Gospel in a Minute

Peter told his hearers that faith in Jesus was the key to the miracle they just witnessed.

And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all. Acts 3:16 (NASB)

Principle: The Jesus who forgives sin is the same One who heals.

The Bible makes it clear that forgiveness of sins and physical healing are linked. When Jesus was being interrogated by Jewish leaders for having the audacity to declare that a man’s sins were forgiven, he asked the crowd:

"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? 6  "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." 7  And he got up and went home. 8  But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:5-8 (NASB)

Rather than accept the challenge to provide the Holy Spirit with an opportunity to demonstrate Jesus’ power to forgive sins by offering to pray for the sick, many sharers of the gospel theologically choose to divorce his authority to forgive sins from his power to provide physical healing, something the Bible does not do. Is this because we are afraid he will not heal?

Jesus understood that to us physical healing seems more difficult, which is why he still uses it to convince people of the truth of the gospel.

The Jesus who forgives sins is the same One who heals.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NASB)

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter packed a lot into the two sentences below.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 "But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15  but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.Acts 3:13-15 (NASB)

Principle: The gospel calls people to declare allegiance to Jesus the Messiah.

There is no middle ground when it comes to the gospel. We either declare allegiance to the Lord Jesus or we end up denying or disowning him. One of the core meanings of the Greek word “pistis,” which is translated “faith” in our English Bible, is allegiance. (For a well-reasoned argument in support of this, read my summary of Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew Bates.) Faith responds to the gospel message by repenting from a self-directed life and turning in trust and obedience to Jesus, who is Savior and Lord.

Those who are indifferent or hostile to the gospel, end up disowning the Lord of Life. They will be disowned by him at the Last Judgment.

We must help people understand the gravity of their decision, just as Peter did.

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33  "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 (NASB)

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter launched his second sermon, found in Acts 3, by praying for a lame man who was immediately healed.

But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!" 7  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8  With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10  and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11  While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12  But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? Acts 3:6-12 (NASB)

Principle: Divine healing opens the door for the gospel.

Someone once said that the gifts of the Spirit are the “dinner bell” for salvation. When our kids were small, we rang a large bell to call them to supper. No matter where they were in the neighborhood, when they heard its clear sound, they came running, knowing that a good meal awaited them. When God heals people, it gets their attention. We make the best use of the manifestation of God’s gracious gifts when we take advantage of people’s interest to preach the gospel.

Demonstrations of God’s power break past the intellectual and emotional barriers men and women erect in their hearts and open them to the truth about Jesus.

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter declared that his hearers had done the unthinkable – killed the Messiah.

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. Acts 2:23 (NLT)

The Jews not only rejected God’s Son, the long awaited Messiah; they murdered him. Peter let the full weight of what they did fall squarely upon their shoulders.

Principle: Jesus’ Crucifixion Was the Ultimate Betrayal

Adam and Eve betrayed their Creator and Friend in the Garden by choosing to follow Satan down the path of a self-directed life. Faithlessness is at the root of all sin, which climaxed at the cross. Nothing man will ever do can compare to killing God’s only begotten Son! When we share the gospel, we should bring people face to face with our sin of betrayal of God’s Son, the Messiah King.

The gospel calls us to admit our betrayal and rebellion, ask forgiveness, and declare unqualified allegiance to the risen Messiah King of Israel, Jesus the Lord.

When we confess Jesus as the Lord, the Gospel has begun to accomplish its purpose in our lives. Water baptism, our formal declaration of allegiance, is the next step, followed by the baptism in the Spirit and a lifetime of loving and serving the King.

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter said that Jesus’ miracles are a proof that he is the Messiah.

People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.Acts 2:22 (NLT)

Some people discount the miracles of Jesus and relegate them to the realm of mere legend, but the people of that day knew first hand they were true. In fact, Jesus boldly challenged those who doubted his identity as the Messiah.

...The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. John 10:25 (NLT)

Principle: Jesus’ Miracles Testify to His Identity as the Messiah

When we share the gospel, we should bring people face to face with Jesus’ miracle working power, which testifies to God’s love.

Better yet, why not give the Holy Spirit a chance to demonstrate God’s willingness to testify again today by offering to pray for any present needs our hearers may have, especially physical ones?

Don’t miss a chance for God to publicly demonstrate that the gospel is true and Jesus is alive. Paul didn’t.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true... 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter quoted the prophet Joel (Joel 2:32) in the following part of his gospel proclamation on Pentecost.

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. Acts 2:21 (NLT)

What exactly does it mean to “call on the name of the Lord”?

Principle: God is a Person who can and will respond to us.

The Star Wars movie series presents God as an impersonal “force” that can be tapped into by those who have inside knowledge. This is a age old false teaching. The God of the Bible, the true God, is a real Person. Not a human, but a person. Humans are created in his image. We have personality because that is an important aspect of God’s life and person. Personalities can communicate.

God has no problem at all in getting through to us when we seek him.

Calling upon the Lord means we pray to him, speaking to him as a real person who is listening to us.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)

When we share the gospel, we should encourage our hearers to engage Jesus on a personal level by “calling out” to him in prayer, having the sure promise that he will allow us to find him when we seek him with all our hearts.

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter’s Acts 2 presentation of the gospel continued with a reference to the Last Days.

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people...18  In those days I will pour out my Spirit ...20  The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.21  But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’Acts 2:17-21 (NLT)

The “last days” and the “day of the Lord” are recurrent Bible themes that call us to be reconciled to God the Judge. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection ushered in the “last days.” The first disciples expected a quick culmination of all things, but this time period has extended over 2000 years, during which time God has extended mercy to generations of people through the gospel. We are drawing closer to the actual end, the “day of the Lord,” when Jesus will return in power and glory to judge all people and inaugurate the final state with a new heaven and earth.

Principle: Tell people the truth that the end of all things draws near.

The Bible teaches us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A proper fear of God brings people face to face with their ultimate destiny of standing before the glorious Judge who created them.

Jesus is our only hope at the Last Judgment.

He paid the price for our sins. Believers will stand before our glorious God clothed in his righteousness. Those who put their trust in Jesus have nothing to fear, but those who reject the gospel should fear greatly. This is the beginning of wisdom and an encouragement to repent, believe, and receive all that Jesus died to give to us.

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter’s presentation of the gospel continued with a biblical explanation for a current event.

but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 17  'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND...Acts 2:16-17 (NASB)

Principle: Use current events as a springboard.

Gymnasts performing the vault use a springboard to launch them into the air.

We can use current events to launch into a gospel presentation.

Most everyone has some interest in what is happening around them in the world. If we can give a biblical explanation, we might gain their attention enough to share the gospel. Peter explained a manifestation of the Spirit happening in his hearers’ presence. We might be privileged to do the same, if we have the courage to offer to pray for their situation. Otherwise, we can offer a biblical perspective for interpreting well-known current events. An example might be to illustrate how the apostasy of the mainline denominations was long ago prophesied as a “great rebellion” against God in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This is certainly not the only current event covered by that verse, but it does fit. The general decline of culture toward greater violence was predicted by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-4. We might point out that things are only going to get worse and now is the time to believe the gospel and serve the coming King. The idea is for us to show people that the Bible is still relevant and should be heeded. Once we gain our listener’s attention, then we can share the good news.

Share this post...

Gospel in a Minute

Peter’s Pentecost proclamation of the gospel began with an explanation of what onlookers were interpreting as drunken behavior. They acted in a way that required an explanation.

For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;Acts 2:15 (NASB)

The disciples were full of the Holy Spirit for the very first time. They were intoxicated with the joy that accompanies God’s presence. (Psalm 16:11) They were speaking aloud exuberantly in unknown languages or “tongues,” which is one of the evidences of the baptism in the Spirit. (Acts 10:44-46) In this case, speaking in tongues served as a sign to those present who did not yet believe in Jesus (1Cor.14:22)

Principle: Act in a way that requires an explanation.

Christians are often very careful not to offend people. Our culture has trained us to keep quiet. Our religious traditions in many cases have taught restraint to the point of making us less than human. The gospel is the best news ever told or experienced. We should be excited about it. If we share it as information that does not impact us emotionally, what kind of hidden message does that send? If we are afraid to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest his gifts through us, we shut off the river of God’s power and presence and may miss a grand opportunity to explain ourselves by sharing the gospel.

Christians should act in a way that makes people curious and opens the door for the gospel.

Share this post...

 

 

 

 

The Gospel

The gospel is a proclamation of truth about God, mankind, Jesus the Messiah and Lord, and the coming judgment. It offers a way of escape from the judgment that has been pronounced upon the world through the cross. It offers an opportunity to join God in ruling over a new creation at the end of time.

By nature, the gospel confronts the sinful status quo – the embedded lies and rebellion against God found in the human soul and the prevailing culture.

The gospel is powerful and is God’s designated means to overthrow Satan’s rule in individual lives and ultimately in nations and cultures.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Romans 1:16 (NLT)

 

Culture, Idolatry, and Lies

One definition of culture is that it is…

…a shared vision of the nature of reality. This vision must include some understanding of both the immanent and the transcendent orders. It will incorporate unseen actualities and accepted moral verities that are believed to affect the arrangement of both the natural and social world. In short, a culture incarnates and expresses a religion. (From Sharper Iron Blog)

From the gospel’s perspective, cultures and the people who live in them thrive to the degree they embrace the truth about God and put into practice the values that define godly living. We see this historically. Those cultures that have embraced Christianity have thrived; whereas, those who reject the Bible’s testimony about God languish. Those cultures which attack the Jews and Christians descend into darkness, inhumane practices, and depravity.

Cultures degrade in proportion to how much they suppress truth and reject biblical norms. (Romans 1)

Human beings are idolators by default as a result of the Fall. We were designed by God to be dependent creatures, who are programmed to worship and serve him. When we turn away from God, the drive to worship and serve will be transferred to an inferior replacement for him, what the Bible calls an “idol.” Idols are products of the sinful human desire to have a “god” who protects and serves us, while condoning our sinful and rebellious behavior toward the true God.

In other words, idols are gods created in our own image which never confront our sin.

The Bible teaches us that we become like whatever we worship. (2 Corinthians 3:18) If we worship God, we become like him. If we worship something inferior, we degrade from God’s created purpose for us. This is by God’s design. God’s purpose is for humanity to reflect God’s glory as we worship him, but when we bow down to and serve an idol, we are transformed into that corrupt image. Idols are not always images made of metal, wood, or stone. Idols can be as subtle as devotion to the pursuit of wealth, if that pursuit displaces our worship of and reliance upon God who is our Provider. Jesus called this serving “Mammon.” In America, the pursuit and deification of “liberty” has led us to believe that freedom in and of itself is worth putting on a pedestal. Freedom apart from God, however, inevitably leads to slavery to our own sinful desires. True freedom is found in obeying God and always results in worshiping and serving him.

Our modern secular culture has major embedded idols and lies. Here are a few that I will cover in this article.

There is no God, and we got here by ourselves. The denial of God’s existence is the chief lie. It is intended to eliminate our accountability to our Creator and elevate us to godhood status, the pursuit of which was the original sin. We want to run our own lives without reference to God. A necessary corollary to atheism is self-creation or spontaneous evolution. This bold lie elevates man to the highest rung on the developmental ladder in a godless and amoral universe, givi