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The Importance of the Gospel
By David Cox
[eva18] v1 ©2019 www.coxtracts.com/eva18
You can freely copy and print this tract.
In this tract, the importance of the gospel, we examine the reasons why we should focus on the gospel. THEMES: What is the gospel? | Preaching the Gospel | Jesus is the Gospel | The Gospel is for the nations | Preaching the Gospel was the mission of Jesus | The Gospel is our imperative | God waits in the gospel preached
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Undoubtedly, there are brothers, truly saved, who mistakenly believe in some wrong points of doctrine. I admit that perhaps my own doctrine may be wrong. I am not perfect. I do not knowingly believe anything against the Bible. But still, these may go to heaven anyway and the Lord will correct us on our doctrine in heaven. But if one is wrong about salvation, about what the gospel is, it is eternally lost when it dies, and there is no remedy. They can correctly believe 99% of other good doctrine and practice, but they will still be lost. So, the gospel is very important, without it we will not see heaven.
What is the Gospel?
1Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pet 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. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The gospel is what Jesus did. The point is specifically to die on the cross for our sins, we exchanged what we were going to suffer in hell, and Jesus suffered this for us.
1Cor 15:3 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:
The gospel is Jesus dying for our sins as a sacrifice instead of our own suffering for our sins, and then God’s approval of this sacrifice as pleasing to Him is shown by the resurrection on the third day.
The beginning of the gospel begins (Mark 1:1) and ends with Jesus Christ. The gospel is Jesus (Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.) The prophecies about our salvation were fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Note in 1 Peter 2:24 that this salvation has an integral part where we “live unto righteousness.” This is the consequence of repentance, of turning sin over and of pursuing justice.
Preaching the Gospel
Luke 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. (announced the good news) Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
The Bible speaks of two concepts, evangelizing and preaching. Preaching is what a man of God does in the role of being a preacher, usually in a church or a group. Evangelizing is what saved men and women do in presenting the gospel to another single person or few people. Normally, evangelizing is in small groups or one on one.
Preaching is broader than presenting the gospel, and touches many Bible topics. Sometimes they preached in public to large groups of people, but rarely do we see the term used with a one on one situation.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
The focus then is to help those suffering, who seek help from their situation.
Matt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Mt 9:35)
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Jesus and his followers preached the gospel. This evangelism is the main activity of Bible believers, and is the main thing of what we should consider as “the ministry.” A Christian who does not give the gospel to unbelievers, who is not involved in promoting this evangelism, is not a NT Christian.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
The process is very clear. They announced the gospel to the unconverted, and after they believe in the gospel, these were saved. After being saved, they gave testimony of this by entering as members in a church by water baptism.
Jesus is the Gospel
1Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Jesus and his mission in coming into the world are inseparable. They are one and the same.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
The Bible presents Jesus as the Christ or Messiah-Savior, and the plan of salvation as the same thing. They are so united and dependent on each other that they come to represent the same thing.
The Gospel is for the Nations
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
The Gospel is the plan of salvation, and this is the main thing we give to the unconverted. Cults tend to give something else on first contact. Also, it is essential if people are going to please God and be saved. It is not sufficient to substitute anything else for the gospel preaching in our churches, and we also go outside our churches to where the unbelievers are to present it to them.
To preach the Gospel was the mission of Jesus
Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Jesus and his disciples and followers preached the gospel. They presented the gospel to the unsaved everywhere.
Luke 9:6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.
The gospel is the “good news” of how man can be saved. This is a presentation of something that God does, and if an individual believes in it, this person will be saved. We can see that for Jesus and his disciples, the ministry revolved around presenting the gospel.
The Gospel is our Great Imperative
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The main thing that God wants from us is that we believe in Jesus Christ, in his work on the cross, which is the gospel which saves us. Also known as the Great Commission, the presentation of the gospel of how to be saved and God wants the world to hear and then receive this Gospel. Prov 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. To win souls by sharing the gospel is a very wise thing to do.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
We have to understand that our salvation is dependent on our public declaration for all our life that Jesus is our Savior. If we do not testify, why don’t we? Are you ashamed of your Savior? Should we doubt that you are saved then? If the matter of Jesus saving you from the punishment of your sins and this salvation takes away actual sin from your life today, and sin is what causes you discomfort and suffering here, then, why do not you want to share this great blessing that you have found? If you do not value salvation by identifying with it, can you really even be saved then?
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
It is important to see that the mission, ministry, and practice of the church in the Bible were to “teach and preach Jesus Christ.” His name, Jesus Christ or Jesus is the Messiah Savior, is essentially the gospel.
Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. The early Christians suffered persecution, but even with this, they announced the gospel where life took them.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.. If we are saved, then we will want to confess Christ to others.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Everything revolves around the true Christians confessing Christ (witnessing) to the unsaved.
God is waiting for the Gospel Preaching
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
According to the course of the world, God presently waiting for the gospel to be preached to the whole world before He ends it all, the end, the events of Revelation begin.
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