FORERUNNER CHURCH – ISAAC BENNETT OVERVIEW OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1:16, 17) I. INTRODUCTION A. The goals for this message are to equip us: 1. To be messengers of the gospel, who boldly and clearly speak the truth without being intimidated 2. To live confident in God’s love that is rooted in truth and without presumption 3. To walk in victory over sin with a vibrant spirit and ongoing fascination with Jesus B. Today is Reformation Sunday. On Oct 31, 1517 Martin Luther famously nailed the 95 theses to the door of the All Saints Church in Whittenburg, beginning what would come to be known as the Protestant Reformation. C. Luther challenged the authoritative structures of the Roman Catholic Church that placed unbiblical and unjust barriers between people and God through a distorted gospel. He argued strongly for a return to the Word of God and a priesthood of all believers. D. Previous to the nailing of the 95 theses moment, he has his “Road to Damascus” experience of awakening while meditating on Rom. 1:17. Listen to the inner battle of his soul: “…. in spite of the ardor of my heart I was hindered by the unique word in the first chapter (of Romans): ‘the righteousness of God is revealed in it.’ I hated the word ‘righteousness of God,’ … I had been taught to understand it …as they put it, the formal or active righteousness according to which God is righteous and punishes sinners and the unjust. As a monk I led an irreproachable life. Nevertheless I felt that I was a sinner before God. My conscience was restless, and I could not depend on God being [appeased]. Not only did I not love, but I actually hated the righteous God who punishes sinners…Thus a furious battle raged within my perplexed conscience… Day and night I tried to meditate upon the significance of these words…”1 E. His breakthrough: 1 Ibid. 183-185. Forerunner Church Forerunnerchurch.com FORERUNNER CHURCH – ISAAC BENNETT Overview of the Gospel of Grace PAGE 2 “Then finally God had mercy on me, and I began to understand that the righteousness of God is a gift of God by which a righteous man lives, namely faith, and that sentence: The righteousness of God is revealed in the Gospel, is passive2, indicating that the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ Now I felt as though I had been reborn altogether and had entered Paradise. … Just as intensely as I had now hated the expression ‘the righteousness of God,’ I now lovingly praised this most pleasant word. This passage from Paul became to me the very gate to Paradise.”3 F. In the generation of the Lord’s return, the church will be the generation in history in which the she will walk in wholehearted love. She will be in full agreement with the Spirit, unity of faith, walk in unprecedented power and mature love. The gospel lays the foundation for this reality. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say (in unison), “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” (Rev. 22:17) 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13) Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:7) II. THE GOSPEL MUST BE GRASPED A. When we say, “The gospel,” what is it that we mean? The term gospel literally means “good news.” (εὐαγγέλιον, ου, τό – transliteration euaggelion – lit. God’s good news4). This definition gives us insight into how we ought understand its meaning. If it isn’t good news then it might not be the gospel, but for example, the response to the gospel. B. The term good news elicits an understanding that some great, life changing event that has happened. As we respond to the gospel we are responding to an event. C. In the New Testament the gospel is something that is proclaimed. The word that used is where get the term evangelize - euaggelízō (from /eú, "good, well" and angellō, "announce, herald") – properly, proclaim "the good message" (good news)5. This proclamation states facts. Facts about something that has happened, something dramatic that has taken place. D. 2 Meaning imparted. The Christian passively receives the righteousness of God through faith, rather than actively working for it. 3 Ibid. 183-185. 4 http://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm 5 http://biblehub.com/greek/2097.htm IHOPKC Forerunner Church Forerunnerchurch.com FORERUNNER CHURCH – ISAAC BENNETT Overview of the Gospel of Grace PAGE 3 E. The whole of scripture provides both the context and results of the gospel as necessary information. It serves as the basis from which God’s people, called to love Him “with all” can believe and receive the power to do it. (See Mt. 22:37-40) III. THE CHALLENGE OF IT I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ...(Rom. 1:16) A. Christians must be diligent with all fervor and attention that the gospel message they believe and proclaim doesn’t begin to err from what is set forth in scripture. The reason for this isn’t solely for doctrinal purity, but because they are pursuing relationship with Jesus unto wholehearted love. If the believer doesn’t have love, they have nothing. ….though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2) B. Paul said that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Here he identifies a key strategy of the enemy, and internal and external pressure that arises when the gospel is spoken of and believed on. 1. Shame keeps the individual in bondage so that they cannot approach God. When the individual doesn’t approach God they cannot receive the riches of His mercy and grace that He longs to give. 2. Shame silences the gospel witness. It accuses the gospel as being foolish and excessive. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18) 3. All perversions of the gospel bear the fruits of shame. C. The enemy tempts the believer into shame through a false gospel. Every worldview that is not the gospel (or slightly off center) attempts to shame the gospel witness. 1. The falseness of religion heaps shame upon the heart and condemns the Christian as a hypocrite. It says, “You will never be received by God.” 2. The falseness of licentiousness grants the Christian permission outside the Word of God to engage in sin and compromise. The conscious condemns the individual bringing shame. Further, they become ashamed of obeying God, choosing rather to bow to the ways of the world and its lusts. D. When rightly understood, the gospel of Christ breaks the power of shame and condemnation. It frees the heart from the spirit of religion and licentiousness. IHOPKC Forerunner Church Forerunnerchurch.com FORERUNNER CHURCH – ISAAC BENNETT Overview of the Gospel of Grace PAGE 4 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh [their own effort/works], but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1, 2) 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Rom. 10:10, 11) E. Brief summary of the gospel, religion, and licentiousness. 1. Religion says, “I obey, therefore I will be justified.” 2. Licentiousness says, “I am justified, therefore I don’t have to obey.” 3. The gospel says, “I am justified, therefore I long to obey.” F. The Christian is called to be confident in the power of Cross. Our confidence is derived from God’s work and results in boldly approaching Him. This confidence draws our heart into deeper affection toward Jesus.6 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. (Eph. 3:12) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God (1 John 3:21) IV. THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION …for it (the gospel) is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith… (Rom. 1:16, 17) A. Paul declares that through the gospel we are saved. The power of God saves the individual. Not their own works or efforts. [Luther] began to understand that what Paul was speaking of here was a righteousness that God in His grace was making available to those who would receive it passively, not those who would achieve it actively, but that would receive it by faith, and by which a person could be reconciled to a holy and righteous God.7 B.