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SIX CERTAINTIES REGARDING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
PART 1--THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS STABLE
1 JOHN 1
INTRODUCTION:
We live in a world that is full of uncertainties:
a. Political Uncertainty–Who will become our next governor? Who will be next President?
What will happen with the issue of marriage in our country?
What will happen with the situation in Iraq?
b. Economic Uncertainty–Is the economy turning around or slowing down again?
What will the price of gas be tomorrow?
Will you continue to have the job you have now or will it be shipped out of the country?
Will the stock market go up or down?
There are even many uncertainties in the broad spectrum that encompasses what is known as in the world as Christendom:
a. Christianity as a whole has veered far from its foundations.
Things that once were regarded as absolutes have been and are continually being replaced by opinions, relative truths, situation ethics, and even feelings–All of which are shifting sand!
b. There are many Churches who are confused and uncertain when they should be confident and bold.
1) Some are confused and uncertain about what is right.
God has told us what is right! We just need to read, study, and believe!
2) Some are confused and uncertain about what is important.
God has told us what is important! We just need to read, study, and believe!
3) Some are confused and uncertain about what is true.
God has given us the truth! We just need to read, study, and believe!
In the midst of all the uncertainties in both the world and Christendom there are some certainties we need to think about also.
1. The Certainties of Christianity.
a. True Christianity was founded on absolutes.
b.False teachers who have been allowed to creep in to various churches are the ones who have introduced the uncertainties, the insecurities, and the changing doctrine that is so prevalent in our day and time.
c. The epistle of 1 John is a confident and absolute letter.
It, along with the Gospel of John, are two books that I constantly recommend to new converts to read early in their Christian walk.
1) The word “know” or a form of it appears some 39 times in this book.
2)The characteristic noun of 1 John is the Greek word that is translated as both “confidence” and “boldness.”
3)Therefore, this book is about being bold or confident on the basis of what we know.
d. There Are Three Purposes Stated For The Epistle.
1) So that our joy may be full. (1:4)
2) So that we might be obedient. (2:1)
3) So that we might be confident of our salvation. (5:13)
These three purposes are only fulfilled when what we believe is based on what we know–that is, it is based on certainties!
2. The Certainties Of Christ.
The first thing God wants each of us to have is a proper belief in Christ.
Without a proper belief in Christ, there can be no salvation.
a. John states that Christ has been verified as the Son of God.
1) Christ was a historical reality. (1:2)
2) Christ was testified to by the apostles. (1:3)
3) Christ is testified to us by the Holy Spirit. (2:20, 27)
b.The basic certainty of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is God who was manifested in human flesh and that He is the Saviour of the world through His death, burial and resurrection.
In dealing with the certainty of Christ, John gives us six great certainties about the Gospel Message or “the Word of Life”. This morning I want us to look at the first great certainty of the Gospel message, and that is this--THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS STABLE.
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is not something that evolves or changes with the times.
No, my friend, the Gospel message is stable, it is solid, it is unchanging!
The Gospel is the immovable object of our salvation that we can depend on!
I. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAS NEVER CHANGED. (Vs 1)
A. The Gospel Was Conceived Before Creation.
The Gospel is God’s A’ plan. God never had a plan B.
1 Peter 1:20–"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,"
John 1:1-4
Revelation 1:8–“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:18–“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;”
B. False Teaching Does Not Change The Truth Of The Gospel.
The gnostics were trying to introduce new theology to the church.
Some said that Christ was a Phantom.
Some said that the Christ spirit came upon Jesus at His baptism and departed just before He died.
John was saying they should go back to what they learned when they first heard the Gospel message.
1. The Warning From Jude 3-4.
The word “once” is from the Greek word which means “once for all.”
There will never be another gospel. There can be only one true faith.
Hebrews 13:8-- “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
2. The Warning From Paul. (Galatians 1:6-12)
Judaizers came with what they considered to be extended revelation.
Paul said there is no place for anything but the true Gospel.
3. The Warning From Peter. (2 Peter 3:1-2)
Peter is saying that he was simply reminding the recipients of this letter of the truths they already knew concerning Christ!
They knew these truths from the Old Testament Scriptures and from the apostles of Jesus Christ!
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAS NEVER CHANGED!
II. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE DOESN’T NEED CHANGING! (1 John 2:2)
A. The Gospel Message Meets Man’s Greatest Need!
It is the answer to the sin problem!
B. The Gospel Message Is The Only Thing That Can Meet Man’s Need!
1. The Law Could Not Meet Man’s Need!
Galatians 3:21– “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”
2. Baptism Could Not Meet Man’s Need!
All the water in the world is not sufficient to wash away our sins.
Sin is an inward problem that needs an inward cleansing.
3. Church Membership Could Not Meet Man’s Need!
Without Christ, the Church is nothing more than a dead organism.
4. Religion Cannot Meet Man’s Need!
Titus 3:5–“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
5. No Other One Could Meet Man’s Need!
Romans 5:12–“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Acts 4:12–“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
John 6:35–“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 8:12–“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 10:9–“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
John 10:11–“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:36-38–“Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
John 11:25–“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
John 14:6–“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE HAS NEVER CHANGED!
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE DOESN’T NEED CHANGING!
III. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE WILL NEVER CHANGE!
A. God Will Never Change His Requirements!
John 3:3–“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:27–“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
B. God Will Never Change His Righteousness!
Conclusion
If you are going to get to heaven, it is going to be because you have heard the Gospel message, believed the Gospel message, and received the Gospel message!
One of my favorite songs is sung by one of my favorite Southern Gospel groups–Gold City.
The title of the song is “It’s still the Cross”. It goes this way:
It’s not conservative or liberal, However they’re defined.
It’s not about interpretation, Or the judgment of the mind.
It’s the opposite of politics, power or prestige.
It’s about a simple message and whether we believe.
It’s still the Cross, it’s still the blood of Calvary,
That cleanses sin and sets the captive free!
It’s still the name, the name of Jesus,
That has power to save the lost, it’s still the Cross!
We can water down theology and preach a word to suit our needs,
We can justify sweet subtle lies that are wrapped in noble deeds,
We can alter our convictions to adapt to social wills,
But we cannot change the Gospel or the Truth contained within!
It’s still the Cross, it’s still the blood of Calvary,
That cleanses sin and sets the captive free!
It’s still the name, the name of Jesus,
That has power to save the lost, it’s still the Cross!
Though some may say it’s man’s religion or ancient history,
The cross of Jesus still remains the price for sin that sets us free!
It’s still the Cross, it’s still the blood of Calvary,
That cleanses sin and sets the captive free!
It’s still the name, the name of Jesus,
That has power to save the lost, it’s still the Cross!
Home Page Contact Us Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!