37,560 What does that tell us? This sacrificial death provides 628 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:41,760 atonement. For sinners, what does that 629 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:43,280 mean? Atonement. 630 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:46,480 Such a big churchy word, right? And in modern churches, what 631 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,640 we're supposed to do is not give you churchy words. 632 00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:52,600 Instead, what we do around here, we give you churchy words and we 633 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:55,360 tell you what they mean. How about that? 634 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:58,480 You actually walk out the door and you understand the 635 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:01,800 substitutionary atoning work of Jesus Christ, and we don't water 636 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:04,120 it down. We'll just tell you exactly what 637 00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:06,800 it means. When we talk about the atoning 638 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:09,760 work of Jesus Christ, the fact that He was the propitiation for 639 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:15,880 our sin, what does that mean? Means that Christ presented 640 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:22,360 himself on a cross, died a brutal death under the weight of 641 00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:30,560 our sin, and that in his death the Father's justice was 642 00:39:30,560 --> 00:39:33,280 satisfied. Now I want you to pay attention 643 00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:35,480 to that because a lot of people think like this in the American 644 00:39:35,480 --> 00:39:37,680 church. They think this, that Jesus 645 00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:42,880 because of grace just overlooks your sin and you get to go to 646 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:46,280 heaven. If you hear anybody preach that 647 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:49,360 that is not the gospel. He doesn't just turn the cheek 648 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:53,080 away and not notice your sin. In fact, He noticed your sin, 649 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:56,040 and He noticed your sin to such a degree that he came to this 650 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:59,280 earth, and He died to bear the punishment and the wrath that 651 00:39:59,280 --> 00:40:01,200 belonged to you because of your sin. 652 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:06,200 He didn't just look away from it, He took it upon himself. 653 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:09,160 That's what substitutionary atonement really is. 654 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:13,000 Why would I water that down? So that you can feel good about 655 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:17,520 yourself? No, he who knew no sin became 656 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:20,840 sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. 657 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:25,960 That's the gospel Jesus. Atoning work on the cross 658 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:31,480 satisfied the Father's justice, Isaiah said it pleased the Lord 659 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:38,000 to crush him. He was pleased because Christ 660 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:41,840 bore the wrath. Of all those who the Father 661 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:46,160 desired to save, making it possible so that they could be 662 00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:49,360 reconciled with the Father, you want to talk about an atonement. 663 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:52,240 You can't talk about atonement without reconciliation. 664 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:54,960 It is through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 665 00:40:54,960 --> 00:41:02,480 Christ, I promise I don't have tuberculosis, I don't think. 666 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:06,880 It is through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 667 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:09,680 That we are. Reconciled with the Father. 668 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,720 Why? Because sin severed that 669 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:17,120 relationship, didn't it? Go back to the Garden, see Adam 670 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:24,760 and Eve and see what happened. But Christ, there was death on a 671 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:27,840 cross. That sacrificial death 672 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:32,840 reconciled us to the Father, making atonement for the Sinner, 673 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,800 bringing to us expiation. Expiation. 674 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:46,880 What in the world, pastor? Our sin removed, the guilt and 675 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:51,200 the punishment of that sin removed and placed on the back 676 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:55,840 of Christ fulfilling the picture of the scapegoat in Leviticus 677 00:41:55,840 --> 00:42:00,960 chapter 16. If you know the Bible, where the 678 00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:03,800 sin of the entire nation was placed on the back of that 679 00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:06,480 scapegoat and he was sent off never to return again. 680 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:13,360 Christ being our scapegoat who bore the punishment and the 681 00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:17,160 wrath that belonged to us through His sacrificial death. 682 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:21,800 So the true gospel preaches Christ first. 683 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:27,720 It preaches Christ sacrificial death, the fact that Jesus truly 684 00:42:27,720 --> 00:42:34,360 died as a sacrifice in our place willingly to appease the 685 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:38,840 Father's wrath so that we could be reconciled to the same 686 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:43,520 Father. The preaching of the gospel will 687 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:47,120 contain this always. If you hear something called 688 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:49,520 gospel preaching that doesn't talk about the death and the 689 00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:51,760 sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it's not gospel preaching. 690 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:56,800 But it will also include another element that Paul shows us here, 691 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:00,880 not only Jesus sacrificial death, but also Jesus sure 692 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,760 resurrection. He says in verse four that he 693 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:08,400 was buried and he was raised on the third day according to the 694 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:10,600 scriptures. Why did he mention the fact that 695 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:15,720 he was buried? It's pretty simple, isn't it? 696 00:43:15,720 --> 00:43:17,280 Do we bury people? Who are alive? 697 00:43:18,680 --> 00:43:21,880 No. Only dead people get buried. 698 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,240 This is for all the skeptics who say that Jesus didn't really 699 00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:26,480 die. He just was knocked into an 700 00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:28,880 unconscious state and they're in the coolness of the tomb. 701 00:43:29,200 --> 00:43:32,440 The coolness revived him, and then he walked out, never to 702 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:35,480 really have died. That's heresy. 703 00:43:35,480 --> 00:43:40,320 That's not true. Or that his disciples somehow 704 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:44,960 stole him. He wasn't really resurrected 705 00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:45,680 from the. Dead. 706 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:51,840 That's all False, and the true gospel declares that his sure 707 00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:55,200 resurrection. Can I insert this? 708 00:43:55,240 --> 00:43:58,360 Everything that we hope on and everything that we bank on as 709 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:01,080 Christians revolves around the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 710 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:04,240 If Jesus Christ wouldn't have walked out of that tomb, you 711 00:44:04,240 --> 00:44:06,640 would have no claim to eternal life. 712 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:09,920 You would have no claim to any hopeless salvation, any claim to 713 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,360 forgiveness of sin. You would have no claim to 714 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:17,680 anything that belonged to God. I know you're you're floored 715 00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:19,920 right now. We're always supposed to talk 716 00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:24,840 about these things on Easter, pastor, every Lord's day, we are 717 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:28,560 to talk about these things. We're to talk about our 718 00:44:28,560 --> 00:44:32,000 resurrected Savior and the life that we have in him because we 719 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:33,800 died with him. We were buried with him and we 720 00:44:33,800 --> 00:44:36,800 were risen to new life in him with him. 721 00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:42,040 So Paul's saying here, the gospel you believe included this 722 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,480 must include it. His sure resurrection. 723 00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:50,320 First Peter chapter 1 verse 3 says His praise be the God and 724 00:44:50,320 --> 00:44:53,000 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given 725 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,840 us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of 726 00:44:55,880 --> 00:44:59,360 Jesus Christ from the dead, new birth into a living hope. 727 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:01,720 We just sang about that living hope a moment ago. 728 00:45:01,840 --> 00:45:04,840 Why is our hope alive? Because the one who we put our 729 00:45:04,840 --> 00:45:11,560 hope in is alive. So we must preach the sure 730 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:17,120 resurrection of Jesus Christ, that because he is alive, we are 731 00:45:17,120 --> 00:45:21,200 alive. What does this resurrection do 732 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:24,680 for us? Well, it affirms his person and 733 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:28,560 His power, doesn't it? We talked about that last week, 734 00:45:28,560 --> 00:45:33,920 that the true gospel is faith in the person and the work of Jesus 735 00:45:33,920 --> 00:45:36,760 Christ. And part of the work of Jesus 736 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:39,480 Christ is the fact that He walked out of that tomb, isn't 737 00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:42,760 it? I know what many people say. 738 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:44,640 Well, that's just almost unbelievable. 739 00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:46,720 It is. It's foolishness to those who 740 00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:50,840 are perishing, but it's not foolishness to those of us who 741 00:45:50,840 --> 00:45:56,640 are in Christ. We know that our Savior lives 742 00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:02,480 because His Word declares it, just as it was predicted in the 743 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:08,080 Old Testament Psalm 16. Verse 8 just skip to 10 where he 744 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:10,160 says because you will not abandon me to the realm of the 745 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:12,600 dead, nor will it will you let your faithful one see decay. 746 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:17,680 That is a prophecy in the Psalms of the Lord Jesus Christ who did 747 00:46:17,680 --> 00:46:20,800 not see decay. In fact, that's one of the 748 00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:23,480 things that he would have spoken with the believers about there 749 00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:25,920 in Luke chapter 24 when he met with them in that house where 750 00:46:25,920 --> 00:46:31,680 they were all afraid. The Old Testament predicted sure 751 00:46:31,680 --> 00:46:33,640 resurrection of Christ. Isaiah 53. 752 00:46:33,640 --> 00:46:36,600 You saw last week in Isaiah 53 the suffering servant. 753 00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:40,800 If you keep reading in 53 you also see the risen Savior. 754 00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:44,360 It says yet it was the Lords will and verse 10 to crush him 755 00:46:44,360 --> 00:46:46,160 and calls him to suffer. And though the Lord makes his 756 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:50,360 life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and 757 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:52,920 prolong his days in the will of the Lord will prosper in his 758 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:56,240 hand and after he has suffered he will see the light of life 759 00:46:56,440 --> 00:46:58,200 and be satisfied by his knowledge. 760 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:01,880 My righteous servant will justify many and he will bear 761 00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:04,720 their iniquities. After he has suffered he will 762 00:47:04,720 --> 00:47:13,080 see the light of life. The prophets declaring sure 763 00:47:13,680 --> 00:47:20,440 resurrection of Jesus Christ before the gospel message must 764 00:47:20,440 --> 00:47:23,840 preach the sure resurrection of Jesus Christ. 765 00:47:24,720 --> 00:47:27,640 It affirms this person is power, but also assures eternal life to 766 00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:30,120 those who believe. I told you before, you have no 767 00:47:30,120 --> 00:47:31,520 eternal life if Christ is not alive. 768 00:47:32,120 --> 00:47:33,800 You have no mediator of a new covenant. 769 00:47:34,320 --> 00:47:36,080 You have no intercessor to your. Prayers. 770 00:47:36,880 --> 00:47:38,840 You're in heap of trouble. You're exactly what you once 771 00:47:38,840 --> 00:47:40,320 were. Unfortunately, that's what some 772 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:43,800 of you still are. But you've always been. 773 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:49,920 The resurrection of Christ assures eternal life for those 774 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:52,240 who believe, just as promised in His Word. 775 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:55,600 Does He not promise eternal life to all those who by faith 776 00:47:55,600 --> 00:47:58,080 believe and trust in Him? John chapter 3, verse 36. 777 00:47:58,640 --> 00:48:00,720 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever 778 00:48:00,720 --> 00:48:03,560 rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on 779 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:04,480 them. What is He saying? 780 00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:07,440 And those who reject the Son, the wrath of God is already upon 781 00:48:07,440 --> 00:48:11,320 you. He doesn't have to deliver His 782 00:48:11,320 --> 00:48:13,000 wrath to you. You're walking in it. 783 00:48:14,360 --> 00:48:18,640 But to those of you who receive His Son by true faith, believing 784 00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:22,880 in the resurrected risen Savior, what does He say to you? 785 00:48:22,880 --> 00:48:28,200 There's no more wrath upon you, because He bore the wrath on the 786 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:31,760 cross and He bore the wrath on the cross through then He died 787 00:48:31,760 --> 00:48:37,520 and then He was buried, and then He rose again, and you rose with 788 00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:43,240 them, assuring you eternal life. So the sure resurrection of 789 00:48:43,240 --> 00:48:45,320 Christ gives us that assurance, doesn't it? 790 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:49,160 First, John chapter 5, verse 11. John says this, and this is the 791 00:48:49,160 --> 00:48:50,800 testimony. God has given us eternal life 792 00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:53,680 and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life. 793 00:48:53,680 --> 00:48:56,440 Whoever does not have the Son. Does not have life. 794 00:48:57,360 --> 00:49:01,000 It's that simple, isn't it? Here in the sun, you have life. 795 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,920 Here in the sun properly. What is being in the sun 796 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:05,600 properly? Recognizing his death, his 797 00:49:05,600 --> 00:49:11,960 burial and his resurrection. My faith, earnestly believing in 798 00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:17,160 that, gives us the assurance of eternal life. 799 00:49:18,880 --> 00:49:20,280 I'm thankful for that. How about you? 800 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:25,680 I'm thankful that for that every time I read the Gospel accounts 801 00:49:26,880 --> 00:49:32,480 of Jesus walking out of that tomb, that tomb being empty when 802 00:49:32,480 --> 00:49:35,200 his friends and his followers showed up there that next 803 00:49:35,200 --> 00:49:38,680 morning. I'm thankful for that because of 804 00:49:38,680 --> 00:49:45,000 the fact that because he lives, I'm in him and I too live. 805 00:49:45,800 --> 00:49:49,400 I don't ever forget that we have to trust in and to preach the 806 00:49:49,400 --> 00:49:53,600 sure. Resurrection of Christ because 807 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:54,800 there's no eternal life without it. 808 00:49:59,320 --> 00:50:01,400 This is for what I received. I passed on to you as a first 809 00:50:01,400 --> 00:50:03,480 importance that Christ died for our sins according to the 810 00:50:03,480 --> 00:50:05,800 scriptures that he was buried and that he was raised on the 811 00:50:05,800 --> 00:50:07,680 third day according to the scriptures. 812 00:50:07,680 --> 00:50:09,720 He's saying it's all according to the word of God. 813 00:50:11,480 --> 00:50:14,120 He's a sacrificial death. Jesus, sure, resurrection, 814 00:50:15,120 --> 00:50:18,200 firming his person and his power, assuring eternal life 815 00:50:20,080 --> 00:50:25,240 promise to all who believe, but not only that, even giving us 816 00:50:25,240 --> 00:50:28,360 confidence of a future physical bodily resurrection. 817 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:31,320 I told you the context of this, of this is Paul telling the 818 00:50:31,320 --> 00:50:35,760 Corinthians that yes, there will be a bodily resurrection that 819 00:50:35,760 --> 00:50:37,640 brings hope, doesn't it? Because we preach the doctrine 820 00:50:37,640 --> 00:50:40,560 of glorification. It's going to be very difficult 821 00:50:40,560 --> 00:50:44,160 for us to be glorified in our body if we don't have a body 822 00:50:44,160 --> 00:50:47,840 that is then glorified. But I love that scripture is 823 00:50:47,840 --> 00:50:49,720 very clear on this. I'm just going to give you some 824 00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:56,160 thought and before we leave this section, John chapter 5, verse 825 00:50:56,160 --> 00:50:58,960 28, the Lord says this, do not be amazed at this for a time is 826 00:50:58,960 --> 00:51:02,480 coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and 827 00:51:02,480 --> 00:51:05,040 come out. Those who have done what is 828 00:51:05,040 --> 00:51:07,960 goodwill rise to live and those who have done what is evil will 829 00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:13,400 rise to be condemned. Great cut and dried, isn't it? 830 00:51:14,720 --> 00:51:16,920 There will be a future bodily resurrection. 831 00:51:16,920 --> 00:51:20,320 Those who are in Christ will be raised to eternal life. 832 00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:23,960 Those who are not in Christ will be raised through eternal death. 833 00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:25,920 That's why John calls it the second death. 834 00:51:26,080 --> 00:51:30,760 In the Lake of Fire. First Thessalonians chapter 4, 835 00:51:32,680 --> 00:51:34,440 verse 16 says this. For the Lord himself will come 836 00:51:34,440 --> 00:51:36,320 down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the 837 00:51:36,320 --> 00:51:38,560 Archangel, with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ 838 00:51:38,560 --> 00:51:41,200 will rise first. After that, we who are still 839 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:44,120 alive and are left will be caught up together with them in 840 00:51:44,120 --> 00:51:45,920 the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 841 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:47,920 And so we will be with the Lord forever. 842 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:50,160 What does that sound like? That sounds like we're coming 843 00:51:50,160 --> 00:51:51,960 out of the grave. Why? 844 00:51:51,960 --> 00:51:55,080 Because just as Christ came out of the grave bodily, we too will 845 00:51:55,080 --> 00:52:00,560 come out of the grave bodily in His own image, conformed to him. 846 00:52:03,120 --> 00:52:05,360 And it's because of His sure resurrection that we have that 847 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:08,840 hope of a future resurrection, that hope that Paul talked about 848 00:52:09,120 --> 00:52:12,320 when he spoke to the Corinthians in the 15th chapter again down 849 00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:15,640 there in verse 52 in this text concerning the resurrection. 850 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:19,040 He says this in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye at the last 851 00:52:19,040 --> 00:52:20,760 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the 852 00:52:20,760 --> 00:52:23,720 dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be 853 00:52:23,720 --> 00:52:27,240 changed. For the perishable must clothe 854 00:52:27,240 --> 00:52:30,680 itself with imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 855 00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:33,680 And when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable 856 00:52:33,680 --> 00:52:36,600 and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written 857 00:52:36,720 --> 00:52:39,840 will come true. Death has been swallowed up in 858 00:52:39,840 --> 00:52:42,840 victory. Where O death is your victory? 859 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:47,000 Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and 860 00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:51,000 the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, he gives 861 00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:56,160 us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. 862 00:52:58,880 --> 00:53:04,080 So true gospel message, we'll always preach the sure 863 00:53:04,080 --> 00:53:08,200 resurrection of Jesus Christ. It will always preach Jesus 864 00:53:08,200 --> 00:53:11,080 sacrificial death. Thomas Watson said this. 865 00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:14,800 The true gospel, it will preach Christ. 866 00:53:15,200 --> 00:53:18,480 He says this. We are more sure to arise out of 867 00:53:18,480 --> 00:53:25,600 our graves than out of our beds. We're more sure to rise out of 868 00:53:25,600 --> 00:53:27,720 our graves as believers than out of our beds. 869 00:53:27,720 --> 00:53:31,480 You might not have gotten out of bed this morning, but if you're 870 00:53:31,480 --> 00:53:33,920 truly in Christ because of the sure resurrection of Jesus 871 00:53:33,920 --> 00:53:36,960 Christ, you can have confidence of this that day that you don't 872 00:53:36,960 --> 00:53:39,560 get out of your bed. You will one day still get out 873 00:53:39,560 --> 00:53:41,840 of the grave according to what God's Word promises. 874 00:53:41,840 --> 00:53:43,440 That's why He says according to the Scriptures. 875 00:53:45,040 --> 00:53:48,000 So we see that element #2 of the true gospel always preaches 876 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:59,880 Christ #3 and we'll close. The true gospel produces 877 00:53:59,880 --> 00:54:02,760 disciples I don't want you to miss. 878 00:54:02,760 --> 00:54:06,840 This. Because that is the entire point 879 00:54:06,920 --> 00:54:09,920 of the gospel. That is what Jesus commissioned 880 00:54:09,920 --> 00:54:13,440 his disciples to do, to go into all the world and preach the 881 00:54:13,440 --> 00:54:16,840 good news in order to make disciples. 882 00:54:20,200 --> 00:54:23,040 Verse 5 he says and that that he appeared talking about the risen 883 00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:25,400 Savior. He appeared to Peter, then to 884 00:54:25,400 --> 00:54:29,240 the 12:00, and after that he appeared to more than 500 of the 885 00:54:29,240 --> 00:54:32,120 brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though 886 00:54:32,120 --> 00:54:34,880 some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James. 887 00:54:34,880 --> 00:54:37,120 This was talking about his brother James, or half brother 888 00:54:37,120 --> 00:54:39,680 as you know him, and then to all the apostles. 889 00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:43,360 And last of all he appeared to me also talking about Paul as 890 00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:46,400 the one abnormally born. For I am the least of the 891 00:54:46,400 --> 00:54:49,560 apostles and do not even desire to be called an apostle because 892 00:54:49,560 --> 00:54:52,280 I persecuted the Church of God, he says. 893 00:54:52,280 --> 00:54:55,480 But by the grace of God, I am what I am. 894 00:54:56,160 --> 00:54:59,040 It's what Paul sees there and what he's proclaiming. 895 00:54:59,400 --> 00:55:01,840 I don't deserve to even be called an apostle, but God in 896 00:55:01,840 --> 00:55:05,040 his grace has made me one, he says. 897 00:55:05,040 --> 00:55:06,920 And his grace to me was not without effect. 898 00:55:06,920 --> 00:55:09,840 It did exactly what God desires for it to do. 899 00:55:10,440 --> 00:55:13,080 There's no one who is here who is the recipient of God's grace 900 00:55:13,080 --> 00:55:15,320 that that it hasn't truly affected you. 901 00:55:15,320 --> 00:55:17,240 It's not without effect. He says. 902 00:55:17,240 --> 00:55:18,560 No, I worked harder than all of them. 903 00:55:18,560 --> 00:55:21,160 He's not braggadocious here. He's giving God glory. 904 00:55:21,160 --> 00:55:23,560 Watch yet not I, but the grace of God that was in me. 905 00:55:23,560 --> 00:55:26,840 He said God graced me with apostleship and He graced me 906 00:55:26,880 --> 00:55:31,720 with a hard work ethic so that I would reach multitudes for His. 907 00:55:31,720 --> 00:55:35,240 Glory, he says. Whether then it was I or they me 908 00:55:35,240 --> 00:55:38,240 or the other apostles or the people that I mentioned, this is 909 00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:40,680 what we preach. I love that they're all on the 910 00:55:40,680 --> 00:55:43,080 same page. I wish the churches in this 911 00:55:43,080 --> 00:55:45,280 world would get on the same page about the gospel. 912 00:55:46,280 --> 00:55:49,520 This is what we preach. They're not divided on this. 913 00:55:49,520 --> 00:55:52,920 They can't be divided on this. And this is what you believe. 914 00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:56,760 You say this is the gospel. You believe the gospel we 915 00:55:56,760 --> 00:55:58,920 preach. This is the death, the burial, 916 00:55:58,920 --> 00:56:00,600 the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 917 00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:02,880 This is what God uses to make other. 918 00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:08,160 Disciples and the true gospel will always produce disciples. 919 00:56:09,240 --> 00:56:11,200 We are not here. Are you listening, Church? 920 00:56:11,240 --> 00:56:13,760 We are not here to produce church members. 921 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:20,160 Everybody go like this. We are here to produce disciples 922 00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:23,800 of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are enough people trying 923 00:56:23,800 --> 00:56:26,080 to make church hip, cool, and relevant so that they can 924 00:56:26,080 --> 00:56:30,920 produce more church members. We're not going to do that. 925 00:56:32,320 --> 00:56:35,560 We're going to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ 926 00:56:35,560 --> 00:56:39,840 as described and explained in Scripture, and he's going to add 927 00:56:39,840 --> 00:56:42,240 to our numbers those who he desires to say. 928 00:56:43,600 --> 00:56:46,120 He's going to make disciples. That's our objective. 929 00:56:46,880 --> 00:56:49,520 And in order to make disciples, you have to preach the gospel. 930 00:56:49,640 --> 00:56:52,840 And if you are preaching the gospel, it will always result in 931 00:56:52,840 --> 00:56:55,720 the making of disciples. Always. 932 00:56:57,560 --> 00:57:01,000 Produces disciples. It produces disciples who have 933 00:57:01,000 --> 00:57:04,320 seen Christ. Look at this revelation here 934 00:57:04,360 --> 00:57:08,800 that he's explaining. He's talking about those who saw 935 00:57:08,840 --> 00:57:14,400 the risen Savior and this revelation that they received 936 00:57:14,400 --> 00:57:20,200 was based on the revelation of Christ and Christ coming to them 937 00:57:20,600 --> 00:57:25,160 graciously. Jesus reveals himself to true 938 00:57:25,440 --> 00:57:28,560 disciples. Matthew Chapter 11, verse 27. 939 00:57:28,560 --> 00:57:30,800 Look what the Lord says. All things have been committed 940 00:57:30,800 --> 00:57:33,920 to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the 941 00:57:33,920 --> 00:57:38,320 Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those 942 00:57:38,320 --> 00:57:42,680 to whom the Son. Chooses to reveal him. 943 00:57:44,360 --> 00:57:47,360 All of those examples that Paul just listed, those disciples, 944 00:57:47,360 --> 00:57:55,640 all of them disciples of Christ, Christ chose to reveal himself 945 00:57:55,640 --> 00:57:59,440 to them. Oh, I got him in order again. 946 00:58:01,600 --> 00:58:07,000 He revealed himself to Peter, to the 12, to the 500, to James, to 947 00:58:07,560 --> 00:58:12,000 the other apostles, and then to Paul in a unique. 948 00:58:12,000 --> 00:58:19,960 Sort of way, but all who received the revelation of Jesus 949 00:58:19,960 --> 00:58:30,280 Christ, the true revelation of Jesus Christ, will become 950 00:58:30,280 --> 00:58:34,480 disciples of Christ. Because when he truly reveals 951 00:58:34,480 --> 00:58:39,840 himself to you, there is no doubt in your mind who he is. 952 00:58:40,840 --> 00:58:43,720 How many of you would say, well, you know, Kirk, I've never had 953 00:58:43,720 --> 00:58:47,120 this apparition of the Lord like you're talking about these 954 00:58:47,120 --> 00:58:50,040 people seeing you. You've had an apparition of the 955 00:58:50,040 --> 00:58:54,240 Lord today, as the apostle Paul has taught you from the first 956 00:58:54,240 --> 00:58:57,560 Corinthian letter, chapter 15. And God has revealed himself to 957 00:58:57,560 --> 00:58:59,800 you through his word by his Spirit. 958 00:59:00,160 --> 00:59:03,200 You're seeing Christ today. The fact that he lived and that 959 00:59:03,200 --> 00:59:06,640 he died and that he was buried and that he rose again, you're 960 00:59:06,640 --> 00:59:11,800 seeing Christ. But I pray that you're seeing 961 00:59:11,800 --> 00:59:14,720 Christ with more than your human eyes this morning. 962 00:59:17,480 --> 00:59:20,920 I pray that like these who Paul mentions, you're seeing God by 963 00:59:21,400 --> 00:59:26,480 or Christ by God's grace. Did you know this? 964 00:59:26,480 --> 00:59:28,520 Jesus didn't have to go to any of those men. 965 00:59:29,960 --> 00:59:35,080 None of them. He chose to reveal himself to 966 00:59:35,080 --> 00:59:38,320 them. He went to them. 967 00:59:39,480 --> 00:59:41,560 He went to Peter. And why is that so important? 968 00:59:41,600 --> 00:59:45,880 You know the story of Peter, He had faltered and he had failed, 969 00:59:45,880 --> 00:59:48,320 and he had denied that he even knew Christ. 970 00:59:50,280 --> 00:59:57,560 But yet one morning on the shore of Galilee, Jesus made a 971 00:59:57,560 --> 00:59:59,960 breakfast appointment that Peter didn't know anything about. 972 01:00:01,080 --> 01:00:03,320 Oh, you remember the story where Peter jumped out of the boat and 973 01:00:03,320 --> 01:00:06,480 he swam to Jesus, and Jesus restored him by the same grace 974 01:00:06,480 --> 01:00:10,120 that had saved him? Jesus graciously revealing 975 01:00:10,120 --> 01:00:12,840 himself to Peter, to the other 12. 976 01:00:12,840 --> 01:00:15,280 Why that? Why is that mentioned? 977 01:00:15,560 --> 01:00:18,040 Precisely because they were all in a room, huddled together, 978 01:00:18,040 --> 01:00:19,240 afraid. What were they afraid of? 979 01:00:19,240 --> 01:00:22,240 They were going to be killed. They had just seen their Lord 980 01:00:22,240 --> 01:00:24,000 and their master brutally crucified. 981 01:00:24,760 --> 01:00:29,400 They're running for their life. Jesus walked through the walls 982 01:00:29,400 --> 01:00:32,520 and appeared in the room. According to Luke's gospel in 983 01:00:32,520 --> 01:00:37,360 the 24th chapter. He began to comfort them. 984 01:00:37,360 --> 01:00:42,000 How did he comfort them? By revealing himself to them. 985 01:00:43,080 --> 01:00:45,840 By letting them know that I am the one, the risen Savior, the 986 01:00:45,840 --> 01:00:48,400 one that the prophets and Moses and the Psalm spoke of. 987 01:00:48,400 --> 01:00:53,360 I am him. You need not fear any longer. 988 01:00:55,400 --> 01:00:58,880 Don't be afraid. 500 other believers, you say, Who are 989 01:00:58,880 --> 01:00:59,440 they? I don't know. 990 01:01:00,720 --> 01:01:03,720 No one does. They're a group of believers. 991 01:01:04,200 --> 01:01:07,360 I know what it does tell me. It tells me that the disciples 992 01:01:07,360 --> 01:01:09,640 of Christ were doing their job because all of a sudden there's 993 01:01:09,640 --> 01:01:13,880 500 other believers. They were sharing the true 994 01:01:13,880 --> 01:01:17,160 gospel. Jesus reveals himself to them 995 01:01:18,840 --> 01:01:22,280 and then to his brother James. Oh, his little brother James 996 01:01:22,280 --> 01:01:24,240 that had doubted that he was truly the Messiah. 997 01:01:24,240 --> 01:01:27,200 Did you know that about Jesus? Even his own brother John 998 01:01:27,200 --> 01:01:29,000 Chapter 7 confirms this in verse 5. 999 01:01:30,520 --> 01:01:32,760 Princess or even his own brothers did not believe in him. 1000 01:01:36,480 --> 01:01:38,760 Jesus is kind enough and gracious enough to reveal 1001 01:01:38,760 --> 01:01:43,760 himself to his brother James. And to say, James, I know that 1002 01:01:43,760 --> 01:01:48,200 you haven't had faith in me up until this point, but you're 1003 01:01:48,200 --> 01:01:51,800 going to believe now. And from that point on, James 1004 01:01:51,800 --> 01:01:54,720 the brother of Jesus. And we know when we read the 1005 01:01:54,720 --> 01:01:57,480 epistle of James, it is he that wrote that epistle under the 1006 01:01:57,480 --> 01:02:02,560 inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this James who lived his life 1007 01:02:02,560 --> 01:02:04,920 for the glory of God and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1008 01:02:06,080 --> 01:02:07,640 Why? Because Jesus revealed himself 1009 01:02:07,640 --> 01:02:12,960 to him, revealed himself to the other apostles for 40 days and 1010 01:02:12,960 --> 01:02:14,760 40 nights. Acts tells us that, doesn't it? 1011 01:02:16,520 --> 01:02:18,680 Acts chapter one, verse 3. After suffering, he presented 1012 01:02:18,680 --> 01:02:20,880 himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was 1013 01:02:20,880 --> 01:02:22,400 alive. And he appeared to them over a 1014 01:02:22,400 --> 01:02:24,920 period of 40 days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. 1015 01:02:26,720 --> 01:02:34,480 Jesus took the time to reveal himself, his disciples, and 1016 01:02:34,480 --> 01:02:39,680 those who saw him and truly saw him, they believed. 1017 01:02:41,920 --> 01:02:46,240 So the Gospel produces disciples, disciples who have 1018 01:02:46,240 --> 01:02:48,360 seen Christ. You say, what about us? 1019 01:02:51,120 --> 01:02:52,400 Didn't he graciously appear to you? 1020 01:02:52,440 --> 01:02:54,400 I know that He graciously appeared to me one day. 1021 01:02:57,040 --> 01:03:00,520 I'm not talking about in any weird, kooky, charismatic sort 1022 01:03:00,520 --> 01:03:03,440 of way. I'm talking about into the 1023 01:03:03,440 --> 01:03:07,400 depths of my being. For His Spirit crushed me and 1024 01:03:07,400 --> 01:03:09,640 convinced me of how sinful I truly was. 1025 01:03:09,640 --> 01:03:13,600 And He quickened me to new life to see that I needed a Savior 1026 01:03:13,600 --> 01:03:17,080 and that there is a Savior who loves me and not only loved me, 1027 01:03:17,080 --> 01:03:19,120 that He gave Himself for me on a cross. 1028 01:03:19,120 --> 01:03:22,320 And He died in my place to bear the wrath of the sin that 1029 01:03:22,320 --> 01:03:25,320 belonged to me. And then He was buried. 1030 01:03:25,320 --> 01:03:30,080 And then He rose again. And upon hearing that message, I 1031 01:03:30,080 --> 01:03:33,840 saw Christ personally for the very first time, although I 1032 01:03:33,840 --> 01:03:35,520 didn't see Him with my human eyes. 1033 01:03:35,520 --> 01:03:39,000 I longed for that day when I get to look at Him with my glorified 1034 01:03:39,000 --> 01:03:41,760 eyes after that bodily resurrection where I get to see 1035 01:03:41,760 --> 01:03:44,160 Him face to face. No, no, I haven't gotten to see 1036 01:03:44,160 --> 01:03:47,960 Him face to face because He did not appear to me in that way. 1037 01:03:49,640 --> 01:03:52,600 Oh, He has revealed Himself to me, allowing me to believe, 1038 01:03:52,720 --> 01:03:54,800 trust in Him to be one of His disciples. 1039 01:03:55,760 --> 01:03:58,440 Isn't that what happens when the gospel, the true gospel, goes 1040 01:03:58,440 --> 01:03:59,960 forth? Disciples are made. 1041 01:04:01,960 --> 01:04:05,200 Christ, by the grace of God, reveals himself to those who 1042 01:04:05,200 --> 01:04:09,720 hear that message, the message of one who has, like those 1043 01:04:09,720 --> 01:04:14,080 mentioned by Paul in this passage, witnessed the risen 1044 01:04:14,080 --> 01:04:17,040 Savior, witnessed his life and his ministry. 1045 01:04:18,200 --> 01:04:22,760 Oh, he graciously appears to us through his word, confirmed by 1046 01:04:22,760 --> 01:04:28,760 his Spirit, revealing the risen Christ to us, bearing witness 1047 01:04:28,760 --> 01:04:35,000 that our Savior truly is alive. I wish I was more eloquent in 1048 01:04:35,000 --> 01:04:40,880 saying that like Alfred Ackley when he said he lives, He lives. 1049 01:04:40,880 --> 01:04:45,080 Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with 1050 01:04:45,080 --> 01:04:48,400 me a long life's narrow way. He lives. 1051 01:04:48,400 --> 01:04:53,640 He lives salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives. 1052 01:04:54,560 --> 01:04:59,080 He lives within my heart, and He does because He took out that 1053 01:04:59,080 --> 01:05:02,840 heart of stone full of sin and full of envy and full of 1054 01:05:02,840 --> 01:05:06,360 wickedness and full of hate. He placed within me a heart of 1055 01:05:06,360 --> 01:05:09,200 flesh where He now abides by His Spirit. 1056 01:05:10,640 --> 01:05:15,240 And I know that He lives because He lives within me. 1057 01:05:17,360 --> 01:05:20,200 Oh, he makes disciples, producing them out of those who 1058 01:05:20,200 --> 01:05:27,960 have seen Christ, producing disciples who not only have seen 1059 01:05:27,960 --> 01:05:31,280 Christ, but who serve as witnesses of Christ. 1060 01:05:31,280 --> 01:05:34,600 That's our job, that's our duty. How do we do that? 1061 01:05:34,600 --> 01:05:36,280 We share the good news of the gospel. 1062 01:05:39,120 --> 01:05:45,000 We don't share stories. We don't share things that don't 1063 01:05:45,200 --> 01:05:49,360 mean anything. We share the very words of life, 1064 01:05:49,360 --> 01:05:51,480 the gospel, the death, the burial, the resurrection of 1065 01:05:51,560 --> 01:05:54,240 Jesus Christ, and the fact that if man does not believe and 1066 01:05:54,240 --> 01:05:55,960 trust in him. He will perish. 1067 01:05:55,960 --> 01:06:00,840 In his sin for all eternity we share the good news of the 1068 01:06:00,840 --> 01:06:05,200 gospel is that not what Jesus said would happen and the Spirit 1069 01:06:05,200 --> 01:06:07,680 comes upon his believers in Acts chapter one verse 8. 1070 01:06:08,560 --> 01:06:11,200 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, 1071 01:06:11,200 --> 01:06:14,600 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and 1072 01:06:14,600 --> 01:06:18,480 Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 1073 01:06:19,920 --> 01:06:22,640 True disciple will be a true witness of Christ. 1074 01:06:22,640 --> 01:06:27,080 They will be able to say I know He lives because I have seen him 1075 01:06:27,080 --> 01:06:29,760 through his word and it has been confirmed, confirmed by his 1076 01:06:29,760 --> 01:06:34,840 Spirit. I am His and He is mine, and I 1077 01:06:34,840 --> 01:06:39,160 just want to tell you about Him and how He saved sinners because 1078 01:06:39,160 --> 01:06:43,800 I'm thankful that someone once told me this old gospel message. 1079 01:06:46,160 --> 01:06:54,400 Are you serving as a witness of Christ, sharing the good news, 1080 01:06:54,640 --> 01:06:57,000 powered by the Spirit, making disciples? 1081 01:06:57,000 --> 01:07:01,280 I'm going to say a bold statement here. 1082 01:07:03,160 --> 01:07:05,960 There's no burning desire to do that in your life. 1083 01:07:05,960 --> 01:07:10,240 Don't dare claim to know the risen Savior because all of 1084 01:07:10,240 --> 01:07:12,960 these examples of those who knew the risen Savior, you know what 1085 01:07:12,960 --> 01:07:17,400 they did, they spent their entire lifetime even giving 1086 01:07:17,400 --> 01:07:21,080 their life as witnesses of the risen Savior of the Lord Jesus 1087 01:07:21,080 --> 01:07:30,200 Christ was displayed by their entire lives evidenced by the 1088 01:07:30,200 --> 01:07:32,880 change that he brings. Doesn't he bring a change when 1089 01:07:32,880 --> 01:07:35,920 you encounter the risen Savior, Amen. 1090 01:07:37,560 --> 01:07:38,880 I won't wait on you this morning. 1091 01:07:42,040 --> 01:07:44,240 The scripture confirms that if we're in Christ, we're a new 1092 01:07:44,240 --> 01:07:45,760 creation. All the old is gone. 1093 01:07:45,760 --> 01:07:47,760 Behold, all things have been made new. 1094 01:07:47,760 --> 01:07:52,680 Have you been made new? The surrendering to Christ after 1095 01:07:52,680 --> 01:07:56,600 hearing the gospel message. Is there an evident change in 1096 01:07:56,600 --> 01:07:59,640 your life? Have you truly been saved under 1097 01:07:59,640 --> 01:08:06,680 the power of the gospel? It was displayed by their entire 1098 01:08:06,680 --> 01:08:10,560 lives. They unashamedly continue to be 1099 01:08:10,560 --> 01:08:12,800 witnesses for Christ and His resurrection. 1100 01:08:14,360 --> 01:08:16,200 Why? Because the true gospel always 1101 01:08:16,200 --> 01:08:19,760 produces disciples who produce disciples who produce disciples. 1102 01:08:19,760 --> 01:08:21,800 Aren't you thankful that we're here because that's true. 1103 01:08:24,439 --> 01:08:30,520 Had someone 4 generations ago apart from me in the past not 1104 01:08:30,520 --> 01:08:33,560 shared the gospel when they had the opportunity to share the 1105 01:08:33,560 --> 01:08:36,160 gospel, I might not have ever heard the gospel. 1106 01:08:38,399 --> 01:08:42,160 I'm thankful that in God's plan He is always raising up those 1107 01:08:43,600 --> 01:08:47,359 who have seen the risen Savior, either by sight as these 1108 01:08:47,359 --> 01:08:50,279 examples or by faith as us. That's why Jesus said blessed 1109 01:08:50,279 --> 01:08:53,359 are you who have seen me and believed, but even more blessed 1110 01:08:53,359 --> 01:08:56,120 are those who believe and have not seen. 1111 01:08:59,760 --> 01:09:03,520 It was displayed by their lives. It should be displayed by ours. 1112 01:09:04,960 --> 01:09:08,600 It was declared by their message, teaching others the 1113 01:09:08,600 --> 01:09:15,920 good news, not shying away from that, appointing sinners to 1114 01:09:15,920 --> 01:09:23,200 Christ constantly. Luke chapter 24 and I'm done. 1115 01:09:23,200 --> 01:09:26,479 He says this, He told them, This is what is written. 1116 01:09:26,560 --> 01:09:29,160 The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 1117 01:09:29,800 --> 01:09:33,120 and repentance for for the forgiveness of sins will be 1118 01:09:33,120 --> 01:09:36,080 preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 1119 01:09:36,600 --> 01:09:40,640 You are witnesses of these things. 1120 01:09:45,080 --> 01:09:50,359 All of you, under the sound of my voice, are now witnesses of 1121 01:09:50,359 --> 01:09:57,280 these things, that Christ died, He was buried, and that he rose 1122 01:09:57,280 --> 01:10:03,920 again for all who would believe by faith and trust in him as 1123 01:10:03,920 --> 01:10:10,200 Lord and Savior. Gospel that doesn't produce 1124 01:10:10,200 --> 01:10:15,040 disciples is no gospel. Turn from your sin. 1125 01:10:16,440 --> 01:10:20,080 Turn from your life. And follow the risen Savior 1126 01:10:20,080 --> 01:10:29,320 today as one of his disciple. To the believer today as we 1127 01:10:29,320 --> 01:10:35,520 close, I take the time to walk through these truths for you 1128 01:10:39,040 --> 01:10:42,000 because we live in a world where there are so many gospels and it 1129 01:10:42,000 --> 01:10:44,600 can be quite overwhelming and it can be quite confusing. 1130 01:10:48,680 --> 01:10:50,640 But I ask you this question, does your gospel that you 1131 01:10:50,640 --> 01:10:54,840 believe, that you proclaim to others, and hopefully that you 1132 01:10:54,840 --> 01:11:00,400 continually proclaim to yourself, does your gospel look 1133 01:11:00,400 --> 01:11:03,320 like this gospel? Does it contain these elements, 1134 01:11:03,360 --> 01:11:07,720 the promise of redemption, preaching of Christ, the 1135 01:11:07,720 --> 01:11:10,800 production of disciples? Does your gospel look like this 1136 01:11:10,840 --> 01:11:15,840 gospel? This is the true gospel to the 1137 01:11:15,840 --> 01:11:20,000 unbeliever. I pray today that you have heard 1138 01:11:20,040 --> 01:11:22,120 the gospel, that you have seen the gospel. 1139 01:11:25,080 --> 01:11:30,600 My prayer for you is this, that Christ in all of his mercy would 1140 01:11:30,600 --> 01:11:35,720 reveal the truth to you today. And He is that truth that he 1141 01:11:35,720 --> 01:11:38,920 would reveal himself to you today, drawing you out of the 1142 01:11:38,920 --> 01:11:42,280 darkness of your sin and drawing you into his marvelous light to 1143 01:11:42,280 --> 01:11:45,960 be saved, to be forgiven. As you humbly surrender to him 1144 01:11:46,400 --> 01:11:50,560 as your Lord and Savior. May you repent and may you 1145 01:11:50,560 --> 01:11:53,360 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. 1146 01:11:53,360 --> 01:11:55,280 Let's pray together. Father, in the name of Jesus, we 1147 01:11:55,280 --> 01:11:59,960 thank you for your word, but I thank You for the strength that 1148 01:12:01,600 --> 01:12:05,040 has allowed me to endure as Your Word has gone forth today. 1149 01:12:05,040 --> 01:12:07,080 We know that it comes by you and You alone. 1150 01:12:09,760 --> 01:12:15,240 God, I ask that you use it for your glory, that you use it to 1151 01:12:15,240 --> 01:12:20,000 call others disciples to your feet, to wash them, to cleanse 1152 01:12:20,000 --> 01:12:24,680 them of their sin as they surrender to and as they live 1153 01:12:25,360 --> 01:12:29,440 for and as they serve the risen Savior for all eternity. 1154 01:12:31,480 --> 01:12:34,480 But may you have mercy on sinners today. 1155 01:12:34,480 --> 01:12:39,080 May you encourage Saints today by the hearing of the gospel. 1156 01:12:39,080 --> 01:12:44,120 Once again we pray all these things in Christ name, Amen. 1157 01:12:45,880 --> 01:12:48,880 You've been listening to Key Life Fellowships Pulpit Ministry 1158 01:12:48,880 --> 01:12:51,680 podcast. Join us each week for more 1159 01:12:51,680 --> 01:12:53,280 teaching from God's Word.