1. Gal. 1:6

2. 2 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? I. FALSE CONCEPTS OF THE GOSPEL A. “Core Gospel” among churches of Christ 1. “There is God and Jesus: all the rest is opinion.” J. H. Garrison (1842-1931) 2. “There are seven facts about Jesus: all the rest is muddled apostolic opinion.” (Rubel Shelly) 3. The Gospel - Doctrine Distinction - Preach Gospel to lost. - Teach Doctrine to saved. (Leroy Garret, Carl Ketcherside, etc.)

3. 3 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? I. FALSE CONCEPTS OF THE GOSPEL B. “The Gospel” Among Denominations 1. “Sadly, most Christians are not even aware that the Church of Christ adds baptism to the Gospel.” (Biblical Discernment Ministries - Revised 2/2002) http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/lucado/lucado.htm 2. “The Gospel is summed up as Salvation is by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.” (Jared Moore, S.Bapt.) 3. Debate Proposition on: “the non- existence of a ‘new’ law known as ‘the law of faith’.” (Jared Moore, Southern Baptist)

4. 4 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? II. SYNONYMS OF “THE GOSPEL” A. The Faith (Gal. 1:11, 23). C. The Word (Acts 8:25). B. The Truth (Gal. 2:5, 14). D. Sound Doctrine (1 Tim. 1:10-11). E. The Grace of God (Acts 20:24). F. Preaching Jesus (Rom. 16:25-26). G. Involves & Includes ALL God says about it (Ps. 119:160; Acts 20:28)!

5. 5 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? III. THE GOSPEL WAS PROMISED BEFORE A. Gal. 3:8 “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.” (Cp. Gen. 12:3) B. Was A Mystery Until Christ Came (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:8-11). C. Thus, EVERY prophecy & foreshadowing of Christ was a hint of the coming Gospel (Gen. 3:15; Is. 53; Dan. 2:44; etc.)

6. 6 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? IV. THE GOSPEL WAS REVEALED (Mk. 1:1) A. “Which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel” (1 Peter 1:9-12). B. The Gospel INCLUDES milk and meat (Heb. 5:11-14). 1. Some say the gospel is ONLY the milk! 2. Even IF this were true, what is the milk? Doctrine, repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1-2)

7. 7 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? IV. THE GOSPEL WAS REVEALED C. The Gospel INCLUDES: 1. Preaching on the kingdom (Matt. 24:14). 2. Sacrificial living (Mk. 8:35). 3. Belief & Baptism (Mark 16:15-16). 4. Preach word, Christ, kingdom, baptism (Acts 8:4, 5, 12, 14, 25, 35, 36, 40) 5. Preach all God’s word, basics, the kingdom, organization of the church, warnings of error (Acts 20:20, 21, 24- 25, 27, 28-32).

8. 8 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? IV. THE GOSPEL WAS REVEALED C. The Gospel INCLUDES: 9. Gospel is to be OBEYED (Rom. 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:8)! 10. Men will be JUDGED by it (Rom. 2:16)! 8. Gospel must be continued in (1 Cor. 15:1-2). 7. Gospel includes evidences for faith (1 Cor. 15:3-11). 6. Gospel is to be defended (Phil. 1:7).

9. 9 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? V. BEWARE THOSE WHO PERVERT THE GOSPEL! A. Can happen quickly (Gal. 1:6)! B. Perversions of the Gospel bring a curse from God (Gal. 1:7-9; 5:2-4). C. The result of perverting the Gospel is an increased toleration for SIN! 1. Exclude all but a few “facts”... 2. The “Core Gospel” leaves nothing upon which to live spiritually! WILL YOU OBEY THE GOSPEL?