UNASHAMEDLY GOSPEL 3
NO OTHER GOSPEL
R E C A P
THE GOSPEL
1 Cor 15:3-4 “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; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
1 Cor 2:2 “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
UNASHAMED
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Week 1: Handy Link
Highlight -> Guilt trip vs Gift trip
Week 2: Handy link
Highlight -> How we know we have good soil? FRUIT
NO OTHER GOSPEL
Paul warns NT believers to stay true to the one and only true Gospel.
2 corinthians 11:1-4
“1Now, please bear with some of my “craziness” for a moment. Yes, please be patient with me. 2 You need to know that God’s passion is burning inside me for you, because, like a loving father, I have pledged your hand in marriage to Christ, your true bridegroom. I’ve also promised that I would present his fiancée to him as a pure virgin bride. 3 But now I’m concerned that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s clever lies, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may lose your single-hearted devotion and pure love for Christ. 4 For you seem to gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you preaching a pseudo-Jesus, not the Jesus we have preached. You have accepted a spirit and gospel that is false, rather than the Spirit and gospel you once embraced. How tolerant you have become of these imposters!”
Galatians 1:6-9
6I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAKE
1. Know the real thing
What is the real thing? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
2. When it comes to believers & leaders we have clear instructions of what the real thing looks like. FRUIT
Believers:
Parable of Sower & Seed - Handy link
Real apostles:
2 Cor 12:12-15— “The things that distinguish a true apostle were performed among you with great perseverance—supernatural signs, startling wonders, and awesome miracles.” Furthermore, how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn’t burden you financially—forgive me for depriving you! 14And now here I am, ready to come to you for the third time, and I still refuse to be a burden to you. For what I really want is your hearts, not your money. After all, children should not have to accumulate resources for their parents, but parents do this for their children. 15And as a spiritual father to you, I will gladly spend all that I have and all that I am for you! If I love you more, will you respond by loving me less?
Leaders: 1 Timothy 3 qualifications :
handy link
Titus 1:5-9 qualifications:
“5The reason I stationed you in Crete was so that you could set things in order and complete what was left unfinished, and to raise up and appoint church elders in every city, just as I had instructed you. 6Each of them must be above reproach, devoted solely to his wife, whose children are believers and not rebellious or out of control. 7The overseer, since he serves God’s household, must be someone of blameless character and not be opinionated or short-tempered. He must not be a drunkard or violent or greedy. 8Instead he should be one who is known for his hospitality and a lover of goodness. He should be recognized as one who is fair-minded, pure-hearted, and self-controlled. 9He must have a firm grasp of the trustworthy message that he has been taught. This will enable him to both encourage others with healthy teachings and provide convincing answers to those who oppose his message.”
4. Check our hearts and humble ourselves
Don’t think that you can’t be deceived
Deception isn’t obvious (Satan masquerades as an angel of light) and Paul had to challenge Peter the Apostle in public for veering away from the true Gospel Galatians 2:11-21
“11Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.14But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15We who areJews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.17“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Matt 24:23-24 “And you will hear reports from some, saying, ‘Look, he has returned,’ ‘The Messiah is over here,’ or ‘The Messiah is over there!’ Don’t believe it. 24For there will be imposters falsely claiming to be God’s ‘Anointed One,’ and false prophets will arise to perform miracle signs to lead astray, if possible, those God has chosen to be his.
5. Remember that the Gospel is a gospel of grace - aka unmerited favor. In Phils words, It’s a GIFT trip, not a GUILT trip - DON’T PUT YOURSELF BACK IN BONDAGE TO THE LAW
1 Corinthians 10:23-33 “23All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 27If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 29 “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 30 But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks? 31Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
This is particularly talking about food, which is interesting because we currently have a culture of “clean eating”, which if you think about it, sounds exactly like bondage to the law of “clean and unclean” (Acts 10:9-16). Many are deceived by this and not just this. Religion, Politics, Hedonism, Morals (or lack thereof), fitness & health (esp fads) - the list goes on. If we do not walk out our lives in submission to God, according to His word, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are in danger of deception.
BID
Recently, Shozza showed us a powerful video about the state of the Great Commission (SEE IT HERE) and one of the men in the video made an awesome summary which I think is a great life motto/goal for every Christian, which is basically:
Making and daily living a Great Commitment to the Great Commandment (Matt 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20), and in doing so grow Great churches (and THE church in general)”
So let’s make a commitment to that right now if we haven’t already, make a fresh commitment if we have already and let’s get UNASHAMEDLY GOSPEL in our hearts and lives!