Proclaim "Jesus is Lord and Savior!"
Introduction
In our last sermon we learned that God’s people are a people who proclaim the gospel of Christ. What is the gospel? How do we proclaim the gospel of Christ? We looked first at Isaiah to learn what the good news is. Then we saw how this good news was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is God reigning. Jesus is God returning. Jesus is God redeeming. In Jesus God’s kingdom has come into the world, into human history. God’s kingdom is here! We must proclaim that our God reigns. We must proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Savior!
Today we will look at what Paul is saying about the gospel. What is the good news for Paul? How did Paul think and speak of the gospel?
1. The Gospel is the Power of God that Saves
Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16). For Paul the gospel is at least six things.
1.1 The gospel is the story of Jesus according to the Scriptures
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 — “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also as to one abnormally born.”
The gospel is the story of Jesus according to the Scriptures. The gospel is rooted in Scripture. It is the history, the historical facts about Jesus of Nazareth through whom God has accomplished salvation. The gospel is true because it is historical fact that Jesus lived, died and was resurrected. The gospel is true because the Word of God tells us the true story of Jesus.
The good news is that the reign of God, which God promised and described in the Scriptures, has now come through the person and work of Jesus the Messiah. The reign of God is now active in the world. We are now living under the kingship of Christ. Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, is Lord, God and Savior of the world. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is our Lord, not any world leader.
1.2 The gospel is a new redeemed humanity, a single family of God
God’s plan was to bless all the nations of the world through Israel. God made a covenant with Israel. He redeemed Israel. He called them to be his holy people. The nations, it seemed, were totally outside of this arrangement, excluded from God’s family. And then Israel themselves failed to be God’s holy people. And they, like the nations, were alienated from God. How could God fulfill his promise to Abraham? This is what the gospel is about. The gospel brought an end to this hopeless alienation. Any nation who put their faith in Jesus Christ and his blood, are reconciled with God, and brought into the family of God.
Let’s read Eph 2:11-18 — “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
This peacemaking is at the heart of the work of the cross, at the heart of the gospel. It is not a by-product. It does not mean that many individuals from many different nations have been saved, and now in the meantime, on our way to heaven, we should really try to get on with each other. No, the creation of a new humanity is the good news. Peace is part of the good news as. Jesus is our peace. Jesus made peace. Jesus preached peace. We are one family of God. Because of Christ, that one single family includes people from all nations, just as God promised Abraham. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.
1.3 The gospel is the transformation of life
Radical change of life goes along with faith in Jesus Christ. God’s people, the new, redeemed humanity must now live the new life we have in Christ. The gospel involves putting off the filthy clothes of the old humanity, and putting on the clothes of the new humanity. We must put on Christ. Eph 4:20-24 — “That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
When we believe and receive the gospel, we are born again. Our lives are changed. Paul talks about the obedience of faith. Rom 1:5—“… to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations” (ESV). 16:26 — “… the preaching of Jesus Christ … has been made known to all nations, … to bring about the obedience of faith (ESV) (the obedience that comes from faith — NIV)
We have talked much about faith and obedience in our sermon series on the deeper life. You cannot have the one without the other. Obedience proves the reality of the faith. It is like the breath of life. How do you know there is physical life in somebody? Check if they are breathing, obeying. No breath, no life. How do you know there is the new life of Christ in somebody? No obedience, no faith. Faith without the fruits of the new life, is as dead as the body without life. We must live the gospel. Walk our talk. Practice what we preach. We cannot say Lord, Lord, and then ignore the Lord’s will for our everyday lives.
1.4 The gospel is the power of God transforming the universe
God is at work in history and creation. We should not be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the saving power of God that redeems creation, transforming lives and history. We can say this with confidence because the gospel is Jesus Christ himself. He is the good news. The gospel proclaims the good news that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, King and Savior.
This is the gospel — All things in the universe have been created by Christ, are being sustained by Christ, and will be reconciled to God by Christ through the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-23 — “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
We can stand firm in our faith and hope because our salvation comes from the all-powerful God that holds all in his hands. The gospel is good news for all creation, for all nations. And so …
1.5 The gospel is a message to be communicated to the whole world
God loves the world. God loves, and wants all people to be saved. Therefore, the gospel must be preached to all nations. The gospel is the word of truth that must be heard. Only when people hear it, can they receive it, and believe it. We must communicate the gospel by all means possible, and at whatever cost. We must speak it, tell it, preach it, teach it, sing it, shout it, dramatize it. We must use all media we have available. We must be willing to suffer for it, even die for it. We must tell the story of Jesus. We must constantly go to the places and people who have not yet heard the story, who do not know Christ yet.
1.6 The gospel is truth to be defended
The gospel can also be bad news for some people. The gospel threatens the egos, selfish desires, and vested interests of many people. When we proclaim the truth of the gospel, the following things do happen (Wright):
The gospel of Christ is for all people. That threatens those people who believe that you should belong to the “right people,” race, or nationality.
The gospel is utterly the gift of God’s grace. That offends those who take pride in their own achievements.
The gospel proclaims that the glorious salvation of the living God was accomplished through someone who lived in obscurity and died in excruciating shame. That is a laughingstock to those who want their salvation to come from someone or something more glorious.
The gospel summons people to repentance and a radically changed personal and social ethic. That annoys those who want the benefits of the gospel but resist its demands.
The gospel confronts things that contradict it. The gospel confronts people who deny or reject it. It exists in explicit contrast and conflict with the views and commitments of the world. So to be a servant of the gospel necessarily involves a costly struggle and spiritual battle. When we proclaim the gospel, we are joining the fight, to make sure that the truth of the gospel is preserved, clarified and defended against, denials, distortions and betrayals. We will be opposed. The gospel calls us to be courageous in our defense of the gospel.
2. How? Live and Speak the Gospel!
First, live the gospel. We call this lifestyle evangelism. Obey the gospel. We can talk about the gospel all we want, but if we are not living the gospel, people will not listen. Make friends and build friendship relations with unbelievers. Friendships are the best path for sharing the gospel.
Listen to people. What are they happy, sad, angry about? What are they struggling with? What questions do they have about life? It is when you listen to people that doors will open for you to share your faith. Be ready to share the gospel during conversations at sports events, coffee houses, living rooms, other informal social gatherings where people are just sitting and talking.
Always seek an opportunity to say a good word about Jesus and his church. People hear, think and believe all kinds of bad things about Jesus and the church. Share something good and so give a positive witness. Do not be quiet when people attack the church. Don’t fight back. Admit the truths of where the church has done wrong, but then share the good things.
Be ready to tell the story of what God has done and is doing in your life. Your personal testimony is still the best way of sharing the gospel. Also tell people what God has done recently in your life.
Have a plan of salvation that you can share when the opportunity presents itself. There are various models, methods and tools. Learn and practice at least one of them so that you can use them with ease when the time comes.
Make sure that you know the Scriptures for witnessing. Keep a list of them in your Bible, or in your daily planner, wallet, purse, or pocket. Look for opportunities to share your favorite Scripture and why that Scripture is so important in your life.
Make a list of people who are not believers, people you know, and pray for them daily. Invite people, especially a friend, someone you know, to church.
We should not be ashamed of the gospel. Let us step out boldly with the courage and power that comes from the Holy Spirit. Let us proclaim to the world, to everyone, that Jesus is Lord and Savior.