January 24, 2016

Well this morning I want to continue as serious as focused on the gospel itself and I want to review a little bit. I don't know about you but sometimes by mid-week I'm struggling to go. Okay, what did I preached this past Sunday? And if I wrote the Starman and priest it and it's not staying with me then maybe you guys might like the gift of review because I see this series as a foundational series a 1/4 series. I want to teach this I want us to to file this away to hold on to it and our hearts and minds and lay it as a foundation for the way. We do ministry in the way. We live out our Christian walk. So it's that important to me. So let me start the finished work of Christ on the cross the atonement the facts of the death round Resurrection are the core of Christianity now in some ways that sounds redundant. It sounds like wolf course, but sometimes I think we make other things the heart of Christianity sometimes I think the church becomes the number one in main focus when it's really not then One in main focus sometimes I think the Bible becomes the number one and main focus when it's really not the number one in main focus and when those two things take the place of the Gospel itself, then the life of a church becomes all about continuing its meetings and having Bible studies. Can you see whether a church could ever slip into that mistake as its core identity we exist for the purpose of meeting. We got to meet we always have to meet we can never not meet and when we meet we have Bible studies and so we just could spend years studying the Bible over and over and over and soon as we finish what I started on what book in the Bible then we meet Lee kind of grabbed another book of Bible and study it now meeting is great. In the Bible is great. Don't mishear me but those are means to an end. But sometimes we make them the end instead of a means to an end in soak. The heart of Christianity is not the Bible. It is not the church as an organization. The heart of Christianity is the gospel itself is the good news of Jesus death burial and resurrection. That is the heart of Christianity. The early church didn't even have buildings that were so far away from that the we think and I do this all the time we think of this building as the church, right? I mean, it's almost impossible to stop thinking that way don't you think I'm going to church I stop by the church today. I want to make sure that he's working at the church. You know, we all that we just can't separate the fact that we think of this building as the church the New Testament Church didn't have buildings for the first hundred three hundred years almost it. So the church is you and I it's those who follow Jesus Christ. It's those who have heard and believe the gospel. That's the church and that's why the gospel is the center or the Hearth of Christianity cuz we gather around not simply the Bible. There are other religious groups that values. Bible that are not Christians that are not the church Can you understand that concept? It so simply saying we love the Bible. We believe in the Bible and we're going to gather around those convictions does not make you a Christian. Does not make you the church what makes you a Christian what makes you the church is to say, I believe in Jesus Christ as God Son crucified and savior of the world the one whom every tongue will confess and every knee will bow. That's the heart of Christianity the gospel itself. Listen to what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 15. He's just now brothers and sisters. I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel, you are saved. If you hold firmly to the word I preach to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain for what I received. I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures that he was buried that he was raised on the third day. According to the scriptures. Could Paul make it any clearer. He says here is the heart of the gospel song It's all about Jesus Christ his death and burial and Resurrection according to the scriptures. That's the heart of Christianity that we are followers of Jesus Christ that we are believers in this event in history in which God Came Down In the Flesh and allowed himself to be crucified on the cross so that we could be redeemed. Restored to him across correctly we talked about this couple of weeks ago the cross correctly relates the Old Testament to the New Testament. There's three dominant views many Christians in churches see the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament is silence equals Authority. So unless the New Testament somehow tells me I can't do it anything I can find in the Old Testament can be a thort ATIV and there are many preachers who preach that many churches that follow that you can get a following and get an audience there so many fascinating things in the Old Testament, but that's not what Jesus and the apostles modeled for us in terms of understanding the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament a second way of looking at the relationship between the Old Testament New Testament is just a subjective harmonization of it. And so each Church each movement makes its own decisions and we got groups that do that. Now there are groups that site where we found this passage in the Old Testament that speaks about linen or certain types of clothing or hair length. And so there are Christians well-meaning, but incorrect in the way, they handle the scriptures. You say well are women cannot cut their hair or we must always wear skirts. They take Old Testament principles and apply them as binding on New Testament Christian. And that's a mishandling of scripture. They are well-intended if they're following Jesus as their lord and savior their brothers and sisters in Christ there going to be in heaven, but it's a matter of how do we handle the scriptures correctly? How do we interpret them correctly and what Jesus and the apostles modeled and talk for us is that the New Testament is authoritative over the Old Testament. We talked about how to Loop 24 when Jesus first weeks after the resurrection to some of his disciples on the road to Emmaus and they're all they're all down calf. And he said don't you understand don't you understand that all the Old Testament that all the prophets all the wall? All of it was written to point in this moment that the Son of God would come that he would be tortured that he is about time that he would resurrect on the third day. This is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament. This is the Fulfillment of the scriptures. Jesus laid out that principle that the cross that the gospel itself is the sea. Picture of all scripture that the Old Testament Finds Its fulfillment in the New Testament that the cross is the heart and soul that when you look back at the Old Testament the way you handle it is by looking through the cross looking through the lens of Jesus Christ and the apostles. That's how you handle the Old Testament. The New Testament is authoritative over the Old Testament still the Old Testament is divine is it inspired it's divine it gives us example and teaches us but in terms of being binding in terms of being authoritative over what we do we use Jesus and the apostles as our guide and so they show us and tell us what from the Old Testament we bring forward and what they don't bring forward. We don't go back and say well Jesus miss this one. I'm going to bring It Forward We Trust as authoritative the example and model of Jesus and apostles and how we handle the Old Testament that itself is tremendously free because a lot of disunity in the church in North America is based on one of those first. Ways of looking the Old Testament and some people Miss handle the Old Testament and create division over Doctrine in the church. When if we looked at Jesus and the apostles as our guide, we would settle a lot of those divisions by simply being under the authority of Jesus and the apostles in the way. They handle scripture for them to be our guys. That's why I had an undergrad Professor who's always used to say whenever you look at any passage, you can always ask yourself who are the parties involved in this passage. What are the terms that they're talking about In this passage and one of the promises that they're talking about if I meet Lee safe, well, this passage is God speaking to Abraham about how he's going to give him land if he's faithful to him as part of the blessing the old Covenant then really quickly. Guess what? I'm not Abraham And I'm not the Jewish people and for me to say well, I'm just going to pull this verse out needlepoint on something and hang at my house and say God has promised me land. That's a misunderstanding. That's a misuse of scripture. So you immediately say who's got speaking to In this passage. And what are the terms we speak and Abraham and he said if you're faithful here's how this coming in between me and you is going to work itself out. Now in Galatians Paul and pack some of think about Abraham that come forward to us. So I'm one of these cold days to get out your Bible and read through Galatians and learn more about what the New Testament Rainsford about some of the Old Testament. So we have to follow the New Testament that the cross as the core because I'm on other things it helps us to relate the Old Testament New Testament properly together. The gospel is the heart of unity and purpose in the church. So the cross itself the death run Resurrection the atonement of Christ all those things. I used interchangeably when I talk about the gospel, that's not only the heart of Christianity only relates the Old Testament of the New Testament properly, but it's part of unity in the church and the purpose of the church globally. That's the essential when we say what is essential. We don't say well understanding every passage in the Bible. Exactly. The same is essential to have unity in the church. Will that ever happen know? That's why the number one party isn't the Bible where we try to study from Genesis to Revelation and get everybody on the exact same page in terms of how we interpret every passage of scripture know what's essential is the cross the Cross of Christ The Gospel itself. That's what unites us. Does it show those who preach Christ there are brothers and sisters. Those who preach the gospel who preached Christ death and Resurrection on the cross as the source of God's salvation for Humanity. There are Brothers and Sisters in Christ. That's the core of the Gospel. That's what it means to have unity and have purpose that's what our purposes are centered around purpose isn't to get a Bible in every Hotel on the face of the Earth. That's a wonderful thing. Don't mishear me, but that's not in the end of it. Look at the heart of Christianity was the Bible we could say that's just the end. That's the goal. If we could just get the Bible ever. We can all say we're done the goal is to get Christ into every heart on the face of the Earth. The goal is to fill the Earth with the glory of God is a pharmacist. That's the goal for everyone to know God to be restored and that broken relationships to walk with him getting scripture in the people's hands is a means to that end. We stopped short when we make something other than the Cross of Christ The Gospel the heart of Christianity. That's what the restoration movement is all about. This is why I love Archer a lot of the restoration movement and you've heard me say it before those sometime over the past hundred years or 75 years. We've drifted away from our roots of the church and we become more Baptist then we are true to our own restoration movement because Baptist Domino's North American culture and so Charles Stanley and LifeWay Baptist bookstore all those things kind of dominate the Christian culture and it just kind of clothes in not my grandparents are Baptists. My parents are Baptists. I love Baptist Tony by Miss Arabic love my mom. Love my dad love my grandparents going to see him in heaven. Okay, but I'm not Baptist and I love not being Baptist. I love the restoration movement. I love our church which started as a movement to say, you know what let's focus on the New Testament. Let's focus on Jesus Christ and the apostles. Let's restore the church today to the New Testament Church. That's our name the restoration movement because our Founders were in churches that have long list of doctrines long list of passages both old enough that you had to understand precisely and correctly at that time in order to take communion. You going to sign a document in some Churches in order to receive communion and they said this is crazy. If someone says, I'm following Jesus as my Lord and Savior there my brother and sister in Christ. They can take communion with me not you've got a degree to these 38 doctors. We got to understand everything under the sun exactly the same and so they said look, we just want to be I'm not the only but Christians only we want these were models that found it on me, but we want to speak with her scripture speak, but we want to be silent with the scriptures are silent because too often in life of the church and denominations. We start to add to what scripture we get around list of traditions and rules and culture that our favorite things. And before we know it we're slipping into this list of things that what makes you a good Christian versus kind of mediocre Christian instead of relying on the Gospel of Jesus Christ the cross as the heart of the revelation of God. And so I love the restoration movement that we were founded to make the gospel. The core of who we are the gospel is historically talked about this last week. It is historical. It is the news of the Kings victory victory are good Kings Victory. It is not simply at by sometimes we think of the Gospel like it's advice or Counsel on how to get to Heaven until we're constantly the mission of the church becomes telling people here's how you need to behave in order to be qualified as good as a Christian and get to heaven will that almost sounds like a purpose that yours done it? You see how easily we slip into that our purpose becomes to tell everybody here is advice. Here's how you need to behave. You need to quit smoking. You need to quit Dancing. You need to put blah blah blah. You need to vote this way. You need to this that or the other suddenly we can slip into this list of traditions and we say this is the definition of what it means to be a Christian. The difference is the difference between Romans 8:1 where it says there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, which is Paul celebration of the Gospel as the heart of Christianity. The gospel is the story is the truth is a historical event. The reality that Christ did the good behaving for you and I Do you understand that concept? And we slip away from the gospel and we say okay with whatever we need to behave good in order to get to have fun. And we need to tell other people to they need to have some good behavior in order to get to heaven. We just kind of walk away from the most stunning news in history that Jesus Christ has provided our way to God. This is how Christianity differs from all the other religions. All the other religions are the revelation of advice. Here's some advice. There's a God in heaven. He's all-powerful and you had better do these things for you're never going to see him you're never going to get to heaven Christianity different from every other religions instead in announces news. Jesus Christ was God In the Flesh and when he was crucified who was actually victory over since it was good behavior on our behalf him when he was resurrected who was God saying yes to everything that Christ priest and said and did and now we go forth and preach this good news that Jesus Christ. provided our salvation and the question is will you believe will you believe say we honestly you really want a sermon Wing don't believe when we slip into the good behavior approach it for the Santa Claus lyrics this is the way we keep her kids in line by ruin it for anybody here. There's kids here this morning, aren't they? You know, if you behave properly you get on the nice list, but if you behave improperly you get on the naughty list or the nice list equals gifts the naughty list equals a lump of coal. Okay, you got two kids right? That's how we explain left and sometimes crochet lie becomes this sort of thing. There's you got to get on the good list of God. You got to figure out how to behave you got to go to church you going to dress right? You got to do all these things when we're going down that path. We are not believing the gospel.

You realize that how many people in the church don't believe the gospel.

Look at it. The heck with Santa Claus. I want Romans 8:1. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This tremendous celebration of what God accomplished on the cross through Christ that you and I are offered salvation Redemption. The question is will you believe that God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever would believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life became of the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be safe through him. Will you believe the gospel? That's the heart of what it means for us to be Christians. Our mission is to share the good news about the good King and his victory. It's all about reconciliation, but it's deeper than that in this is where I want to add something to what we said the past couple of weeks. It's us sharing the good news of the good thing we know is good because he gave his life for us the crosses in a demonstration not only of God providing salvation, but it's a demonstration of his heart if the revelation of 40 answer the question. What is God like I know he's all-powerful and he's all present and I know I need to shake when I'm in his presence and be afraid what I want. What is heart has Mike Fiers what his heart is like he chose to go to the Cross to die rather than to risk being without you and I it's stunning. It's beyond our ability understands because humans to be honest. We don't really do that would weaken we might do it. You'll do you submit this or might be a good man who would give his life for another maybe we might do for a loved one or family member but you can drag up somebody whose no good in your eyes and say yeah, we like to trade one of your kids like for this person. We want you to leave your family give your life for them. We're going to quickly say no. I don't know know know know know but it's the good news is the amazing good news. It's so good that it supposed to change. Our very Hearts ROM is to says it is the kindness of God revealed that draws us toward him not the wrath of God revealed the kindness of God revealed that turns our hearts toward him this amazing good news that Jesus would rather die than be separated from you and I that's the gospel that he Is so much deeper than just reconciliation or at least the reconciliation of Bob's more than what we traditionally think of. I got converted. I said the confession of Faith now I'm saved and I'm going to heaven. Yes, but it's so much more is not only reconciling us mending the broken relationships. But God's desire is to restore us to the image that he created us in he created us in His image in Genesis. That's where it talks about. The whole purpose was to create more beans you have talked about it before I put the three chairs on face not talked about the beauty of the Father Son and the Holy Spirit this Fellowship This Love that they have his so good. They say we can just keep it to yourself anymore. It's not just this Earth but let's create some beans and look pretty men are in it so that they can be part of this family. Enjoy this fellowship with us until God walks in the garden in the cool of the evening enjoying the sun broken relationship with Adam me. That's the beauty of creation. And what Christ is doing on the cross. He's bringing back to God the Father for the gift of you and I wreck. And restored to His Image Revelation 21 celebrates. God says that last all things are new there made new. I'm your gods and your my people. That's his desire at the payoff you get to the bottom line of scripture, God is excited about is there's no longer bear between him and Humanities. We are restored. We are reconciled our image. Our relationship is back together. And so the church is about believing the gospel and living that amazing true that there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Jesus being so moved by that tremendous Grace and gift from God that you and Eye Centers that we are that you are giving Grace and forgiveness and that Jesus is good behavior is a tribute to us that that whole sense of I better straighten up and fly right or I'm not going to go to that is Dawn that there's no condemnation for those who try to get that kind of said that Grace would turn our hearts toward him would change our very character are very cells so that we begin to become more and more restored to that image of God and which we were created we become different people. We become like Jesus Christ in our character in our Behavior, so don't mishear me. It is very much a call to a restored moral life. We become different people. What's a call that comes through that response to God's Amazing Grace and love to that beauty that draws us to him that he could be so good. And so loving that we just there to get closer. We dare to want to know more and every time we get closer we keep discovering that the good news is true that it is as good as it seems that got is that gracious and loving that he forgives us again. And again that he knows the same as we have in our heart and he wants to clean that sent out of your life so that he could restore us and redeem us and walk us down a path of blessing and flourishing made us what are lice need to flourish it. So he wants to lead us in that path of for 6 when we obey the scriptures when will obey the commands of Christianity. We're going down the path of flourishing that God has designed us to hold when were faithful in our marriage is when we're faithful in a relationship. So we're going down that path that are maker knows are good for us. And so he desires to bless us that Psalm 72:19 says praise be to his glorious name for ever met the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen and a back of the Prophet looks at what gods Desiring in the long run but they will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. That's God's desire the same way Genesis had it before sin before the fall. It had the earth covered with the glory and the goodness of God even Creation with a pure reflection of God's goodness and His glory before the fall and Adam and Eve in their character in their very hearts in the relationship of God in the relationship of one another reflected the glory and the goodness of God glory in the scriptures is the sense of God the sense of who he is his character his reputation. It's who he is in what scripture talks about the Earth being filled with the knowledge of his glory God's desire. Is that everyone would know just how good is But everyone would be restored to relationship with him and his desire is that you and I would be restored to that image of Christ that image of God so that we contain the glory of God. And then amazing Paul talks about that in print is how we are the temple of God of his presence and God's desire that we would grow not simply in church attendance or we would grow not simply in Bible study knowledge, but we would grow in our relationship with our trust that the good news. Is that good or intimacy with God the Father filled their very hearts are transformed that we become more and more like Christ that we become little deposit little bottles Google Play jars rights that contain the amazing goodness and the glory of God so that the Earth becomes filled with the glory of God as it's filled with those who know and follow him. So that everywhere we go, we're bringing with us to the glory and the goodness of God has other folks who need something for down out when there's Injustice or poverty that we show up there to reveal the goodness of God there go downtown and feed those who need to be the first one to say you kidding me left my own I make all kinds of different decision for Christ has done in the heart of Gary. It's changed who he is so that he goes representing God is as you know, what God's heartbroken over this. Let me give you some food that represents the glory of God, you got to turn a different direction is an attempt to open up the goodness of God the glory of God on to that situation and say Here's got to calling you to repent and turn and it's different direction. when we were gracious to others, it's not for our own sake it's for the sake of revealing the goodness of God revealing his glory to others again and again,

I'm about to worship team to come forward and will end on this and you know, maybe this will be a 10 minute and then probably I'll work at it see John 14 talks about this where Jesus says look if you seen me if we've seen Jesus if we seen we seen the father he says he is. What's all about I came down? I am God In the Flesh if you wonder what God is like if you want to see him more than just like Moses when Moses had to turn away the Pathfinder with too much to bare use that on God In the Flesh. You can see what I'm doing on healing people. I'm restoring those are unforgiving folks. I'm feeding. Those are hungry here is God reveal to you Finn Colossians 1 Paul said, here's the gospel has a red and Peter last week the gospel something that Angels long to look into. I mean, there's a hold of that blow your mind, but the gospel is something that when it's getting unpacked the angels are like, what is God doing? What is he he's going to win their longing because it's so it's so amazing that God has unpacked the gospel. Passing clots hurt when you can read that chapter. He says here's what it's all about. It's about presenting everyone mature in Christ becoming christ-like. He says the hope of glory the hope of humanity is Christ in you. That's the whole for this world as Christ finds a dwelling place in my heart and my mind and my thoughts and my actions and my behavior becomes hope not only for me, but hope for this world as I become a little presence of Christ a little presence of God glory to reveal it to others again. And again, that's what the gospel is about. Paul talks about this in Philippians 1 about how the gospel is the heart. What I started out with the gospel is the core of Christianity and I'm going to break all the rules at the supposed to do and read along passage again, but this is our final thing. I promise if you got your Bible you can open up. Philippians chapter 1 beginning and verse 12 going through verse 27. They got 15 Vs. There's at least maybe 12-13-14 mentions of the Gospel. I think about that almost every verse When Paul is is riding to those in Philippians. He brings up the gospel because that's how Central the gospel is. Listen to what he says beginning and verse 12. You see if you can spot all the occurrences. Sometimes he says it straight out as gospel some other times. It's kind of a little harder to see but I'll try to make it obvious as I read it. I want you to know that what has happened to me has really serve to advance the gospel as a result. It has become clear throughout the whole Palace by the way. What he's talking about is Paul is riding from prison. He's in prison for preaching the gospel for preaching the amazing good news that God was on the cross in Christ reconciling Humanity to him. It supposed to me meaning of been put in prison has really serve to advance the gospel as a result. It is it has become clear to me as a result. He has become clear throughout the whole Palace guard and everyone else that I'm in. Change for Christ. You can assert their I'm insane for what for preaching the good news or the gospel of Christ because of my chains most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God another reference to the gospel itself the word of God more courageously and fearlessly it is true that some preach Christ. There's the gospel again out of envy and robbery but others out of Goodwill the latter do so in love knowing that I'm put here for the defense of the Gospel the former preach Christ. There it is again out of selfish ambition not sincerely supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I'm in Chains. But what does it matter the important thing is that in every way weather from Foss Motors are true Christ is preached and because of this I Rejoice yes, I will continue to Rejoice for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my Deliverance. I eagerly expect at home. But I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body weather by life or by death for me to live is Christ to continue to preach Christ and to die is gain and if I go on living in the body scuse me, if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. What does fruitful label preaching the gospel preaching Christ. What shall I choose? I do not know I'm torn between the two. How does our depart and be with Christ which is better by far but it is more necessary for you what reason so that he can still be there to keep preaching Christ and preaching the gospel more necessary for you that I remain in the body convinced of this. I know that I will remain and I will continue with all of you for your prayers for me for your progress and joy in the faith so that though my being with you again through my being with you again, your joy in Christ will overflow on account of me whatever happens conduct yourself in Manner worthy of the gospel of Christ then whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence. I will know that you stand firm in one Spirit contending as one person for the faith of the Gospel. Hey, man, honestly, we could read a dozen more passages with ease that point out this obvious truth that sometimes I think we slip away from that. The heart of Christianity is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that what we bring to others is not some sort of attempt to get them to straighten up and fly right on their own some sort of attempt to get good behavior spread throughout the Earth. What we bring them is the knowledge of the goodness of God the revelation of his glory a picture of just how good he is. Isn't that what Christ brought to others? in that what he did again and again I mean didn't he eat with people and drink with people in in Fellowship of people that the Pharisee said hey, what are you doing with tax collectors and sinners when you're a drunkard and a glutton. Wasn't he bringing God's glory his goodness to all those who needed it. Then he say hey, it's the sick that need a doctor. Not the well. And so this is what I'm about when a woman's call and adultery and brought before him and insisted on being condemned. Where are your accusers? He says in John 8 the runoff. But I don't condemn you either. Go and sin no more. All throughout his ministry what he was doing was opening up the window on the glory of God the goodness of God God's grace God's character God's holiness again. And again the way he even on the cross as you look down and said father forgive them. For they know not what they do. What's more more one more window? On the goodness of God and that's the gospel that Christ has revealed the character of God and what he has revealed his goodness. His grace is forgiveness is salvation provided for us and offered to us. If you've never made that decision to accept Jesus as your lord and savior, I invite you this morning as we sing a song and just a moment to make that decision will have folks available for prayer to if you simply have a pretty they'll be folks in the front and the back so we'd love to pray for you to pray with you about anything that's on your mind or heart. I'll be in the back. So if you have a decision to make or prayer you want me to pray for you come find me in the back. If you've never made that decision use this opportunity or pulled me aside after the service. If you've got questions or concerns for all of us. It's just one more chance to celebrate. the good news the gospel We have all people should have reason for great joy and great help because we've understood that good news that amazing news.