Questions and Answers – The Gospel

Most Sundays I go out into the neighbourhood with Soon-Jong Kim door to door evangelising. When people are friendly we get to share the Gospel a few times a week. I’m also blessed to be able to share the Gospel at the office that I work and I don’t think a week goes by without the opportunity to give a defence for the hope that I have in Christ Jesus.

You know what? Mostly I share the Gospel with people who go to church. Sounds weird, but it’s sadly true. Most church goers are pew warmers who have no idea if they are saved, how they might be saved or even if its necessary to be saved in the first place.

Before you read the short form below know this: The Gospel is the most important thing we hold to as Christians. It’s what defines us, what separates us from other religions and cults. It needs to be clearly understood, correctly articulated, in complete agreement with Scripture. A step out here or there renders it null and void.

Consider Paul’s strong words to the Galatians,

“⁶ I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Want to hear the verse in context? Galatians 1: 6 – 9 What is this about?

Below is my shorthand of the Gospel truth. It’s not a comprehensive theological treaties, its supposed to be usable. Check it out; comment below.

To find out more about Crystal Park Baptist Church click here. Click the image to enlarge.

Present a “Royal Line of Salvation” throughout the Old and New Testament

Click here or on the icon to link to the pdf.

This is my faverite paper to date. I thought the topic was challenging, “Present a “Royal Line of Salvation” throughout the Old and New Testament. Start at Genesis 3:15 passing through Isaiah 9:6 and ending at John 3:16. Join together at least twenty verses outlining the salvation story.” The feedback was possitive (although I have to be careful I don’t lose academic credibility by making the papers I write too accessible).

I’d love to get constructive feedback or criticism as this is a skill I’m going to be using quiet a lot going forward.

You could click on the big icon on the left hand side of the page or click here (Adobe PDF) to link to the paper titled: Present a “Royal Line of Salvation” throughout the Old and New Testament. Start at Genesis 3:15 passing through Isaiah 9:6 and ending at John 3:16. Join together at least twenty verses outlining the salvation story..

Thanks,

Mark

The Royal Line of Salvation (FINAL!)

<— Click here for Part 16

<— Click here to go to the beginning

The Disciples Picking corn on the Sabbath (Doré, Gustave). Click image to enlarge.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6)

The fall left man’s relationship with God in tatters; ripped in two; torn asunder. Sin is an impossible obstacle for man to deal with or overcome as every inclination of his heart seeks for that which it ought not to; every fibre of his being craves that which further alienates himself.

Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, takes away the sins of the world. His death on the cross as a substitute for sin satisfies the wrath of God. The serpent’s head is truly bruised and God’s promised redemption is realized.

The apostle Peter captures the broad brushstroke of Scripture by commenting,

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Pet 1:18 – 21)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16)

The Crucifixion (Doré, Gustave). Click image to enlarge.

The Bible is a record; it’s a record of who God is and what He’s done. The story unfolds through the lives of those whom He has chosen to use to His own end.

The Bible is a story; it’s a salvation story. It’s a narrative of how God’s love is a demonstration Him saving those who are unworthy of redemption, unworthy of grace.

The Bible is an indictment against the wicked whose hearts are hardened and a confirmation of the righteous whose salvation is secure. It is damning evidence against those who’d seek to make themselves right before God in their own strength and the saving proof for the contrite heart who rests in God’s provision for their eternal soul.

As we scan through Scripture viewing the salvation story unravelled across its pages we’d do well to proclaim with the prophet Jonah, “Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jon 2:9b)

Amen.

Bibliography

Doré, Gustave 1855. All images credited are in the public domain because its copyright has expired. Available [online] http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/dore/. New York: Granger Collection.

Ross, Allan 1985. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty. Ed. John F. Walvoord, Roy B.Zuck. Victor Books.

Calvin, John 1847. Calvin’s Bible Commentaries: Genesis, Part 1. Trans. J. King. Forgotten Books.

Scofield, C. I. 1917. Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition). [Online] Available http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/view.cgi?book=ge&chapter=012.

Kidner, Derek 1967. Genesis. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.

MacArthur, John 1996. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Acts 13 – 28. Chicago: Moody.

Wikipedia 2010. Nathan (son of David). [Online] Available http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_(son_of_David).

This series attempts to answer the question, “Present a “Royal Line of Salvation” throughout the Old and New Testament. Start at Genesis 3:15 passing through Isaiah 9:6 and ending at John 3:16. Join together at least twenty verses outlining the salvation story.” by giving a chronological account of the genealogy of Christ recorded in Luke 3.

Want to hear the verse in context? Luke 3 What is this about?

<— Click here for Part 16

What the Bible has to say about God’s heart for the world and the Church’s and the Christian’s responsibility to be involved in what God is doing

Click here for Assignment 2 —>

Click here or on the icon to link to the pdf.

So it’s another paper. I picked a topic that was a bit contravercial in that I thought the question had been framed incorrectly. I was expecting, “What the Bible has to say about God’s heart for the nations and the Church’s and the Christian’s responsibility to be involved in what God is doing” but instead got the word “world”. I’m told it’s readably academic and the marker (Rev George Ngamlana) says he enjoyed reading it.

I’d love to get constructive feedback or criticism as this is a skill I’m going to be using quiet a lot going forward.

You could click on the big icon on the left hand side of the page or click here (Adobe PDF) to link to the paper titled: What the Bible has to say about God’s heart for the world and the Church’s and the Christian’s responsibility to be involved in what God is doing.

Thanks,

Mark

Um, so, between this and the last effort I’ve had favourable feedback.

Click here for Assignment 2 —>

What does the Bible say about God’s heart for the world? (Part 2)

<— Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 3 —>

From a distance. “The Blue Marble” is a famous photograph of the Earth taken on December 7, 1972 by the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft en route to the Moon at a distance of about 29,000 kilometers (18,000 statute miles). It shows Africa, Antarctica, and the Arabian Peninsula. Click image to enlarge.

If ‘the world’ has diverse meanings in Scripture then we’d expect God’s heart for the world to be multifaceted too wouldn’t we? And it is.

Firstly, towards the heavens and earth God’s heart is ultimately hostile. Yes, he loves the little birds and the beautiful fields (Mt 6:26) and has stayed His hand out of goodness and forbearance and longsuffering (Rom 2:1 – 11) but at its core this world is irreconcilably doomed (1 Jn 2:16). Think upon the final end of this earth depicted in the book of Revelation, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Rev 21:1)

Secondly, to that world which stands in opposition to God’s kingdom, He stands in righteous judgement. Jesus, describing the work of the Holy Spirit says, “…when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (Jn 16:8 – 11)

Thirdly, we ought to consider the world made up of human beings. You might one day overhear me saying, “I love vegetables.” Do I love all vegetables? Certainly not, baked beans are awful! I love vegetables in the collective sense but when we get down to the particulars there will definitely be exceptions.

Jesus qualifies the collective in John 3:16 by pointing to the particulars, “…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16) God’s heart towards ‘the world’ is further expanded in John 3:36, “…he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Jn 3:36)

To be sure, God certainly does love but the apple of His eye, that which holds His affection and delight most dearly, are those whom He calls (Rom 8:30) and draws to Himself (Jn 6:44) and it is to these, those called the elect (Eph 1:4 – 6), that we will now turn our attention to.

<— Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 3 —>

So what is God currently doing and what (if anything) is our part in His activities?

What does the Bible say about God’s heart for the world? (Part 1)

Click here for Part 2 —>

From a distance. “The Blue Marble” is a famous photograph of the Earth taken on December 7, 1972 by the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft en route to the Moon at a distance of about 29,000 kilometers (18,000 statute miles). It shows Africa, Antarctica, and the Arabian Peninsula. Click image to enlarge.

It seems a simple enough question. He loves it, right? Even a 6-year-old Sunday Schooler would be able to rattle off, “…God so loved the world…” (Jn 3:16, KJV) Could there be anything more to it than that? Well there is but in order to grapple meaningfully with the question we’ll first need to investigate what ‘the world’ means Biblically.

Deconstructing ‘the world’ as we know it

Consider for a moment the English word bat. I could say, “I hit the ball with the bat,” or “I saw a bat in a cave,” and you’d have a pretty good idea what I meant. Bat is a word with multiple meanings. Well ‘the world’ has multiple meanings in Scripture to.

Firstly, ‘The world’ is used as a synonym for the universe, the heavens and earth and all that is in them. This is ‘the world’ which was created by Jesus (Jn 1:10) and of which He said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mk 8:36) (Douglas 1970:1338)

Secondly, “‘The world’ designates a virtual spiritual force, the antithesis, as it were, of the kingdom of God.” (Jn 15:18 – 19; Jn 17:14) (Sasse 1965:868)

Thirdly, and in a more limited sense, ‘the world’ refers to human beings. It is to this world that God “gave his only begotten Son.” (Jn 3:16) (Douglas 1970:1339)

Click here for Part 2 —>

If ‘the world’ has diverse meanings in Scripture then we’d expect God’s heart for the world to be multifaceted too wouldn’t we? And it is. All the tough stuff tomorrow.