a the ARRINGTONS
THE GOSPEL OUR JOY
Why it s important! For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes... - Romans 1:16
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. - Galatians 1:6-7
How would you define the gospel?
Defining the Gospel Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures... - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
What is the Gospel? 1.The gospel is NEWS rather than instruction.
What does the news element of the gospel mean for us?
How would you respond to this quote by St. Francis of Assisi*? Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words. *Psst...St. Francis never really said this.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us? So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:14-17
What is the Gospel? 2. The gospel is GRACE rather than merit.
The Difference Between the Gospel & Religion The gospel: I am ACCEPTED through Christ, therefore I obey. Religion is: I OBEY therefore I am accepted."
How should the gospel lead us to repent not only of our bad deeds but our good deeds as well?
How are we to live and grow? I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20
Believing the gospel is not only the only way to meet God, but also the way to grow into him.
What does a gospelcentered life look like?
THE GOSPEL OUR JOY
1. When we think God loves us more when we obey & loves us less when disobey, we re deserting the gospel 2. When we believe our identity is found in how much we make, what we look like or where we live, we re deserting the gospel. 3. When we treat the gospel as the front door to our Christian experience instead of also seeing it as the room we live in, we re deserting the gospel. 4..
MORALITY-BASED vs GOSPEL-CENTERED You must try for Jesus What you do Obedience from obligation/duty You are the hero of the story You must trust in Jesus What Christ has done for you Obedience from gratitude/love God is the hero of the story The story is basically about me Aims primarily at action Stays small with the story The story is basically about Jesus Aims primarily at the heart Appeals to the Big Story of Redemption