“I AM SET FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL” (Philippians 1:12-17) Gospel = “Good News”
A. What IS the Gospel? Death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus → (1 Corinthians 15:1-6) The teaching of Jesus → (Romans 2:12, 16) “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” (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.”
a. Notice → Gospel will judge world
3. God’s power unto Salvation → (Romans 1:15-17) “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’ ”
a. Avenue to eternal life (2 Timothy 1:8-10) “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
4. That through which God calls us (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15)
B. How MANY Gospels are there? Only ONE true Gospel (Galatians 1:6-12)
a. Notice → There are FALSE Gospels (1) (2)
C. To WHOM is the Gospel to be preached?
1. All Nations (Jew and Gentile) → (Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mark 16:15-16) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
D. Why will ALL people NOT be saved?
1. Minds of some are blinded → (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4In 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 into them.”
2. Not ALL will obey the Gospel → (Romans 10:14-17) “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not head? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And 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!’ 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, ‘Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
a. To our SHAME, not all will hear
E. What of those that do NOT Obey the Gospel?
1. They will suffer God’s vengeance → (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
2. They will be cast into the lake of fire → (Revelation 21:7-8) “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (3)
F. What if I do not preach/teach the Gospel?
1. I am WITHOUT excuse → (James 4:13-17)
a. I SHOULD be constantly looking for the opportunity to teach the truth
2. I have SINNED willfully → (Hebrews 10:23-27)
a. May not have “left the church”, but willful sin is STILL willful sin.
G. LET US BE LIKE OUR BRETHREN THAT WERE IN JERUSALEM….. (Acts 8:3-4) “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
1. We don’t need to “leave” to “go” teach the gospel
2. Wherever we are, let us be set for a defense of the gospel