I Declare The GOSPEL!

Rom. 1:14-19; 1 Cor. 15:1-5

SUBJECT: RESURRECTION

THEME: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an Essential Element of the Good News of God—the Gospel of the Grace of God. Without it We Have No Means or Hope of Going to Heaven, a Relationship with God, and the Forgiveness of Sins.

INTRODUCTION:                                                               

Often it seems that good things only escape us. Life can be very hard at times. But then there are those times when things go right…truly right. Those instances when we get what we have longed for deep inside, when we really receive great news.

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul penned incredible letters of theological depth, moral challenge, and timeless, practical relevance. And all of it wrapped around one grand theme—“the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). Note how Paul, the apostle, put it in Romans 1:14-17,

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. [15] So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. [16] 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. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Clearly, God has incredible life-building, future impacting, heart transforming, love revealing, and game changing good news. Beloved, there is nothing like it in the entire universe! Like Paul, I am committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ as good news to everyone who believes and receives it!

Until now, you’ve only sampled the food of the gospel as laid out on the table of the Scriptures. But today you'll get your first real serving, and I think you'll find it tastes better than any other great news you've ever received. After all, it comes from the One who brings glad tidings, whose promises never fail, whose faithfulness never falters, whose joy is to give you and me all the bounty of heaven. What better news could we ever want? -M. Lucado

LESSON: 

WHAT THEN IS GOD’S GOOD NEWS?

 1 Cor. 15:1, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

Beloved, it is here I set forth an accurate clear and practical declaration of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus as the solution to humanity’s damning sin problem.

  

THE SENSE OF THE WORD ‘GOSPEL’    

       1.  Gospel: Euangelion ^2098^ originally denoted a reward for good tidings; later, the idea of reward dropped, and the word stood for "the good news" itself. The Eng. word "gospel," i. e. "good message,".  In the New Testament it denotes the "good tidings" of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection.

       2.  Gospel (Glad Tidings). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the glad tidings that Jesus Christ died for humanity’s sins, that He was buried, and that He bodily arose again from the dead to be the Savior of those who receive Him and His work on our behalf (1 Cor. 15:1-11).

              a.  It is the Message of Free Righteousness for Those Who Trust Christ as Savior (Rom. 1:15-17).

              b.  It Has Various Names in the Bible. It is also called "the gospel of the grace of God" (Ac. 20:24), "the gospel of Christ" (Ga. 1:7), "the gospel of God" (2 Co. 11:7), "the gospel of peace" (Ro. 10:15), "the glorious gospel" (2 Co. 4:4), and "the gospel of salvation" (Ep. 1:13). Each of these names emphasizes different aspects of the same gospel. For example, "gospel of the grace of God" emphasizes that true salvation is a free gift of God's grace (Ep. 2:8-9). The Gospel of Salvation by Grace through faith in Christ crucified and resurrected is mentioned under various descriptive terms some 85 times in the NT. It is described in 1 Cor. 15:1-5. This is the essential message we are to proclaim to all the world until Jesus comes for us.

              c.  The Gospel Is Grace Alone Through Faith Alone Without Admixture of Works (Ac. 15:11; Ro. 3:24; 4:5-16; 11:6; Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-7). Any addition to the gospel of the grace of Christ is cursed of God (Ga. 1:6-11).

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE GOSPEL

God made it clear what the good tidings message was to be.

1 Cor. 15:1-4, Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

  

      1.   The Gospel is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.

This is the substance of the GOSPEL and the risen Savior was literally seen of His followers. 

      2.   This Message of the Gospel is an Echo of Old Testament Prophesy: “according to the scriptures;”

-----See Isaiah 53:1-12; esp. Vs 8 for His Death, vs 9 for His Burial, vs 11 for His Resurrection.  This is the message of the Gospel according to the scriptures--Old Testament prophesy.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GOSPEL (TO US SINNERS) 1Cor. 15:1-4

           

     1.  Christ Died for Our Sins: 1Cor. 15:3 . . .Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ....

The Death of Christ is significant because all sinners abide under the wrath of God and we were all sentenced to death. But JESUS CHRIST SUFFERED AND DIED IN OUR STEAD AS OUR SUBSTITUTE AND AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE! HE DIED FOR US!  Therefore, if He took my death then I as a believer am no longer obligated to Death. That’s GOOD NEWS to us sinners!

       

        a.  All of Us Have Sinned and This Demands the Death Penalty.

Ezek 18:4, Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Rom 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

              (1)   God Has Declared That the Proper Punishment of Sin is Death.

We all have sinned; we all have a strong tendency to sin and God has condemned that tendency in us all.  Because we have sinned against God, we deserve death. 

              (2) This Death Is Three-Fold . . .

                     a.  Physical Death--- This is the separation of the Spirit and Soul from the Body.

                     b.  Spiritual Death----This is the separation from God, we are born in this condition because of a sinful nature. (Ps. 51:5; Ps. 58:3)

                     c.  Eternal Death-----This is separation from God forever in the Lake of Fire also called the Second Death. (Rev. 20: 11-15)

          b.  The Good News is that Jesus Christ Died for Us. 

He took the punishment for sin that we deserved.  He was completely sinless and could not sin; therefore, He did not deserve death.  But He willingly died in our place and as our substitute.

2 Cor 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Pet 2:24, Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Isa 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The truth is that since Jesus Christ died for me and the penalty of sin was payed for everyone by Him, then we who have accepted Him need not die for our own sin. If we accept by faith His sacrifice for all sin, we receive to our sin debt the credit of death. We are no longer obligated to pay a debt that was paid in full by Christ. THIS IS GOD’S GOOD NEWS!

    2.  Christ was Buried to Put Away Our Sin.  1Cor. 15:4. . . And that he was buried, . . .

The Burial of Christ is significant because Christ bore in His body our sin upon the tree, then that same sin riveted body was placed in a new tomb. This is conformation that Christ literally died. Therefore, our sins were literally payed for in His death. The beauty here is that when Christ rose from the grave He was no longer baring our sin! The question here is where is our sin? The answer is it’s GONE! Jesus is the Lamb of God that taketh AWAY the sin of the World!  (Jn. 1:29)

Illustration: The Day of Atonement and the SCAPEGOAT is a good picture of Christ the sin barer taking away the sin of the people.

     3. Christ was Raised for Our Justification. 1Cor. 15:4 . . . and that he rose again the third day. . .

Romans 4:24-25, But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; [25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

          a.  Without The Resurrection of Christ Salvation Would Be Impossible. 

1 Cor. 15:12-20, Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: [14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. [15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. [16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: [17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. [20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

           b.  Christ’s Resurrection Is Significant Because the Same One Who Died for My Sin Is Alive Today to Save Me. We can trust a Living Savior: a living Savior can call sinners unto himself. The resurrection of Christ is God’s endorsement of Christ’s perfect life, and completely atoning death! While a dead savior can’t save anyone, a living Savior can save all that accept His Sacrifice and Life. You simply can’t receive Eternal Life from a dead man.  We have no hope beyond death unless we have something to do with the One who conquered death through his resurrection. Clearly, He is the only one that can by His finished work bring sinful man back into a right relationship with a Holy God. Jesus stands alone as the Risen Savior and Lord! There is no other like Him in the universe!

            c.  Because Christ is Alive, God Has a Basis for Saving and Justifying the Believer; We are Just as Righteous a The Risen Christ is!

Romans 8:33-35, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

When a sinner trust Christ as their Lord and Savior, he is accepting the credit of being alive and in Heaven because he is identifying with Christ’s Resurrection.  For the sinner who believes on Christ, there remains no more obligations to sin and death.  He is freed from such obligations so that he can serve his Lord with his new life.   (See Rom 6:4-13).

      

        4.   Jesus Christ Literally and Bodily Came Forth from the Grave.

Acts 1:3, To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

1 Cor. 15:5-8, And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. [7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. [8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.    (Also see John 20:26-31)

It was imminent theologian of yesteryear, Dr. Williams Evans who said,

When the risen Christ appeared unto the discouraged disciples and revived their faith and hope, they went forth, under the all-conquering faith in a risen and ascended Lord, and preached the story of His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and coming again.

CONCLUSION:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an Essential Element of the Gospel of the Grace of God, without it We Have No Hope or Means of Going to Heaven, Forgiveness of Sin, a Relationship with God, Life Changing Power, and Peace for all Eternity.  But Now is Christ Risen from the dead!  This is the Gospel, the Good News of Christ who died in the place of sinners and the One who was buried to put away our sin.  Finally, the One who lives today in the power of and eternal life.  He can offer life to all that will believe on Him. 

Mark 1:15, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Rom 16:25-26, Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

This is the Good News of God to all men and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an essential element. Have you believed this Good News? Come today and place your faith in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the full payment for all your sin. Then enjoy the assurance that You’ll have a home in Heaven instead of the Lake of Fire. You will have eternal Peace with God reigning in your heart; enjoy power for living differently and powerfully because of faith in Christ.