1. Hear the Gospel
What is the Gospel?
Gospel means "Good News"
The word "gospel" comes from the Old English gōdspel, from gōd
'good' + spel 'news, a story'.
Good News About Jesus
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus is the...
Son of Man (Joseph & Mary of Nazareth)
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit"
Son of God
"And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God"
Lamb of God
"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'"
Why Did He Come?
To Take Away the Sin of the World
"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'"
To Die As the Sacrificial Lamb
"that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die."
The Gospel Saves You
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek"
The Gospel Needs to Be Heard
We cannot know Jesus without learning
In the New Testament, we are told to listen to the gospel and we see examples of people being saved by hearing.
"And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'"
Jesus the Teacher
"And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel"
"midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach"
The First Gospel Sermon
"Peter …Men of Judea … give heed to my words"
"Men of Israel, listen to these words"
"Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart …"
Others
"And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly"
"And they spoke the word of the Lord"
"like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word"
"in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls"
The right source in the 1st century was listening to the Apostles/Prophets. Today, the right source for the gospel about Jesus is reading 4 books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then, reading Acts of the Apostles provides a historical account of the people who heard and obeyed the gospel. Reading the rest of the New Testament then provides instructions for daily living.
What should I do when I hear the gospel?