Bob Josey - Thriving in Jesus  - Lesson 3A- What is the Gospel- Sep 12, 2021

Thriving in Jesus

3 A– Where it all begins - What is the Gospel?

Introduction 

Today we are going to discuss exactly what the Gospel is. We are going to discuss the vital elements of the Gospel that must be included in a Gospel presentation.  

First, let’s discuss what the meaning of the word Gospel. 

Before we discuss what the exact elements of the Gospel are, let’s discuss what the word Gospel means. The word Gospel that we find in most modern translations comes from two Old English words god meaning "good" and spel meaning "news, or a story." Therefore, the word Gospel just means good news. Remember the off - Broadway musical production that opened on May 17, 1971 called Godspell? The name of the musical was taken from those two old English words.  The musical dealt with the "good news" concerning the story of Jesus Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Every time you come to the word Gospel in your Bible, translate it good news. If you do that, the verse will make much more sense. 

Have you ever tried to bake a cake without all the ingredients? Without the essential ingredients, one cannot bake a successful cake. What if you left out baking soda or maybe the sugar. Could you make a great cake without either one of those ingredients? Have you ever tried to make homemade ice cream without salt? Without the right amount of salt, ice cream will not freeze regardless of the amount of ice you have. There are two ingredients in epoxy. We’ll call them the foundation and the hardener. If both are not mixed together, you will not have epoxy. So, as we shall see, each element of the Gospel is important and vital. 

Elements of the Gospel  

Let’s now discuss the elements of the Gospel as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Let’s begin with verses 1& 2. Each element is important and vital to the Gospel message!

15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 

2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Paul here wanted to remind the church in Corinth, and by extension us, exactly what the Gospel is. Since some in the congregation were doubting the resurrection of the body because they had been influenced by the Sadducees among them. Paul wanted to make known to them or tell them unequivocally what the good news is. He wanted to make know to them emphatically want the facts were about the good news of Jesus. He was presenting this to them as if it were the first time. The truths that Paul taught them was still their foundation and had not changed. 

It is Gospel that he had preached to them.  Proclaimed or announced would be better translations of this Greek word than preach. If the word preached is used, it makes one think of preaching from a pulpit. It is this the Gospel that they had received as truth. They had begun to stand or hold fast (Perfect tense) on that truth when they became believers in Jesus and continued to do so. Believing that truth is of course what saved them.

At the end of verse 2 Paul gives a condition concerning what he just said – unless you believed in vain. Here Paul is referring to an individual who had gone through the motions of becoming a believer but did so in a haphazard manner or without giving carful thought in what he or she was doing, didn’t know what they were really doing, or was given an unclear or incorrect Gospel message. From the beginning there have been people who made what we call “a profession of faith,” but were not saved at that time, but played the saved game. We have found this situation for many years in kids who made a profession of faith but at some time after, usually when they become teenagers or go to college, the truth finally comes out either by there actions or a denial of being a Christian. 

So far, we have seen that the Corinthians learned and received the good news from the Apostle Paul It became their foundation and they were saved by it. So, what is it? As we move along in the next few verses that explain what the good news is, notice that Paul uses the word “and” at the beginning of each aspect of the good news. Remember that when writer of the Bible uses this literary device called “many ands,” it shows that each aspect that is listed is very important. In this case, it’s each aspect of the good news. 

In verses 3-8 Paul gives the three elements of the Gospel of Christ. 

Element # 1 – the death of Christ (3)

1 Corinthians 15:3 - For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

Paul delivered the three elements of the Gospel to the Corinthians that he received by the revelation from God by means of teaching and through personal witness to individuals or small groups. He did not receive it from other people as Paul said in Galatians 1:11-12.

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 

12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The problem as we will see in our next lesson us that there are presentations that are from man today that are not the Gospel that Paul was proclaiming. 

The first element of the Gospel is that Jesus died for the sins of the Corinthians and of the world as seen in John 3:16. The preposition “for” in 1 Corinthians 15:3 has the nuance of Jesus dying in our place, dying as our substitute, and dying so we would not have to. 

Illustration – If you had a sick child who was dying of cancer and you were able to request to the doctor that he transfer  the cancer from your child to you and he did it, would happen? You would die and your child would live. That’s what the Father did for us. He transferred the sins of all people – past, present, and future – onto Jesus so that we would could live because he died for us. 

Notice also that Jesus’ death was according to the Scriptures. The death of Jesus as a sin substitute for Israel, and the world was prophesied in passages like Psalm 22:1-21 and Isaiah 53:5-10b

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

And from the words of My groaning?

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him;

Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

13 They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,

And all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It has melted within Me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And My tongue clings to My jaws;

You have brought Me to the dust of death.

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

17 I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

18 They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

David apparently felt forsaken by God, as he was surrounded by his enemies’ scornful persecution. He lamented his tremendous suffering and his desperate struggle with death. The Gospel writers also saw connections between some of the words in this psalm and other events in Christ’s Passion. Also, Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22:22. Thus the church has understood this psalm to be typological of the death of Jesus Christ. This means that David used many poetic expressions to portray his immense sufferings, but these poetic words became literally true of the suffering of Jesus Christ at His enemies’ hands. 

The Messiah’s death was also prophesied in Isaiah 53:5-10.

3 He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

And like one from whom men hide their face

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He did not open His mouth;

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,

And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,

So He did not open His mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away;

And as for His generation, who considered

That He was cut off out of the land of the living

For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

10 But the Lord was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are just two of many that were fulfilled during Jesus’ life and ministry. Prophecy not only validates or verifies that Jesus is the promised Messiah but also validates that the Bible is true. 

Element # 2 – the burial of the Messiah (4a)

The second element of the Gospel is that the Messiah was to be buried after his death is seen in verse 4. 

1 Corinthians 15:4a - and that He was buried, 

Notice the word and that connects the burial with the death of the Messiah. Isaiah 53.9 predicts that the Messiah would be buried. 

9 And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death…

Does anyone know why most funerals include a graveside ritual? The majority of Jewish funerals only have a graveside service. A graveside ritual is held to demonstrate to the people, especially the loved ones, that the person who died was  placed in the ground as proof that he died. The reason Paul included Jesus’ burial is to demonstrate and validate that Jesus had really died.     

Element #3– the resurrection of the Messiah (4b)

Again, notice the and that connects the Messiahs death and burial with element # 3. The third and very important aspect of the Gospel is the resurrection of the Messiah. This is seen in 1 Corinthians 15:4b. 

and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…

There are passages that prophesied that the Messiah would be resurrected from the grave. Psalm 16:10 is one of them. 

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol (the grave),

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption (from the grave).

Jesus’ resurrection was also prophesied in Isaiah 53:10c  

10 But the Lord was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring,

He will prolong His days,

And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

1 Corinthians 15:5-8 verifies or validates that Jesus the Messiah was resurrected from the grave. 

       5   and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. (At this point in time Judas was dead so Paul should be included as one of the 12.) 

6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 

7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He was physically seen by:

• Cephas i.e., Peter 

• The 12 disciples

• 500 Believers in Jesus

• James 

• The Apostles 

• Paul on the road to Damascus 

• For some reason Paul did not include the woman who first appeared at the tomb to see and experience that Jesus had been resurrected. They were probably not included because at that time women would not have been called as witness.

The many believers that physically saw Jesus verifies that He was resurrected from the Grave. They were not just momentary glimpses out of the corners of their eyes, but prolonged visits with their Master and Lord. Rather than being subjective visions and dreams, they were real group experiences with the risen Savior—walking with Him, eating with Him, touching Him, and talking with Him. The significance of the resurrection is vital and very important. The resurrection of Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy but showed that the Father approved Jesus’ death for the sins of Israel and the world.  

With the prophetic Scriptures, the claims of Jesus that He would be resurrected, and the numerous eyewitnesses of the risen Savior pointing to the resurrection of the crucified Messiah, there could be no doubt in the minds of hundreds of original disciples that Jesus of Nazareth had miraculously risen from the dead. Physically—in the similar body that had been crucified and buried—Jesus was both restored and glorified, His body transformed into a perfect, immortal condition, no longer susceptible to suffering and death. Jesus the Messiah conquered death not only for Himself but also for all who would believe on Him for eternal life. Therefore, there are three, and only three, important aspects of the Gospel:

1. The death of Jesus

2. The burial of Jesus

3. The resurrection of Jesus 

When presenting the Gospel, each of the three essential elements must be emphasized. Some believers only mention the death of Jesus in a Gospel presentation, but without all three, the Gospel message is incomplete. 

Finally, let me show you the importance and power of the Gospel message.

Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (GOOD NEWS) of Christ, for (because) it is the power of (from) God to (that results in) salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Philippians 3:9-10 - … and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…

The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of world. It also brings believers the power to live a life that is pleasing to God.  

Conclusion

There are three very important and vital aspects of the Gospel that should be communicated to an unbeliever during a Gospel presentation. Each element is important and vital to the Gospel message. Each was outlined by Paul as being part of the Gospel, prophesied in the Old Testament, and validates the claim Jesus had that He would be resurrected on the third day. The death of Jesus brings forgiveness of sin and eternal life to those who believe in Him and Him alone. The burial of Jesus demonstrates that Jesus actually died. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates that God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of world and it provides the power needed to live the Christian life that God has ordained for each of us who are believers.   

Questions and Comments

In our next lesson, we are going to evaluate common Gospel presentations to see if they match up with Scripture to include the following: 

• Ask Jesus into your heart

• Give you heart to Jesus

• Give your life to Jesus

• Repent of your sins

• Trust in Jesus as your Savior

• Make Jesus your Lord and Savior

• Confess your sins 

• Believe in Jesus

• Turn from your sins

• Confess your sin

• Pray a prayer