The Heart and Soul of the Gospel - Part B

The good news is not about a good man. The good news is about the God that Jesus is a good teacher know he was the God man different level being man. He had the ability to substitute for mankind on the cross being God. He had the capacity to save because of that the gospel is about one person main subject of the whole Bible, Jesus Christ. Today, unconnected scriptwriting Scriptures above the fund and hope you can understand how all of Scripture points to Christ first skipped once let you know about a recent you can get some extra biblical encouragement from his wife one you crave knowledge connection and honest conversation. I'm excited to announce my wife Linda just launched a new podcast called all the things she and her cohost Lindsay Maestas are diving into a variety of topics including faith, family, culture in the workplace.

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You can stand on its solid foundation meetings, Bible teachings available to you on a daily basis encouraged you and your faith. Please consider getting a gift to help other listeners like you anything just call 800 9288 at 800 9218. Thank you. Now we're in Romans chapter 1 as we dive into the teaching with Skip Heitzig. Did you know that you can have a safe soul but a loss life.

You can know Christ even forgiven your sins are forgiven you are going to heaven between earth and heaven.

You're not doing the say-so over the loss life.

What a Christian sort of state their testimony in a negative fashion. I don't do this. I don't do that. I don't smoke I don't to I don't go with girls that do will get what you do one on the positive side of that equation are you doing so you're to be separated from, but also separated to some one and something in us are like a marriage. When a young couple comes to get married there there making a statement of separation to be separated from everybody else separated just to you honey sweetheart baby and so I began by asking the young grown and I say I want you to repeat after me forsaking all others live only unto you as long as I live Osiris you do that I wanted to say I will ask him to say loudly not I will I will. That's a big statement under the forsake everyone else and live only and do you know magically that young couple after seeing their bows, going to their honeymoon destination and the young group says sweetheart. I have a girlfriend in the city if you don't mind I like to just go have dinner with her coffee with her. Do you mind how you think that honeymoon or relationships from ago probably not very well right now. He needs to be separated from everyone else and separated only unto her peers. Paul saying I'm a servant I'm an apostle and separated to the gospel of God, so he is it servant second notice of source. It is called in verse one, the gospel of what you can set allow the gospel. What God God.

The gospel has its source in God.

Aren't you glad it is in the human origin. It's God's gospel. I had a radio interview this past weekend. The person who interviewed me was talking about beliefs and belief systems.

I said you know no one would make up the gospel story and I said that because we get accused a lot of times of well you know Christianity is just about to the Bible as much a smart man who just made up a story. No smart group of men or women whatever make up a story that condemns the whole world forever except belief in one person nobody would do that is not a man-made religion not on man-made religion would be something like everybody's good row doing the best we can. I'm okay you're okay were all sincere and no matter who you are what you believe you know all that happened. That's human religion, man-made religion is about what man can do for God.

The gospel is about what God has already done for man that is the gospel it's from God. The apostles did not invented they just covered it as it was revealed to them by the Lord Jesus.

That's why Peter the apostle wrote these words, for we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known and you the power and the glory of Christ first two he says is the gospel of God in verse one. The thought continues which is which gospel he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. What you talking about the Old Testament writers for the prophets were hanging out in the Old Testament through the prophets in the holy Scriptures. Why is this important. The New Testament is not an addition like another religion that is completely apart from the Jewish people and the revelation of God to the Jews Christians were a bunch of defectors from Judaism who followed some renegade leader named Jesus know it is part and parcel of the same revelation from the Old Testament into the new. This is why Jesus himself said I did not come to destroy the law and the prophets. I do not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. So there is a continuity that's why Peter on the day of Pentecost is this church was born in all these people are coming to know Christ and the Jewish leader said what is this Peter's answer was this is that which was spoken of by the prophet, and he quotes an Old Testament prophet to prove that what they predicted is coming true before your eyes. And this is why Paul in front of King Agrippa said King Agrippa. I'm not saying anything other than what Moses and the prophets have already said that Christ would suffer and be buried and rise again, he sent all of this is part of the same revelation that was predicted in the Old Testament, so this isn't good news. It was just sort of sprung on people was anticipated for centuries in the clearest prediction of that the clearest prediction of the new covenant comes in Jeremiah 31 when the prophet said, thus says the Lord. The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, not like the old covenant under the law of Moses. So then the gospel, the good news is part of a continuous progressive revelation that began back in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15, we covered in bloodline series is woven to Genesis 22 Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah is displayed at the Passover with the blood in the lintels and doorpost predicted by Isaiah chapter 53 chapter 9 chapter 7, predicted by the psalmist.

Psalm 22 and and 300 other promises or predictions about Jesus promises like, where he be born what he would be likely to go through that he would die, how he would die he would be buried and raised again 300 of biblical prophecy. These promises, the Paul's writing about is in a class all of its own to sound like your weatherman St. Thursday is to be sunny with a possible chance of rain the that's a good guess based on mapping and radar biblical prophecy however is so detailed it has multiple contingencies and a multitude of features that no one could know.

No one could control and when they come to pass. They give proof they give evidence that the authorship of Scripture is divine, not human. Think of it, it's impossible to humanly arrange what tribe of Israel. You're going to be born into it that is predicted, you can't control that it's impossible to arrange Hoosier moms Kennedy. It's impossible to arrange what town you're going to be born in.

And so for one scholar said in 100 billion years.

There's no chance that the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled could have been fulfilled without God. And when hearing that now listen to this you you know it, but it's in a make more sense now after the resurrection. Jesus said to his two disciples who were forlorn. He said oh foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken out, not the Christ to have suffered and entered into his glory, and then Luke adds these words in Luke 24 and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in the Scriptures, all the things concerning himself, its source is God's servant is Paulette sources, God promised through the Scriptures.

What is the subject of the gospel.

What is it concerning what is really all about. Verse three concerning his son, Jesus Christ our Lord was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the debt pay all his promises in the Old Testament almost predictions that were made 300, 330 of them L .21 person crises. The main subject of the old and New Testament.

Yeah, I know there are other themes there other topics, subtopics, subjects you might have one author talking about Israel's wandering through the wilderness or another when talking about captivity or post-captivity or one king doing this in another king being deposed. A number of sub themes, but the grand theme. The big theme.

The central theme. The overarching theme is Jesus Christ.

That's why Jesus said to the Jews. If you wouldn't believe Moses you believe me, for Moses wrote about me low. I come in the volume of the book is written of me, so let me get to you, your Bible and a nutshell form. Here is the Old Testament is the anticipation of Jesus Christ. The Gospels are the presentation of Jesus Christ. The book of acts, the continuation of the work of Jesus Christ, the epistles, the explanation and clarification of Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation, the consummation by Jesus Christ as your Bible and an actual anticipated by the Old Testament prophets. Some of you might be saying or thinking. How could that be. How could they have anticipated him are you telling me that when they wrote their prophecies, they knew who they were writing about. Not at all. That's the beauty of this is the beauty of their were clueless.

They had no idea Peter makes this point. First Peter chapter 1 verse 10. The prophets prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you even though they had many questions as to what it all could mean they wondered what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ suffering and his great glory. Afterward, they wondered when and to whom all of this would happen. Let me illustrate. The Old Testament prophets were like archers you know dudes with bows and arrows, so they shot their arrows of truth into the air.

They had no idea where those arrows were gonna land so Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel Hosea, Zechariah, all pulled back on their prophetic bowstrings and launch those predictions, and they went into the air over the horizon, but all 330 of them written over 1600 years all happened to come true in one single individual, and that is Christ, so that, let me give you the Bible in an even smaller nutshell, here is the irreducible minimum if people ask was what once the Bible all about is where you can develop Bible is about one person into events one person to events one person, Jesus Christ, to events. Number one is first coming to deal with sin.

Lotta predictions made about that and then second event. His second coming to rule and reign with those who have been cleansed from sin is the Bible. One person to events Jesus Christ first coming in second, notice what Paul refers to Christ as concerning Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. In other words, Paul is referring to the dual nature of Jesus fully man seed of David Foley God son of God is the seed of David Foley human he could fulfill all those predictions of who this leader deliver would be as the son of God.

He was fully God conceived in a virgin womb by the Holy Spirit sharing the same nature as God the father by the way, the term son of God is a term of deity is why the Jews said what other proof do we need he studies the son of God. That's blasphemy. Let's kill him. He was claiming to be God in human flesh. All of that to say this, that means the good news is not about a good man.

The good news is about the God man that Jesus was not a good teacher know he was the God man different level being man.

He had the ability to substitute for mankind on the cross being God. He had the capacity to save all of mankind because of that substitute on the cross. No wonder when Encyclopaedia Britannica wanted to post its article on Jesus Christ.

They used 20,000 words to do 20,000 words. In Encyclopaedia Britannica on the life, ministry and impact of Jesus Christ. That's more than they use in their article on Aristotle. Alexander the great Buddha, Caesar, Cicero, Confucius and Mohammed put together the Bible to conservative source, it subject Jesus Christ know it's take the last one as we close, what is the scope of the gospel. Verse five. Through him we have received grace that means we don't deserve it. It's unmerited favor and apostleship means Ross sent out. We all have a mission for obedience to the faith among all nations mark that noted that among all nations for his name among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints, grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here's the deal this good news isn't just local news it's breaking news its worldwide news is for all people.

So what Paul is saying if I can sum him up in these verses is God sent us to tell everyone everywhere about this awesome news is not limited to one race in one place at one time but it's for all people in every place for all time. If scope is universal.

Romans 329 which will get to Paul as is he the God of the Jews only is he not also of the Gentiles rhetorical question answer is yes, he is wisest important waters a false assumption out there.

I've heard it put to me this way, especially when we send out missionaries in different parts of the world.

Why are you doing that and believers where you sending mission. You have no right to impose your Western culture of Western religion on other cultures who think differently and anytime somebody says it's a Western religion. I feel like saying I think you need another geography course in school. Last time I checked it originated in the Middle East town of Jerusalem that makes us about as far away from its origins. You can get is not a Western religion anymore than it's a Middle Eastern religion exclusively Jesus said to his disciples go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature in acts chapter 1 beginning in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the year number that Angel Christmas Angel on Bethlehem who made the announcement. Who said I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be too few people you people you little Shepherd turned at them just for you guys here and in this little part of the world you know what it says. Good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord for all people for God so loved the world, not for God so loved Western culture.

You love the world is a message for the world.

If you have the disease like lung disease or heart disease.

There is medicine for that. It's it's important.

It's true that if your heart disease. The same medicine will work for you. Whether you live in America or you live in Argentina is not like I medicine will work at the Western medicine it will work. It's called science is a universal cure.

Somebody has the same disease in different parts the world. It works same with the gospel. The cure for sin is universally the same and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. The world has many religions but only one gospel and its God's gospel so so not this but this is God's newspaper and in God's newspaper. He's got good news is good news for a couple of different reasons. It tells you number one God is there unknowable, and it tells you number two that you can know him through the saving work of his unique son who was fully human, and he felt all of that pain on the cross and also fully God so we can save.

Here's my question has the gospel come to you like that has the gospel come to you like that. What I mean by that is, can you honestly say at this moment that this is the best news you've ever heard.

As I see a lot of Christians act like they their team line.

That's the best news I've heard their candidate. One is the best news I've ever it is.

Wait a few years is the gospel. The best news you've ever heard. If not, it could be that you are simply making a profession of faith, but there's no possession of faith in Christ and not really born again.

The religious thing we can saying it's a cultural thing is not a personal gospel is highly personal debts give a message from the series partnership. Now we want to share about an exciting research that will help you learn more about where you come from and God's ultimate plan for mankind's redemption never walk into a movie like you may never catch up on the one seems to the Bible is the opening book you have questions way through Genesis is the foundation of the ground floor. If we don't understand the book of Genesis won't understand what follows that's divisive reminding that our redemption, death and resurrection starts in the book of Genesis, God says to Satan, I will put enmity between you and the woman between your seed and her seed promise is thought of the rest of the Bible discover the foundation of your faith understand the book of Genesis argue do you get $35 or more today. Request your copy when you get online securely connectwithskip.com/Oliver or you can call 800-9200 92 1888. Listeners like you are a vital part of helping share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible. These teachings and encouraged you in contact on that but I think that gift today to help keep these back And Inspire Others in Their Faith Just Does It connectwithskip.com/Donate.connectwithskip.com/Donate or Call 819 to 1888, 892 1888.

Thank You for Connecting Others to Pack. Tune in Tomorrow Is Skip Hi to Chairs How You Can Overcome the Fear of Sharing Your Faith with Others and Encourages You to the Messenger Just like All the Apostles. All I Can Say Is This Guy Is Unstoppable. He Was Not Intimidated by a Single Human Being, or Situation.

No, I Both Admire Paul Convicted by Him Every Time I Read Anything by Phone. Such a Singular Intimidated Person. The Religious Leaders of Jerusalem Did Not Intimidated the Political Rulers of Judeo Did Not Intimidated the Intellectual of the Map and Did Not Intimidate Him Not Intimidate Them. Not Ashamed of the Gospel so Skip Presentation of Connection Communications to God's Unchanging Truth