THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
TEXTS - Lk 4:16-21,
Today, I bring to our attention the purpose and power of the Gospel. Sometimes, we either don't know or tend to forget what has been provided for us.
GOSPEL - Every time God speaks to man to show him who's He is, and how to divinely handle any given circumstance THAT IS THE GOSPEL
Actually, the history of the Gospel may be regarded to have started in the Old Testament. The Scripture tells us of how God preached the gospel to Abraham:
“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:5-9, 13-14 NKJV
So we see, God preached the gospel to Abraham and then Jesus came to reiterate and demonstrate the gospel to all humanity.
Jesus did and taught the gospel, and then commissioned His disciples to go to the nation's and do the same.
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,” Acts 1:1-2 NKJV
“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:14-16 NKJV.
PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.
See Lk 4:16-21, Is 61:1-9
The Gospel of Christ/the Kingdom is preached for a number of reasons:
1. To reveal God's guidelines for Salvation and Redemption - John 3:16, Rom 1:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””
Romans 1:16-17 NKJV
2. To reveal God's guidelines for living in the kingdom on earth - Matt 5:1-16
3. To Transform lives - Lk 4:18-19, Is 61:1-3,8-11
““The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
TEXTS - Lk 4:16-21,
Today, I bring to our attention the purpose and power of the Gospel. Sometimes, we either don't know or tend to forget what has been provided for us.
GOSPEL - Every time God speaks to man to show him who's He is, and how to divinely handle any given circumstance THAT IS THE GOSPEL
Actually, the history of the Gospel may be regarded to have started in the Old Testament. The Scripture tells us of how God preached the gospel to Abraham:
“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:5-9, 13-14 NKJV
So we see, God preached the gospel to Abraham and then Jesus came to reiterate and demonstrate the gospel to all humanity.
Jesus did and taught the gospel, and then commissioned His disciples to go to the nation's and do the same.
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,” Acts 1:1-2 NKJV
“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:14-16 NKJV.
PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL.
See Lk 4:16-21, Is 61:1-9
The Gospel of Christ/the Kingdom is preached for a number of reasons:
1. To reveal God's guidelines for Salvation and Redemption - John 3:16, Rom 1:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””
Romans 1:16-17 NKJV
2. To reveal God's guidelines for living in the kingdom on earth - Matt 5:1-16
3. To Transform lives - Lk 4:18-19, Is 61:1-3,8-11
““The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
4. To give Power to Prevail over circumstances
- see Josh 1:1-9, Is 61:3-7
“Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9 NKJV
“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.” Isaiah 61:3-4 NKJV
TWO SIDES TO THE GOSPEL:
1. God's side - He makes the gospel available. This is done by the Holy Spirit who enables His willing servants.
2. Man's side - Believe the gospel and demonstrate it by corresponding action.
- Abraham: Abraham departed as the LORD had spoken to him - GEN 12:1-4.
“Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.” Genesis 12:1-4 NKJV
- Joshua - Josh 1:9-11
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.”Joshua 1:9-11 NKJV
- Jesus
- The apostles
- Paul - Acts 9:19-20, Gal 1:15-17
“So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”
Acts 9:19-20 NKJV
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.” Galatians 1:15-17 NKJV
