The Gospel

Based on a sermon given by Pastor John MacArthur with annotations by PK…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MExTc_SpQ0Q 

God’s people are to be about the Gospel.

I Corinthians 1:17, For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Be about the gospel, not about baptism or church nor about an elite preacher streamed in from afar. The focus is the Gospel – the atoning death of Jesus for the salvation of others. 

The Gospel is Unreasonable:

1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

and 1:21, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 

and 1:23, but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 

To suggest that the answer to life is in a Jew who claimed He was God that the Romans crucified in Jerusalem is foolishness.  It is silliness.  It is unreasonable! 

The Gospel is Unattainable:

1:19-21, For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? 

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God

The ways and the wisdom of the world all fail to make a way to God.  God is unattainable by any worldly means. 

The Gospel is Unattractive:

1:26, For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 

and 2:3-5, I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Those who bring the message are unremarkable.  They are simple and common.  The messengers are unattractive.  

So, how is one saved?  They are saved by God’s will and by God’s doing: 

1:30, But of Him you are in Christ Jesus

Thus salvation is fully by God meaning man brings NOTHING to the table: 

1:29, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

God’s people are to teach, talk and share a message that is unreasonable, unattainable and unattractive which God is pleased to use to bring people to a response of faith that yields true salvation.  Let us be busy about the Gospel knowing that the world will mock, reject and belittle it and us but also knowing that God will use it to save people.