November 29, 2020

Jesus, Our Gospel

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: It's All About Jesus Scripture: Colossians 1:1–8, Colossians 1:28–29

Series: Christmas: It’s All About Jesus 
Message: Jesus, Our Gospel 
Scripture: Colossians 1:1-8, 28-29

Advent: Word with Latin roots, meaning “coming”
It’s one thing to have the gospel presented to you, it’s another thing to have the gospel Come to You

How To Know That The Gospel Has Come To You

1. The Gospel Is Joy

“gospel” means good news, a joyous proclamation 
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23) 
Too often people can think of “Christianity” as a Religon of rules to keep or duties to perform 
“word of truth” – there’s information, content to Believe

2. The Gospel Is Power

“fruit” – internal character transformation 
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

  • Power to Change
    “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11–14) 
  • Power to Serve and Share
    “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28–29) 

3. The Gospel Is Grace

God’s grace is a Synonym for the gospel (6) “stored up for you in heaven” – Money in the Bank “understood God’s grace in all its truth” 
“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:15–21) 

4. The Gospel Is Jesus Christ 

“your faith in Christ Jesus” 
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) 
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) 
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 

Three Ways To Live 

1. Irreligious – Makes the individual a law to him or herself
2. Religious – Makes the law and moral obedience a means of salvation
3. Gospel – Jesus takes the law so seriously that he made himself completely obedient to it, in our place and died to pay the penalty of disobedience, in our place, so that we can be saved by sheer grace 
“Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations, our self- understanding and identity, and our view of the world. It changes our hearts. Behavioral compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and fleeting.” Tim Keller 
It’s one thing to have the gospel presented to you, it’s another thing to have the gospel come to you!

Making It Personal: 

  • Has the gospel truly “come to you”? 
  • Of the three ways to live, which one most characterizes your life? Why did you answer that way? 
  • How can you saturate yourself in the gospel on a regular basis? 
  • Who’s Your One? Who can you share the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, with this Christmas? How will you share the gospel with them? 
  • Who can I share these truths with?

other sermons in this series

Dec 20

2020

Jesus, Our Reconciliation

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Colossians 1:19–23 Series: It's All About Jesus

Dec 13

2020

Jesus, Our God

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Colossians 1:15–20 Series: It's All About Jesus

Dec 6

2020

Jesus, Our King

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Colossians 1:13–14 Series: It's All About Jesus