WHAT IS THE GOSPEL & WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

I Corinthians 15:1-5 Now, brothers, 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve.

I Corinthians 15:6-8 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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.

I. What the Gospel Is.

A. What does the word Gospel mean? I. What the Gospel Is.

A. What does the word Gospel mean? 1. Gospel ( ε ὐ αγγέλιον ) = the good news. I. What the Gospel Is.

A. What does the word Gospel mean? 1. Gospel () = the good news. 1. Gospel ( ε ὐ αγγέλιον ) = the good news. 2. The gospel is the victory message! I. What the Gospel Is.

B. Background: Keep in mind who God is! I. What the Gospel Is.

B. Background: Keep in mind who God is! 1. He existed before anything else. I. What the Gospel Is.

B. Background: Keep in mind who God is! 1. He existed before anything else. 2. His might & majesty are beyond us. I. What the Gospel Is.

B. Background: Keep in mind who God is! 1. He existed before anything else. 2. His might & majesty are beyond us. 3. He created everything! I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. 1. God became a man. Philippians 2:6-8 - Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. 2. That man died. 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. - v1-5 I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. 3. He was buried. 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. - v1-5 I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. 4. He was raised. 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. - v1-5 I. What the Gospel Is.

C. The gospel is the story of how God acted in history. 5. He appeared to many people. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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. - v6-8 I. What the Gospel Is.

II. How it is Proclaimed.

A. It is to be preached ( ε ὐ αγγελίζω ) = to share the good news. Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. - v1. II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

A. It is to be preached ( ε ὐ αγγελίζω ) = to share the good news. It’s the verb form of gospel ε ὐ αγγέλιον (ε ὐ αγγέλιον) II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

B. It is to be received ( παραλαμβάνω ) = to be intimately associated with what is received. Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. - v1 II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

B. It is to be received ( παραλαμβάνω ) = to be intimately associated with what is received. Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. - v1 How? II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

Now, brothers, 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. - v Stand ( ἵ στημι ) = to take your stand, be committed to. II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

Now, brothers, 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. - v Hold firmly to ( κατέχω ). II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

Now, brothers, 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. - v Believe ( ἐ πιπιστεύω ) = trusted in, have faith in. II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

C. An example of this salvation pattern. Acts 18:8 - Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. II. II. How it is Proclaimed.

I. What the Gospel Is. II. How it is Proclaimed. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

A. The gospel is to be proclaimed today as you witness. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

A. The gospel is to be proclaimed today as you witness. I Timothy 4:2 - Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season... III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

A. The gospel is to be proclaimed today as you witness. If you present it, people will respond to it because... Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

B. The gospel is to be proclaimed today by participating in the ordinances of the church. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

1. How does the Lord’s Supper proclaim the gospel? III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

1. How does the Lord’s Supper proclaim the gospel? The bread: we are reminded that God became a man. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

1. How does the Lord’s Supper proclaim the gospel? The bread: we are reminded that God became a man. The fruit of the vine: we are reminded of His death. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

1. How does the Lord’s Supper proclaim the gospel? 2. How does baptism proclaim the gospel? III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

2. How does baptism proclaim the gospel? a. It’s a total immersion in water. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

2. How does baptism proclaim the gospel? a. It’s a total immersion in water. b. It symbolizes the Lord’s death, burial & resurrection. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

2. How does baptism proclaim the gospel? a. It’s a total immersion in water. b. It symbolizes the Lord’s death, burial & resurrection. c. It portrays our death, burial & resurrection. III. Evidences of the Gospel’s Importance.

The resurrection is the crowing point of the gospel.