RIVERSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST - Why believe in GOD

"WHY I BELIEVE"

In The Gospel Of Christ

INTRODUCTION

Among things in which I believe is the gospel of Jesus Christ...
The word "gospel" (Gr., euaggelion) means "good news"...
1. It pertains to the good news of salvation through Christ
2. It involves the proclamation of God's grace offered through Jesus

[As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I firmly believe in the gospel. In this study, we will first review why the gospel is so important, and then summarize the particulars of the gospel...]

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL
1. SOMETHING JESUS WANTED EVERYONE TO HEAR...
  1. Jesus wanted every person in the world to hear the gospel - Mk 16:15-16
  2. It must therefore be important to Him
2. -- If so important to Him, it must be important to all who believe in Him!POWER TO SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES...
  1. Paul described the gospel as God's power unto salvation - Ro 1:16; 1Co 15:1-2
  2. In the gospel is revealed God's righteousness - Ro 1:17
  3. Thus he was not ashamed of the gospel, ready to preach it anywhere - Ro 1:15; 15:19b
3. -- If Paul had such convictions regarding the gospel, shouldn't we?CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY...
  1. Peter raised the question of what of those who not obey the gospel - 1Pe 4:17
  2. Paul revealed the answer: vengeance and eternal destruction from God! - 2Th 1:7-10
-- If the consequence of not believing the gospel is so grave, how can we not believe?
[Because of what it means to Jesus and His apostles, what it means to us who believe, and what it will mean for those who do not obey, I believe in the gospel! But what exactly is this "good news"...?]THE PARTICULARS OF THE GOSPEL
1. CONTAINS FACTS TO BELIEVE...
  1. Christ was crucified for our sins - 1Co 15:1-3; cf. Isa 53:4-6
  2. Christ was raised from the dead - 1Co 15:4; e.g., Ac 2:32
  3. Christ is exalted as Lord and Savior - Ac 2:33-36; cf. Ep 1:20-23
  4. Christ is coming again, this time to judge the world - Ac 17:30-31; cf. 2Th 1:7-9
2. -- Note that destruction comes to those who do not OBEY the gospel; the gospel therefore contains more than simply facts to believe! - 2Th 1:8INCLUDES COMMANDS TO OBEY...
  1. We must believe the gospel concerning Jesus Christ - Mk 16:16; cf. Ro 1:16
  2. We must confess our faith in Jesus Christ - Ro 10:9-10; e.g., Ac 8:37
  3. We must repent of our sins - Lk 24:46-47; cf. Ac 2:37-38; 3:19; 17:30-31
  4. We must be baptized for the remission of sins - Mk 16:15-16; cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16
  5. We must remain faithful, even to the point of death - Re 2:10; cf. He 3:12-14
3. -- For those who obey the gospel, Jesus becomes the author of eternal life! - He 5:9OFFERS PROMISES TO RECEIVE...
  1. The remission of sins, through the blood of Jesus - Ac 2:38; cf. Ep 1:7
  2. The gift of the Holy Spirit, to empower the Christian - Ac 2:38-39; cf. Ro 15:13; Ep 3:16
  3. The gift of everlasting life, to be received at the end - Jn 3:16; cf. Ro 6:22-23

-- This is why the gospel of Christ is truly "good news"!

CONCLUSION

We have seen that the gospel of Christ is...
1. Good news Jesus wanted everyone to hear
2. The power of God of salvation to everyone who believes
3. Condemnation for those unwilling to obey it
We saw where the gospel of Christ contains facts, commands, and promises...
1. The facts to believe contains the message of God's love and grace
2. The commands to obey are not difficult works done to earn salvation, but simple acts of faith whereby we receive God's grace and mercy
3. The promises to receive help us deal with the problem of sin in our lives
Do you believe in the gospel of Christ...?
1. Enough to obey it to ensure the salvation of your own soul?
2. Enough to tell others about it?

May we all have the same attitude as Paul did regarding the gospel of Christ...

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." - Ro 1:16