The Church at Ellerslie SUNDAY SERMON NOTES Eric Ludy Sunday, December 28, 2014
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Gospel Empowered A Study in the Life-Altering Quality of the Good News A Two Part Series INTRODUCTION: The Gospel Dimension 3 SESSION ONE: What Exactly is the Gospel? 7 SESSION TWO: Sharing the Gospel The 16 Building Blocks of the Euaggelion 15 3
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An Introduction the Gospel Dimension Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. The Bible is to the Gospel as... 2 Timothy 3:5 as a house is to those living inside it as a shell of a seed is to its inner pith as the banana peel is to the banana within as the treasure map is to the buried treasure it points to The Biblical Form vs. The Gospel Power The BF shows you how you ought to live and what happens to you if you don t The GP shows you the ONE and ONLY ONE that actually lived as the BF commands you to live, and then introduces you to this ONE as your personal Savior You must not sin He conquered Sin You must be righteous He is, indeed, our righteousness You must be holy just as God is holy The Holy Spirit has been given you You must love just as God loves God is love and He will love in and through you You must pray without ceasing He ever lives to make intercession You must evangelize the lost He has come to seek and save that which is lost You must visit the orphan and the widow in their distress His heart will beat within your heart The Gospel supplies The Power to Do It So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Romans 1:15-18 5
SESSION ONE What Exactly is the Gospel? Euaggelion [You-on-ghel-lee-on] The Gospel Euaggelion The joyful proclamation of a Kingdom Euaggelion The glad tidings of the grace of God manifest in Christ Euaggelion The astounding news of Christ s victory over Sin and Death and the invitation to all to come and partake of His gracious feast, partake of His very Person. God has come to earth, performed the most amazing feat, and has wrought the most profound victory He has made a way for each of us, and that way is Himself So, What is the Gospel? The Gospelteer s All-Important Question in Return Who s Asking? The Gospel Preached to its Varied Audiences 1. To the Slumbering God is Holy and Righteous, and He will not be mocked Repent and bend your knee and believe upon Him for salvation, for the hour of mercy shall soon be past 6
2. To the Awakened 3. To the Christian The Gospel Come and die, that you might truly live Don t let even one drop of Our Beloved s precious blood go to waste It s not merely an event. It s not merely a power. It is not merely news. First and foremost, the good news is a Person. Salvation is in a Person. Redemption is in a Person. Propitiation, Atonement, Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Justification, Sanctification, and Victory over Sin and the Devil is found in a Person - not in a plan, a prayer, or a systematic theology. We beckon people to believe in a Person, the work of a Person, the ability of a Person to save and deliver. And this Person is Jesus Christ. The Good News is Jesus Christ. And to be even more specific, the Good New is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Planting and Watering 1 Corinthians 2:2 The Work of Gospelteers For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that giveth the increase. The Three Gospel Lenses 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 1. The Historic Lens - Facts are the emphasis. The Historic Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus and it s subsequent accomplishments are the discussion. 7
2. The Personal Lens - Faith is the emphasis. The Power of the Gospel and its ability to personally Save and Deliver is the discussion. 3. The Daily Lens - Practically living out the triumph of the Gospel is the emphasis. A.K.A. - The Gospel Worldview (i.e. - the power of Sin is destroyed, my old man is dead, I have newness of life in Christ Jesus, Christ is exalted to the Highest Place, I am seated in Heavenly Places in Christ, and the Power of the Almighty is resident in me enabling me to live a life that otherwise would be impossible.) The Good News is... The Historic Gospel Event Near 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Luke 1:27), conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:20), lived a sinless life (1 John 3:5) and in His mouth was no guile (1 Peter 2:22). He was the Sent of the Father (1 John 4:14). He was God Himself (John 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), a Heavenly emissary of Divine Love and Mercy (John 3:16). At the age of 33, Jesus Christ, gave Himself into the hands of sinners (Gal 1:4) in order to fulfill all righteousness (Matt 25:56) and redeem those in bondage to sin (Ephesians 1:7) and captive to the eternal consequences of sin. Jesus suffered in Gethsemane, and under the cruel tortures of evil men, He was scourged, and bore the infamy of a criminal though He was innocent, pure, and spotless. And as a Passover Lamb, He died in the stead of sinful humanity, a propitiation and an atonement for our sins. He redeemed a fallen humanity by the shedding of His precious blood, reconciling us unto God. He justified those who would believe in faith and clothes them in His righteousness. He bore the just punishment of our sins and pacified the wrath of God towards those who would believe. In dying, He both proved Himself the Messiah and also created a new and living way for sinful humanity to be restored unto right relationship with the Father. This same Jesus that died, was buried, and on the third day, in the early morning hours of the first day of the week, He was raised again to Life by the Holy Spirit. He was witnessed among men and on the 40th day after His resurrection, He ascended, before the witness of His disciples, to go be with the Father, and to take His seat at the Right Hand of Authority, where all things were placed underneath His feet. Ten days later, the full fruition of His great Cross-work was realized on this earth, when the Holy Spirit was sent forth to dwell in those who believe - empowering them to live the pure, holy, and righteous life of Jesus - and enabling them to overcome sin and the devil, and exerting the very authority of Jesus Christ in their actions, words, and lives. 8
The Good News is... The Saving Grace of Jesus Christ is Yours Personally By Faith... Christ is your clothing His Death is your Death The Good News is... His Burial is your Burial His Resurrection is your Resurrection His Ascension is your Ascension and you are to be the clothing of Christ That Jesus Ever Lives To Make Intercession For Me (He Didn t Just Bring me Big S, but also Small s salvation) The Blood of Jesus is efficacious. And Jesus ever lives to make intercession for me. He will save me to the uttermost. The power of Sin is destroyed - the power of Satan is crushed. Christ is exalted to the Highest Place, We are seated in Heavenly Places in Christ, and the Power of the Almighty is resident in us enabling us to Live Lives that Otherwise would be impossible. And though we be as sheep among wolves, as sheep unto the slaughter, dying all the day long - we are more than conquerors through Christ, greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world; no weapon fashioned against us shall prosper; and nothing, and I mean nothing, shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are immovable, unstoppable, and fearless - for we are the redeemed of God, the twice-born, the reward of His suffering. So, What is the Gospel? He has done it And He will continue to do it 9
SESSION TWO Sharing the Gospel The 16 Building Blocks of the Euaggelion The Two Baptisms of Gospel Glory 1. In Christ 2. Christ In You The Work Glove 1. Rescued from the Trash Dump in the Grip of the Savior 2. Prepared and Made Ready to Become the Father s Work Glove Baptism One In the Grip of the Perfect Work Glove #1 - See Your Need 15 building blocks of being firmly established IN Christ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; #2 - See Your Savior Romans 3:19-20, 23 10
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but by me. John 14:6 And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. #3 - Believe in Your Savior 1 John 2:2 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life... He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God... He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:15-16, 18, 36 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16 #4 - Repent (Turn away from all things prior and Turn unto Christ) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 11
#5 - Get in Christ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. He Forgives You (Ephesians 1:7) He Washes You (1 John 1:7b) 2 Corinthians 5:17 He Gets Rid of all Your Guilt (Hebrews 9:14) He Protects You (Luke 10:19) He is the Perfect Behavior You Must Have to Get to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21) He Gets You to the Father (John 14:6) Confess Our Sins (1 John 1:9) Our New Loyalty (Romans 10:9; 1 John 4:15) Forgive (Mark 11:25-26; Luke 6:37b) Renounce (2 Corinthians 4:1-2; Isaiah 30:21-22; Acts 19:18-20) Transfer Loyalties (Colossians 1:12-14) #6 - He Goes to the Cross (You Go with Him) He Gets Selfish Old You, The Old Man, and brings him to the Cross Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7 12
#7 - He Goes to the Tomb (You are Buried with Him) He Buries Your Old Man, your old behavior Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death... Self Denial (Luke 9:23) Romans 6:3-4a Pour out the Spikenard (Matthew 26:13) #8 - He Rises Again (You Rise with Him) He Gets You all Clean and Ready For a New Man Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:4-5, 8 #9 - He Ascends to the Father (You Ascend with Him) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:5-6 #10 - He Enters the Holy of Holies as our Great High Priest (You Enter with Him) 13
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Matthew 27:51 He brings you into the very near and intimate presence of the King of kings (Hebrews 10:19-22; 4:14-16) He legally adopts you as His Child (Galatians 4:3-7) #11 - He Sits Down as King of Kings at the Right Hand of the Father He makes available to you His own personal inheritance The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that fills all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23 #12 - You Must Reckon with this Gospel Truth Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:11 #13 - You Must Present and Yield Your Body 14
... yield (present) yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:13b I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. #14 - Let Not Sin Reign Romans 12:1 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. #15 - Be Baptized in Water Romans 6:12 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?... And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Acts 8:36, 38 Baptism Two Clothing for the Almighty Hand Getting into Christ in order that Christ can get into us In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goes; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me... And I will pray the Father, and he 15
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but you see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you... I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 14:2-6, 16-20; 16:7 #16 - Receiving the Life of God, the Holy Spirit If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Christ IN You Luke 11:13 The Great Mystery Hidden for Ages and Generations To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Colossians 1:27 A Vessel First Emptied, Now Filled And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 16
The Gospel For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily. Colossians 1:25-29 Do You Not Know? Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished... And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims... It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5:1a, 7, 13-14 17