The Blessedness of the Gospel

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-27-2026

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

 

Introduction: 

A.  The very word gospel simply means “good news” or “good tidings.” 

 

1.  The good news for a world dying in sin! 

 

2.  The good news that God’s Son, Israel’s Messiah, and our Lord and Saviour died once for all!   “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son!” 

 

3.  The good news is that the sinful do not have to spend eternity in a devil’s hell! 

 

4.  The good news is that all that is necessary for a sinner to be saved has been done.  Salvation is a finished work! 

 

5.  The good news is that every sinner who ever lived could be saved!  (2 Peter 3:9)  “The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

 

6.  The good news is that God’s prepared heaven is now freely accessible to both the greatest and the least of mankind!  The ground is level at the foot of the cross; no man stands higher than I.”

 

B.  Now, for the great danger of the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

 

1.  In the next few verses, we find the best definition of the Gospel found in the Scriptures. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

2.  Notice the word “also” found in verse 3.  Paul states that both the Corinthian believers, along with himself, had “received” the Gospel.  A saved man writing to saved people.

 

3.  Here, we find that the perversion of “another gospel” can occur when false doctrinal teaching finds access in the local churches. 

 

a)  The Bearers of another Gospel.  They are agents of Satan.

 

2 Corinthians 11:1-4  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

b)  The Beguiling of another Gospel.  God said twice that they were accursed. 

 

Galatians 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

Colossians 1:20-23  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.  (21)  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  (22)  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:  (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;

 

4.  What is a perverted Gospel?  Adding to or taking away from the Scriptural account of the Gospel by introducing personal merit to both or either side of the Gospel.  In both the Books of 2 Corinthians and Galatians, we find the perverting of the gospel.  In the First Century, as false teachers infiltrated the local churches and found willing followers, the gospel fell under attack.  Satan hates the gospel!  The gospel is God’s power unto salvation to those who believe on Christ. 

 

a)  Another Gospel.  Personal merit essential to the Gospel for Salvation.  By adding baptism, good works, etc., to the finished work of Christ!  Teaching that the Gospel is both ALL sufficient for salvation, and also ONLY sufficient for salvation.

 

b)  Another Gospel.  Adding personal merit to the Gospel for Security.  Personal merit is essential to maintain salvation.  The teaching that they said is kept by personal merit or good works instead of the power of God through the Gospel alone.

 

c)  I fear, my beloved brethren, that we have become acceptant of these denominations of false teachings concerning salvation, which are perversions of the Gospel of Christ.

 

Romans 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,  (2)  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)  (3)  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  (4)  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

Romans 1:15-17  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  (16)  For 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.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

5.  Once saved by the pureness of the Gospel, we must preach and share that same pure Gospel to the lost so that they can be saved and have full assurance of their salvation.

 

6.  To the unlearned and ignorant, this may sound hard, but we can neither allow the infiltration of a false Gospel, nor can we associate with those who preach such!

 

C.  This evening, I want to look at some aspects of the Gospel found in these verses of Scripture. 

 

1.  The Purity Of The Gospel - The Gospel Defined – vs. 3-4  Many do not understand the gospel and refer to themselves as “full gospel” by adding other things to it.  This is “another gospel which is not another!”

 

a.  Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.  (Involves the prophecies [such as not having a bone broken, etc.], doctrines of sin, Christ, and salvation.)

 

b.  Christ was buried.  (Involves prophecies fulfilled, such as that He made His grave with the rich.)

 

c.  Christ rose again the third day according to the scriptures.  (A glorious bodily resurrection.)

 

2.  The Preaching Of The Gospel - The Gospel Delivered – vs. 1, 3  The gospel must be preached in all of its purity in order to be effective.

 

a.  The Gospel Daringly Declared – vs. 1 “declared”  (Unashamedly and boldly preached.)

 

b.  The Gospel Dutifully Delivered – vs. 3 “delivered”  (In fulfillment of the Great Commission, preached to every creature both at home and abroad.)

 

3.  The People Of The Gospel – The Gospel Desired – vs. 1  A realization that salvation is through Christ alone brings about two things.

 

a.  The Gospel Brings Conversion – vs. 1 “received”  (A realization that works cannot obtain salvation.)

 

b.  The Gospel Brings Confidence – vs. 1 “stand”  (A realization that works cannot maintain salvation.)

 

4.  The Power Of The Gospel – The Gospel Demonstrated - vs. 3-4  The Gospel message works as well today as it did two thousand years ago.  It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

 

a.  The Power Of Propitiation – vs. 3 “Christ died” (For every man, woman, and child who ever has or ever will live.)

 

b.  The Power Of Salvation – vs. 3 “our sins” (For all of our sins, past, present, and future.)

 

c.  The Power Of Resurrection – vs. 4 “rose again”  (Brings resurrection presently in holiness of life and then resurrection future into His eternal presence.)

 

5.  The Protection Of The Gospel – The Gospel Defended - vs. 2  The Gospel has always been under attack because it alone brings salvation.  The Gospel was attacked through the denial of the resurrection of the Sadducees, those who were religious zealots who crucified Christ, the soldiers who were to keep the tomb.

 

a.  Against Apostasy’s Deviation – vs. 2 “keep in memory”  (We live in days where the virgin birth, blood atonement, and other major gospel doctrines are under attack.)

 

b.  Against Apathy’s Dereliction - vs. 2, 10 “believed in vain…I laboured”  (If the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and it is, then we must be busy telling others the glorious news that Christ died for them and they can be eternally saved through trusting His finished work at Calvary.)

The Local Church and Teaching

Temple Baptist Church - 3-8-2020

Matthew 28:18-20

Introduction:

A.  Homecoming Month.  What a special time for God’s people here at Temple.  We have something very special here.  God has blessed this church over the past 33 years.

B.  This month, I am looking at the purpose of the local church lest we lose sight of what we are here for.  Last Sunday, we saw the first purpose is Exaltation or Worship.  This morning, I want to look at Education or Teaching.

C.  The local church is a called-out assembly of saints. 

1.  The local church is a place of God’s Desire.  Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (The local church is important to God!)

2.  The local church is a place of God’s Design. 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (Order is important to God.) 

3.  The local church is a place of God’s Doctrine.  Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (Sound doctrine is important to God.)

D.  I want to look at the aspect of teaching and preaching this morning.  There is a difference between teaching and preaching.

1.  Teaching involves information or fact to inform the intellect. 

2.  Preaching demands a response or decision.

E.   In the Great Commission or Commandment, our Lord Jesus said, “ (1) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (2)  Teaching them to (3) observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

1.  The Obligation of Missions.  “teach all nations, baptizing them”  Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

a.  Home Missions.  Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (For every creature to receive the gospel, it requires every child of God to carry the message.)

b.  Foreign Missions.  Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (For the entire world to hear, there must be those who go.)

2.  The Obligation of the Pastor.  “teaching them to”

a.  The Man of The Word.  Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

1 Timothy 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

b.  The Ministry of The Word.  The Acts 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  Doctrinal teaching is of the utmost importance in these days of doctrinal ignorance!

Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:  (Sound-uncorrupt, whole, true, healthy, uncompromised)

c.  The Method of The Word.  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3.  The Obligation of the Saint.  “observe all things”  There is a difference between Observation and Observe.

Observation - the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information.

Observe - to conform one's action or practice to (something, such as a law, rite, or condition): to comply with.

a.  The Responsibility of the Saint to Hear The Word – Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (You cannot hear or learn if you are not faithful to attend.)

b.  The Obligation of the Saint to Heed The Word.  Hebrews 5:11-12  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Conclusion:  Colossians 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

The Gospel Preached Unto Abraham

Temple Baptist Church - 3-4-2020

Hebrews 11:13-19; Genesis 22:1-19

Introduction:

A.  Hebrews 11:13 - “These all died in faith!”

1.  An Evidential Faith.  Hebrews 11:1-3  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  (2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.  (3)  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

2.  An Enduring Faith.  Hebrews 11:13a  These all died in faith

3.  An Embracing Faith.  Hebrews 11:13b  Not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

B.  In these verses, we find the amazing faith of Abraham mentioned.  This was no small act of faith that Abraham exercised in Genesis when God gave to him the promise of the “Seed.”  When we get to Genesis 22, we find the depth of his faith in the testing of the sacrifice of Isaac.

Hebrews 11:17-19  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Galatians 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

C.  God promised Abraham a son named Isaac through which the godly line would continue until the “Seed” should come which was Christ.  The Old Testament saint knew that the “Lamb of God” would one day come to take away (not simply atone) for the sins of the world.  Isaac had no children; therefore, he must continue to live in order to bring about the accomplishment of the “seed of the woman.”

D.  This meant that if Abraham sacrificed his son, then God would have to bring him back to life again.  What faith!

Turn to Genesis 22 with me.

1.  Pre-determination Plan – vs. 2 “offer him” - Acts 2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

1 Peter 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

2.  Pre-determined Person – vs. 2 “thine only son” - John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Matthew 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

3.  Pre-determined Place - Genesis 22:2-4  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.  3  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.  4  Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

Luke 23:33  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

4.  Pre-determined Price – vs. 2 “burnt offering” - Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

5.  Pre-determined Process – vs. 3 “clave the wood” - Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Philippians 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

6.  Pre-determined Pact – vs. 6 “both of them together” - John 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Isaiah 53:10-11  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

7.  Pre-determined Path – vs. 6 “the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son” - John 19:17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Colossians 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

8.  Pre-determined Provision – vs. 8 “God will provide himself”- 1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

9.  Pre-determined Propitiation – vs. 13 “Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” - 1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Hebrews 9:26  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

10.  Pre-determined Promise – vs. 19 “So Abraham returned unto his young men” -  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The Good News Of The Gospel

Temple Baptist Church - 4-1-2018

Mark 15:12-15, 33-47; 16:1-8

Introduction: 

A.  This morning is Resurrection Sunday.  A day much revered among God’s people.  Our celebration of the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Capstone of Christianity; the completion of the glorious gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

Romans 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

B.  The Gospel defined:  The word gospel means “good news” or “good tidings.” 

1.  The good news for a world dying in sin! 

2.  The good news that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son!” 

3.  The good news that the sinful does not have to spend eternity in a devil’s hell! 

4.  The good news that all has been done that is necessary for a sinner to be saved! 

5.  The good news that every sinner who ever lived could be saved!

6.  The good news that God’s prepared heaven is now freely accessible to the both the greatest and the least of mankind!

C.  We just read very familiar verses of Scripture that define the gospel.  Paul defined it in a shorter version in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins (death)  according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried (burial), and that he rose again(resurrection) the third day according to the scriptures: 

D.  In both the Books of 2 Corinthians and Galatians, we find the perverting of the gospel.  In the First Century, as false teachers infiltrated the local churches and found willing followers, the gospel fell under attack.  Satan hates the gospel!  The gospel is God’s power unto salvation to those who believe on Christ. 

E.  This morning, I want to look at some aspects of the Gospel found in these verses of Scripture. 

1.  The Purity Of The Gospel - The Gospel Defined – vs. 3-4  Many do not understand the gospel and refer to themselves as “full gospel” by adding other things to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.  Galatians calls this is “another gospel which is not another!”

a.  Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.  (Involves the prophecies [such as not having a bone broken, etc.] doctrines of sin, Christ, and salvation.)

b.  Christ was buried.  (Involves prophecies fulfilled such as that He made His grave with the rich.)

c.  Christ rose again the third day according to the scriptures.  (A glorious bodily resurrection.)

2.  The Preaching Of The Gospel - The Gospel Delivered – vs. 1, 3  The gospel must be preached in all of its purity in order to be effective.

a.  The Gospel Daringly Declared – vs. 1 “declared”  (Unashamedly and boldly preached.)

b.  The Gospel Dutifully Delivered – vs. 3 “delivered”  (In fulfillment of the Great Commission, preached to every creature both at home and abroad.)

3.  The People Of The Gospel – The Gospel Desired – vs. 1  A realization that salvation is through Christ alone brings about two things.

a.  The Gospel Brings Conversion – vs. 1 “received”  (A realization that works cannot obtain salvation.)

b.  The Gospel Brings Confidence – vs. 1 “stand”  (A realization that works cannot maintain salvation.)

4.  The Power Of The Gospel – The Gospel Demonstrated - vs. 3-4  The Gospel message works as well today as it did two thousand years ago.  It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.  

Romans 1:16  For 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.

a.  The Power Of Propitiation – vs. 3 “Christ died” (For every man, woman, and child who ever has or ever will live.)

b.  The Power Of Salvation – vs. 3 “our sins” (For all of our sins, past, present, and future.)

c.  The Power Of Resurrection – vs. 4 “rose again”  (Brings resurrection presently in holiness of life and then resurrection future into His eternal presence.)

5.  The Protection Of The Gospel – The Gospel Defended - vs. 2  The Gospel has always been under attack because it alone brings salvation.  The Gospel was attacked through the denial of the resurrection of the Sadducees, those who religious zealots who crucified Christ, the soldiers who were to keep the tomb.

a.  Against Apostasy’s Deviation – vs. 2 “keep in memory”  (We live in days where the virgin birth, blood atonement, and other major gospel doctrines are under attack.)

b.  Against Apathy’s Dereliction - vs. 2, 10 “believed in vain…I laboured”  (If the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation [and it is] then we must be busy telling others the glorious news that Christ died for them and they can be eternally saved through trusting His finished work at Calvary.)