OceanSide church of Christ

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THE GREAT COMMISSION (2)

Mark 16:15-16

The Communication

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Our theme for OceanSide this year is:  “We Will Go…I Will Go.”

 

B.      This theme stems from the Great Commission found in all three of the synoptic gospels:  Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

 

C.     Today is our “Kick-Off” Sunday. 

1.        We want to focus on our theme.

2.       We want to encourage us to take our theme seriously in 2020.

3.        We will have three lessons centering on the words found in Mark 16:15-16.

 

D.     In this lesson, we will be looking at “The Communication” (Mark 16:15).

 

…and preach the gospel…

 

1.        The gospel is that which is to be communicated to every creature in the world.

2.       In this lesson, we will look briefly at ten (10) aspects of the gospel.

 

I.             THE GOSPEL = GOOD NEWS

 

A.     The Greek words translated “gospel” is “euaggelion.”

1.        Strong (2098):  a good message

2.       Thayer:  glad tidings

 

B.      The word “gospel” is found 104 times in 98 verses in the New Testament.

 

C.     Three important points:

1.        There are “other” gospels in the world, but there is only one true gospel of Christ that is supposed to be preached (Gal. 1:6-9).

2.       The core of the gospel involves the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4).

3.        There will come a day when all men will be judged according to the gospel (Rom. 2:16).

 

D.     One would think that in a world filled with bad news almost 24/7 that glad tidings would be something that all would want to hear.  Such, however, is not the case.  The lost of the world are blinded to the good news by the god of this world (II Cor. 4:3-4).

 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

E.      Romans 10:15

 

And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

 

II.           GOSPEL = CHRIST

 

A.     If the gospel has one person as its subject, it would be Jesus Christ the Son of God.

 

B.      It was He who came to the earth from heaven above.

It was He who willingly took the form of a man.

It was He who lived a perfect life.

It was He who voluntarily offered His life for all of mankind.

 

C.     Paul told the Romans he was ready to preach the gospel to them (Rom. 1:15).  It was the same gospel that he had preached to others.  Listen to what he said he had preached when he entered into the city of Corinth (I Cor. 2:1-2).

 

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

 

D.     In the book of Acts, “Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5).  In the same chapter, this same evangelist spoke to an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading from the prophet Isaiah.  “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35).

 

III.         GOSPEL = LOVE

 

A.     Closely tied to the idea that the gospel equals the Christ is the gospel equals love.

 

B.      It was love that sent Jesus to this world to die.

1.        John 3:16

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…

 

2.       Romans 5:8

 

But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

3.        Ephesians 2:4-5

 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)

 

4.       I John 3:16

 

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…

 

5.        I John 4:9-10

 

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

C.     We are so accustomed to thinking about and talking about the death of Christ, that we often fail to give it the contemplation it deserves.  If we would, we would find that God’s love passes our comprehension (Eph. 3:18-19).

 

May be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

 

 

 

IV.         GOSPEL = FORGIVENESS

 

A.     How do we know God truly loves us?  Because while we were yet “sinners” Christ died for us.

 

B.      In His death, Christ shed His blood.  It was shed so we can have the forgiveness of our sins (Matt. 26:28; Rev. 1:5; 7:14).

 

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

1.        My blood

a.       Blood of the Son of God

b.       Divine blood

c.       Royal blood

d.       Human blood

e.       Perfect blood

2.       The blood of animals and sinful men could not atone for the sins of sinful man.

 

C.     This is truly the good news. 

1.        I do not have to serve sin.

I do not have to be a slave to sin.

I do not have to die in my sins.

I do not have to stand before God with my sins.

2.       I can be forgiven.  This is definitely good news.

 

D.     NOTE:  There is not a sin that the blood of Jesus will not cleanse.

1.        Paul said that his conversion was “a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (I Tim. 1:16).

2.       In I Timothy 1:13, Paul notes the kind of man he was.  “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious…”

3.        If Paul could be forgiven of his sins, any sin can be cleansed from a person’s soul.

4.       Again, this is GOOD NEWS!  This is gospel.

 

V.           GOSPEL = FAITH

 

A.     The gospel is not just a message designed to proclaim facts.

 

B.      It is a message that is designed to produce a response from man.

1.        The response is a faith response.

2.       Romans 1:17

 

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

a.       The gospel is “the faith” (Acts 6:7; Eph. 4:5; Jude 3).  It is a system of faith.  It is a code of things that God wants us to believe.

b.       This faith is designed to produce faith in man (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 1:13).  Thus, from faith (the system of faith) to faith (faith that is produced in the heart of man).

 

C.     Faith is of vital importance in the salvation process (Heb. 11:6).

 

D.     But, we are not justified by faith only James 2:24.

 

E.      Faith reacts to three things that God communicates to us in the gospel.

1.        We must believe the facts God reveals.

2.       We must embrace the promises that God gives.

3.        We must obey the commands that God gives to us.

4.       NOTE:  If we fail in any of these areas, we do not possess a saving faith.

 

VI.         GOSPEL = GRACE

 

A.     Even though we must obey the commands of God as an expression of faith, we do not earn our salvation.

 

B.      Salvation is a gift of God.

1.        Ephesians 2:8

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not yourselves:  it is the gift of God.

 

2.       Romans 6:23

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

C.     Example: 

1.        God told Israel, that Jericho was a gift (Josh. 6:2).

 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho…

 

2.       In order to receive the gift, Israel had to comply with the conditions God gave to obtain it (Josh. 6:3-5).

3.        When Israel complied, did they “earn” Jericho?  No.  It was still God’s gift to them.

4.       Application:  When we comply with God’s commands, we do not earn our salvation.  It is still God’s gift to us.

 

VII.       GOSPEL = PEACE

 

A.     Another term that describes the gospel is peace.

 

B.      Sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:1-2).  Sin causes man to become an enemy of God (Rom. 5:10).

 

C.     The gospel, however, causes man to be at peace with God

1.        Romans 5:1

 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

2.       Acts 10:34-36

 

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:  (he is Lord of all:).

 

3.        Colossians 1-20-22

 

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

 

D.     Another aspect of this peace involves our fellow man.  When men have peace with God, they are also brought into a peaceful relationship with their other men (See Eph. 2:14-16).

 

VIII.     GOSPEL – WORD

 

A.     The phrases, the gospel and the Word of God are identical.  The good news has been communicated to man in the words found in the New Testament.

 

B.      Jesus told His disciples to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15).  On the day of Pentecost, this was done for the first time.  Peter opened his mouth, and said:  “Ye men of Israel, hear these words…” (Acts 2:22). 

 

C.     Some view the words found in the Bible as simply the words of men.  Although men penned the words, they actually come from the mind of God through the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2:9-13, esp. v. 13)

 

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth; but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 

D.     These words can be read and understood (Eph. 3:3-4).

 

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystry; (as I wrote afore in few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,).

 

E.      It is important for us to know these words for they will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).

 

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

IX.         GOSPEL = TRUTH

 

A.     The Scriptures often refer to the truth of the gospel.

1.        Galatians 2:5

 

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

 

2.       Galatians 2:14

 

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel…

 

3.        Ephesians 1:13

 

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:  in whom also, after ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

 

4.       Colossians 1:5

 

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

 

B.      The gospel does not contain lies.

The gospel does not contain fiction.

The gospel is not a myth.

The gospel is not a fable.

The gospel is not fantasy.

 

C.     The gospel is truth.  Paul affirmed this to Felix on one occasion (Acts 26:25).

 

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

 

D.     Because the gospel is truth, it can be trusted from beginning to end.

Because the gospel is truth, it is the perfect standard for living.

Because the gospel is truth, it is the perfect standard for judgment.

 

X.           GOSPEL = HOPE

 

A.     Hope involves deep desire and earnest expectation.

 

B.      The gospel is a message of hope in a world filled with hopelessness.

1.        Colossians 1:5

 

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

 

2.       Colossians 1:23

 

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

 

C.     Our hope involves numerous things:

1.        The Second Coming of Jesus (Tit. 2:13)

2.       The Resurrection of the Dead (Acts 23:6; 24:15)

3.        Heaven (Col. 1:5)

4.       Eternal life (Tit. 1:2; 3:7)

5.        The grace of God (I Pet. 1:13).

6.       To be like Christ at His appearing (I John 3:2-3).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     That which we are to communicate to every creature in the world is the gospel.

 

B.      Preaching the gospel involves many things:

1.        Preaching glad tidings

2.       Preaching Christ

3.        Preaching love

4.       Preaching forgiveness

5.        Preaching faith

6.       Preaching grace

7.       Preaching peace

8.       Preaching the Word

9.       Preaching truth

10.     Preaching hope

 

C.     No other message is more important, more needed, and more powerful.

 

D.     Sadly, no other message will be more scorned and rejected.

1.        But, we are not accountable for the reactions of man to the gospel.

2.       We are only accountable for preaching the good news in love.

 

E.      Three verses:

1.        Romans 1:15

 

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

2.       Romans 10:15

 

And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that prech the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

 

3.        I Corinthians 9:16

 

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of:  for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!