Good News!

One Gospel for all people

The other day I got to thinking what is the most important thing about my faith. When I had worked through all that Jesus has done for me. I began to think the best thing is that I can share with others the good news of Jesus Christ. So what is this good news and how should I share it with others? The apostle Paul asked people to pray for him so that every time he opened his mouth he would be able to make Christ plain as day. He longed for us to be gracious and not scoring points or trying to win the argument but smiply and clearly telling others the gospel.

Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. (Colossians 4:3-6 Message)

The more we reach out to our friends and neighbours, the more bbqs we do as a church and reach out to the community, the more opportunities we will have to share the gospel with people we meet. I wonder if you could tell me the gospel in three minutes?

So what is the gospel?
First I want to look at what the Bible says the gospel is then I will show you a gospel presentation that simply expresses the whole gospel.

What is the Gospel

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake (Romans 1:1-5)

It's God's Gospel
Romans 1:1 state this is God's gospel. Therefore, we need to understand it correctly, we can be assured of its power, We are not responsible for whether or not people become Christians. We don't have to demonstrate some false power, shouting and jumping. We can just be ourselves and let God's power be demonstrated. Because we are not responsible it takes the pressure off us to make converts. This does not mean we do nothing!

It's not something new
Romans 1:2 tells us the gospel is not something new. It was promised by the prophets in the Old Testament Therefore,the gospel is rooted in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus

It's all about Jesus
Romans 1:3 states that the gospel is all about Jesus. Therefore, the focus of our message must be Jesus. When John Wesley preached he used to comment "I gave them Jesus". It begins and ends with who Jesus is and what he has done for us. It's not about my needs or what I want. The gospel is all about Jesus.

It's intended for all
Romans 1:4-5 states the gospel is intended for, young, old, male, female, rich, poor and all nationalities. The gospel needs to be presented to everyone.

So if it's God's gospel, that he told us about from long ago and it's all about Jesus then it's for everyone….Just what does the Bible say about it? Let's look at some at some passages from the Bible and see what it says about:-

God is:

Loving
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him (1John 4:16 NIV)

Holy
...for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1Peter 1:16 NIV)

Faithful and just
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV)

Our Friends

Have turned their backs on God
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6 NIV)

Deserve an eternity without God
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23 NIV)

Could have eternal life
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22 NIV)

Jesus…

Is God, who became man
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1&14 NIV)

Died for our friends
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 NIV)

Offers our friends salvation as a free gift
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

The Decision

Even good works are not enough
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)

Our friends must ask Jesus to forgive their sins
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:8-9 NIV)

Our friends must ask Jesus to be Lord of their lives
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

The Result

Reconciliation with God
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV)

A new life in Christ
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

A life empowered and given destiny by God
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

It is important that as Christians we grasp this 'new life in Christ" John chapter 7 tells us that it is out of our innermost being that streams of living water flow, and it is this living water that will influence and affect people we meet.

Why Go?

So if that is what the Bible say about it….. What motivates us to share the gospel with our family and friends?

Out of love for others
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV). This is a vital aspect of our assignment – we MUST love the lost

Out of a passion for the truth
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32 NIV). We live in a world of very few absolutes and only Jesus brings absolute truth into people's lives

Out of a concern for the world
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape (1Thess 5:1-3 NIV). Paul tells us that Christ will return like a thief in the night and many will be unprepared.Do you know all it takes for evil to prevail is for each one of us, God's people to do nothing.

Out of a desire to see God glorified
..with this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thess 1:11-12 NIV). This passage highlights that God's name is lifted up through our lives. It's as we go about our everyday lives that we are called to make disciples.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Romans 1:16 NIV). We do not need to be ashamed of the gospel nor do we need to apologise for our faith. We should be willing and read to share the gospel whenever the opportunity occur.

	God is holy, loving, eternal and creator and in the beigining God and mankind enjoyed a great relationship with each other.
	When humankind disobeyed God, sin entered the world, putting a barrier between God and us. We try to find fulfilment in life through relationships, status or even religion. No matter how hard we try we can't reach God.
	God out of his great mercy and love sent his son Jesus into the world
	Jesus lived an amazing life but he came to die in our place. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 4:6). God The Judge required payment for our sins, for the wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23) and Jesus paid that price on the cross for you and me.
	God's judgement was satisfied by Jesus dying on the cross, and now our relationship with God can be restored and you can recieve a new nature as you are reconciled to God.

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