Reading:
Matthew Chapter 24: 1- 14
Introduction
The Holy Bible is Jehovah’s Word. It tells of His love, the matchless gift of His only begotten Son Jesus (Yeshua) and the good news of the Gospel of Salvation. All who have the humility and good sense to believe and act upon the message of the Bible are assured of forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. In all the books in the world, it is totally impossible to find so valuable an offer as the Gospel of Salvation. Tens of thousands of sermons have been preached about it; but were many millions more told, no one could hope to exhaust the wonders of the Gospel of Salvation. It is, by far, the best news this old world has ever heard. This Sabbath we will examine a few more aspects of the Gospel of Salvation. I trust that when we have finished, no one in this hall will reject the Gospel or turn down the eternal glory on offer.The Power of God unto Salvation!
The Scriptures refer to the Gospel as the power of God unto salvation! Pause and think about that stunning truth.
| Romans 1: | 16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” |
| John 3: | 16: “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. 17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” |
1. The Everlasting Gospel
The Gospel is everlasting. Its central theme, that fallen man is pardoned by the grace of God through His son Jesus Christ, will continue to amaze the redeemed host throughout eternity. The Everlasting Gospel is to be preached in these last days, just prior to the Saviour's return to earth.| Revelation 14: | 6: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” |
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom
The Gospel is often called the ‘Gospel of the Kingdom of God.’| Mark 1: | 14: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 : And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” |
| Matthew 4: | 23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” |
| Revelation 11: | 15: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” |
(Jeremiah 8: 20)
3. The Gospel of the Grace of God
The Almighty loves the human race more than any of us can remotely imagine. He wants everyone to be saved: and that includes You! Note Christ's words:| 2 Peter 3: | 9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” |
We sinners are saved - not by any effort of our own, however good we may consider ourselves to be. No, we are saved by the grace of God. That is why the Gospel is also called the Gospel of the grace of God!
| Acts 20: | 24: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” |
4. The Glorious Gospel of Christ
When the Saviour returns to earth and the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of the Lord, earth will experience peace and joy such as never before. What, in the past 6000 years, no manmade government, dictatorship or democracy has been able to accomplish, the Kingdom of God will bring about with matchless glory within a matter of weeks. That is why the Gospel is also referred to as the Glorious Gospel of Christ.| 2 Corinthians 4: | 3: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
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| Revelation 21: | 1: “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. 2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5:And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6: And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” |
| 1 Corinthians 2: | 9: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” |
5. The Gospel is Preached
The Saviour prophesied that before his return to earth, the Gospel would be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations. (Matthew 24:14) How is the Gospel going to reach the world? Is that happening? Some will say, 'Yes it's happening.' Others will say, 'No it certainly is not happening - and never will.' What ever your opinion I can assure you that when the terrifying events predicted in the 6th Seal of Revelation take place, the whole world will be ready to listen to the Gospel. We are told in that prophecy that all the world will become aware that God is on His throne and that the great day of His wrath has arrived.| Revelation 6: | 12: “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal,
and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14: And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16: And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” |
6. Satan’s Attack on the Gospel
When the true Gospel was first preached by the Saviour, comparatively few people heard it. And even though Jesus preached for some three and a half years, not many outside the land Israel heard his Gospel. It was not until the apostles journeyed far from Palestine and wrote down the Gospel message, did countless millions the world over have any idea as to what the Gospel of the Kingdom and the grace of God really meant. But, sad to say, Satan's attack on the true Gospel and the inspired Word of God began even before the first apostles died. Notice how the apostle Paul warned the churches of Galatia and Corinth about false teachers perverting the Gospel of Christ.| Galatians 1: | 6: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” |
7. Your Reaction to the Gospel
Do you believe the Gospel? If you do you should not be ashamed of it. The apostle Paul writes:| Romans 10: | 9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” |
| 2 Corinthians 6: | 2: “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”) |
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