THE GOSPEL (Beginners)
Series 1
I. Exodus 20:1-17
A. These commands are known as the 10 Commandments
a. Adultery:
i. Defined as the act of having sex with a married person
ii. Having lustful thoughts for another person (Matthew 5:28)
b. Murder:
i. Defined as the act of killing a person unlawfully and with premeditated malice
ii. Having hatred for another is considered murder (1John 3:15)
B. Of the 10 commandments mentioned in this passage, how many have you broken?
II. 1John 3:4
A. Breaking the Law of God is called “sin.”
B. Let’s see what sin does to a person’s soul…
III. Isaiah 59:2
Man (with sin) Sin God (without sin)
A. Sin separates us from God.
B. There is no unrighteousness in God (Psalm 92:15).
C. When it comes to man, we all sinned (Romans 3:23), therefore, none of us are righteous (Rom. 3:10).
D. Let’s look at what happens beyond the grave…
IV. Revelation 21:8
A. The Bible speaks of two deaths:
a. First death – physical death (cf. Hebrews 9:27)
b. Second death – spiritual death (the lake of fire)
B. Are you guilty of any of the sins mentioned in this passage?
C. We all are guilty but there is good news…
V. Romans 6:23
A. Although the wages of sin is death (the second death), God, in His mercy, offers the gift of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ…
B. This gift is available to anyone who desires forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God…
VI. John 3:16
A. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, that through belief in Him, we should not perish (not suffer the second death). Instead, through Jesus, we will be able to live in Heaven forever!
B. Believing in Christ includes believing the gospel…
VII. Romans 1:16
A. The word “gospel” comes from an Old English word which means “good news.”
B. The gospel is the power of God to save those who believe.
C. What makes the gospel powerful to save?...
VIII. 1Corinthians 15:1-4
A. The gospel is this:
a. Jesus died for our sins
b. He was buried
c. He was resurrected from the dead (show the Gospel Illustration on page 15)
B. Let’s see why Christ’s death and resurrection are vital to salvation
a. There are two thing keeps us out of heaven:
i. The first is the “sin” problem – we learned that sin separates us from God
1. The death of Jesus brings the forgiveness of sins!
a. Ephesians 1:7
i. Through Christ’s blood we have:
1. Redemption, that is, deliverance from the second death!
2. His blood was shed for our forgiveness!
3. Isn’t that GREAT NEWS?! How can we pass it up?!
b. 1Peter 2:24
i. He bore our sins so that we may quit sinful living and pursue righteous living.
1. This is called “repentance.”
ii. The second is the “grave” problem – our physical bodies cannot enter heaven
1. The resurrection of Christ brings hope in our resurrection from the grave!
a. 1Corinthians 15:20-23
i. Christ is the firstfruits (primary) of those to rise to never die again!
ii. Those who physical die while in Christ, will one day rise from their graves
b. 1Corinthians 15:50-54
i. When Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise from their graves with new, immortal, and imperishable bodies, ready for Heaven!
iii. The gospel takes care of those two problems:
1. Christ’s death takes care of our sin problem and …
2. Christ’s resurrection takes care of our grave problem!
3. Boy, I want in! Don’t you?!
4. Let’s continue…
IX. 2Thessalonians 1:6-8
A. We already learned that at Christ’s return, He will raise up the dead with new bodies.
B. He will also punish those who do not know God and those who do not obey the Gospel.
C. The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (refer to the Gospel Illustration).
D. How does one obey the gospel? Let’s see ...
X. Romans 6:3-7
A. We obey the gospel (the death, burial and resurrection) through baptism. (Show the Baptism Illustration on page 16).
B. We are united to Christ, His death, His burial and His resurrection through baptism.
C. Therefore, our sins are forgiveness at baptism as we will see in this next passage of Scripture…
XI. Acts 2:37-41
A. The people wanted to get right with God.
B. Peter tells them to REPENT:
a. The word “repent” means to change one’s mind, which also involves a change in one’s actions.
b. We must be willing to turn away from sinful practices.
c. Let’s look at some examples of evil practices we must turn away from…
Ø 1Corinthians 6:9-10
1. sexual immoral – sex outside of marriage
2. idolater – putting things before God
3. swindler – cheating people of their money
C. Peter then tells them to BE BAPTIZED for the forgiveness of their sins:
a. As we saw in Romans 6:3-4, baptism is a burial (refer to the Baptism Illustration).
b. We are united to Christ and His death at baptism.
c. Jesus shed His blood at His death:
Ø His blood was shed for our forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7)
Ø Therefore, we receive forgiveness of sins when we are baptized into Christ and into His death.
d. We also learned that one obeys the gospel through baptism (refer to the Baptism Illustration).
D. Afterwards, God shall give them the Holy Spirit as a gift.
a. The Holy Spirit is God’s seal, stating that we now have eternal life (cf. Ephesians 1:13-14).
b. The Holy Spirit strengthens us in our walk with Jesus (cf. Romans 8:26).
E. In verse 41, those who accepted God’s gift of salvation repented and were baptized. They have become “born again”…
XII. John 3:3-5
A. A person must be born again to see and enter the Kingdom of heaven.
B. One is born again:
a. By water (baptism for the forgiveness of sins) and…
b. By Spirit (receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit).
XIII. Matthew 10:34-36
A. Those who choose to receive God’s gift of salvation will be persecuted by their own relatives.
B. Is forgiveness of sins and eternal life worth it to you?
XIV. Acts 22:16
A. What is God telling you to do here?
B. Are you ready today to make Jesus your Savior and Lord?
Give (or lend) the person a copy of the “What Is the Gospel?” DVD as a supplementary study.
If the person wants to obey the gospel, do the "Discipleship" study with them.
Should they decide NOT to get baptized, but want to study again, do the “Love of God” study with them.