WHAT IS THE MESSAGE WE PREACH?

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Are we preaching the entire Gospel, or we keep hammering 'favorite' parts and tags that by themselves are eventually powerless to save?

INTRODUCTION
The chief power of a messenger is His message. The Lord is with us: He is the Word, He is in His Word. Next to the Lord’s visible presence with us is His Word that we have. Propagating the Lord is propagating His Word. If we get His Word wrong – if the light in us turns darkness – we are in trouble. As messengers sent to possess the nations for the Lord He equipped us with His ATONEMENT, HIS EXAMPLE, HIS WORD, HIS SPIRIT – We know and can rely on all these because of His Word, which remains with us as fresh as the first day it was spoken – though Heaven and Earth pass away.

A REAL CHALLENGE – THE DECEIVER STARTS WITH THE WORD
Like in the Garden of Eden, the first thing the devil attacked and thereby succeeded in exposing Adam and Eve to sin and condemnation is God’s word. What God had specifically forbidden them to do, the devil questioned. In our case, what God has specifically asked us to say in making disciples of all nations, he asks again, “Has God said you should preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name?” This presentation is based in Luke 24:44-47, 2 Corinthians 5:19.

INTRODUCTIONS TO THE GOOD NEWS/TAGS
Bible verses that we tend to pick as quick references for the Gospel message, but mistakenly end up treating as if they are statements of the full Gospel message include the following:

1. Preach the Good News: to the poor, sight to the blind, relief to the oppressed ... Lk 4:18,19. QUESTION: What is the Good News?

2. Make Disciples of all nations, baptize and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you Mt 28: 18-20. QUESTION: Does the disciple making start with baptism?

3. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life Jn 3:16. QUESTION: Has BELIEVE replaced REPENT as the condition for forgiveness of sins?

THE FULL GOOD NEWS OR GOSPEL MESSAGE STATED IN LUKE 24:46-48

"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised ..."

In the above passage the Lord brings everything about the Gospel together: The necessity of his suffering and his triumph over death opening the door to full restoration for those who repent. Hence, the exact message to be preached, the condition for forgiveness of sins, is specified. Going forward, it is only natural that the disciples stuck to the message word for word and in substance.

OUTCOMES OF PREACHING/PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

A. FAITH (Conviction, Repentance, Commitment) – Forgiveness, Eternal Life, Sonship, Holy Spirit enduement for Service

B. UNBELIEF (Conviction, Rebellion, Indifference, Rejection) – Condemnation

NB:
i. Faith is never idle or indifferent.
ii. Grace excels the Law because of the Holy Spirit’s active (not quenched) presence.

REPENTANCE: JOHN EXPLAINS AND ILLUSTRATES
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” – Mt 3:2 (Also, Jesus in Mt. 4:17)
He went ... preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins – Lk 3:3
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance... Every tree that does not produce fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Lk 3:8, 9 (Also, Paul in Acts 25:20)
“The mans with two ... should share with who has none, ... Don’t collect more than you are required to, ... Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay” – Lk 3:11-14
“I baptize with water ... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire ... Will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire” – Lk 3:16,17

WHY JESUS’ NAME IS PART OF THE MESSAGE
1. He is the only approved full atonement for all time and everywhere - Ac. 4:12, Heb 9:15,11:40
2. Faith in Him includes accepting His calling, and standard of life as reference for one’s righteousness – Mt 16:24-26
3. Faith in Him therefore is a blessing, opening the door for full forgiveness, sanctification, justification, Sonship, enduement of the Holy Spirit and Eternal life – John 1:12, 3:16

HOW PETER STUCK TO “REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS IN JESUS’ NAME” AS HIS MESSAGE
1. "REPENT and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. And you will receive the Holy Spirit." – Ac 2:38
2. "REPENT, TURN TO GOD, so that your sins may be WIPED OUT, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." – Ac 3:19
3. "When God raised His Servant, He sent Him first to you to bless you by TURNING EACH OF YOU FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS." Ac 3:26
4. "that He might give REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS of sins to Israel." Ac 4: 31
5. "All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives FORGIVENESS of sins through His name." Ac. 10:43

HOW PAUL STUCK TO “REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS IN JESUS’ NAME” AS HIS MESSAGE
1. "I want you to know that through Jesus the FORGIVENESS of sins is proclaimed to you." Ac 13:38
2. "We are bringing you good news, telling you to TURN from these worthless things to the Living God." Ac 14:15
3. "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to REPENT. For He has set a date when He will the judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed." Ac 17:30,31
4. "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must TURN to God in REPENTANCE and have faith in our Lord Jesus." Ac 20:21
5. (Quoting the Lord Jesus on what He told him personally): “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and TURN them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive FORGIVENESS of sins” Ac 25:18
6. "I preached that they should REPENT and TURN to God and prove their REPENTANCE by their deeds." Ac 26:20
7. "I am saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to His own people and to the Gentiles." Ac 25: 22,23, Cf. Isa 49:6

CONCLUDING REMARKS
The Lord taught His disciples the message to preach. They endeavored to stick to it fully, although you would not see it reported verbatim as such in every single instance. The arrowhead of the message (Gospel, Good News) is REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, based in the entire Scripture. When the disciples preached this way, they harvested souls that would remain. If we stick to just the introductions and tags, we diminish the Gospel, create controversies, EXCUSE OURSELVES FROM OBLIGATION TO BE LIVING PROOFS OF REPENTANCE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ARE THUS INCOMPETENT TO POSSESS THE NATIONS FOR CHRIST.

#LetsGo #Luke2447

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