I heard a clever radio commercial recently, trying to tell me to switch insurance companies.
The thrust of the commercial was that only this company makes understanding policies simple.
And the way that idea was conveyed was really ear-catching.
The ad-writer typed out his 15 second spiel and then thoroughly mixed up most of the words.
The reader of the ad had to go very slowly and very carefully reading words rather than sentences,
And yet, the average listener could still get the theme of the commercial:
“Insurance doesn’t have to be confusing.”
And I’ll include myself in that confusion.
It’s not that all the parts of the gospel aren’t included in the message,
And as a result, very often what people hear and receive is not really the gospel.
But I’m not in a position to argue his point.
I think that Paul’s sermon in Antioch highlights the difference between the modern presentation of the gospel and the Biblical presentation.
At first glance it appears that there is no difference, but those evangelists need to look a little deeper.
We have looked at the introduction to this sermon with its references to Israelite history.
Paul had brought his audience up to John the Baptist who baptized and introduced the Lord Jesus.
And he said that this Jesus is the promised son of King David, fulfilling the covenant which God had made.
“Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.”
And then Paul raised his voice and dramatically declared:
To you is the word of this salvation sent.”
To what “word” is Paul referring?
The word “word” suggests SIMPLICITY.
There are lot of big, complex and confusing words in our language, but ordinarily we don’t use them.
When Judy and I were in Parksville with the Zeweniuks a couple weeks ago,
Sesquipedalian essentially means the same thing as polysyllabic.
What is really scarey to me is that I already know some of those words.
But actually, those kinds of words are rare in general conversation.
Generally speaking, a single word is like a small picture, and a picture is worth a thousand words.
As Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
A really good word is concise; it should cut right to the point with meaning and clarity.
As children learn to speak, they do so with single words, like “Dada” and “Momma.”
Eventually they begin to string those words together into sentences.
But apart from the need for politeness, sometimes a single word can speak volumes.
But if that baby blurted out the word “cookie” he can just as easily convey what he wants.
And in the context of what Paul was trying to tell those people, that was an excellent way to put it.
The gospel is simply not as complicated as some people try to make it.
For example, some create a long list of do’s and don’ts and tell people that they are a part of the gospel.
If you aren’t baptized you aren’t a Christian.
If you don’t take communion at least once a year you are on God’s black list.
Paul had to deal with these things throughout his ministry and the Book of Galatians is his answer.
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
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.
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.”
Those heretical Judaisers are alive and well today, only the customs they demand have been changed.
Unfortunately, even those who preach nothing but repentance and faith muddy the waters of the gospel.
They say that he was using the word “word” metaphorically.
Some say that Paul was talking about the entire New Testament, but isn’t that a pretty big subject?
Some say that he was referring to the gospel, and in a sense I don’t dispute that thought.
But doesn’t Paul tell us exactly what that “word of salvation” is?
“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God,
“Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.”
We know that “Jesus” is a name, but it’s a name with a specific meaning.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Isn’t that the essence of the gospel?
When most people are asked to define “the gospel” they run off at tangents.
They start talking about sin, and faith, and repentance (all important and necessary subjects).
But are these actually the gospel, or are they intersecting truths to the gospel?
What is the definition of “gospel”?
The Greek word is “euaggelion” ( yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on ) and the definition is “good news.”
Are a bunch of commands good news, or are they a bunch of commands?
Which is good news in school: a sheet of trigonometry questions, or the declaration that you got them all answered correctly?
I Corinthians 15:1-4 is generally accepted as Paul’s definition of the gospel, and what does it say?
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
But commands and exhortations, no matter how good the results, are not good news.
The good news, the gospel, is that Jesus is the Saviour, and that He has died as God’s sacrifice for sin.
In fact, the good news is not that if we repent and trust Christ, then he will save us.
Let’s think about some of the scriptures where we read of the gospel:
And what I’d like you to do is when you come to the word “gospel” substitute the definition for the word.
Or if you like think “Jesus is the Saviour.”
And then look around in these scriptures for different kinds of exhortations.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Jesus’ exhortation was that people believe the good news.
It was not an exhortation to repent, to trust the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, or to be baptized.
He merely said, “Believe the good news that God has sent salvation.”
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me TO PREACH THE GOSPEL to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
What was the Lord saying? “The Saviour is here, and I am He.”
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 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.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
What is the gospel in this case? It is the preaching of Jesus Christ.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
The good news, the gospel, is that Jesus is the Saviour.
The gospel is not that sinners repent and believe, that is a tangent to the gospel.
This is a particularly important reference to the gospel.
Paul says that the people to whom he was writing had been chosen by God to salvation, and that it was by the declaration of the good news that He called them.
God elected to save these people, and to them the good news that there is salvation in Christ was preached.
The Holy Spirit then used that fabulous news to bring them to their knees in repentance and faith.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
The gospel of our salvation is that Christ suffered for our sins.
What was the word which Paul preached to those people in Antioch?
It was the gospel; it was that the Saviour has come and His name is Jesus.
It was that Jesus was crucified and died, but that God the Father raised him from the dead.
This is the gospel; this is the word of your salvation.
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”
Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
The gospel is the good news that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
Those whom the Lord delights to save will upon hearing those words will not turn away.
They will believe the message that Jesus is the Saviour;
They will turn to Him, love Him, and begin to serve Him.
Their salvation is not contingent upon their repentance and faith, but upon the grace of God.
Those people’s repentance and faith are proof that the Lord has regenerated their hearts and saved their souls.
So again, what is your responsibility to the gospel?
What should you do before the good news that the Saviour has come?
Humble repentance and loving faith in that Saviour.
It will never be necessary to twist people’s arms and argue them into repentance if they are truly saved.
The ministry of the gospel is not in commanding people to repent or to believe.
The ministry of the gospel is to tell to sinners far and wide that the Saviour has come.
The next step in the ministry of the gospel is to step back and let the Holy Spirit do His job.
Is the Holy Spirit doing His work in your heart this morning?
Are you joyfully repenting of your sins?
Is your love and faith in Christ Jesus, your Saviour?