Principle 10 – Preaching the Good News (pdf)

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Principle 10

Preaching the Good News ALL CHRISTIAN service is based on the finished work of Christ.176 The early Apostles did not go around preaching a Gospel of works177 or a message of believers needing to do so much178 to enter heaven but rather all godly living179 was out of appreciation of the mercy of God. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”180 They had the Good News message of the resurrection of Christ and the hope of trusting in Him for eternal life. This message of God’s love is open to all humanity181 and is not to be a message of condemnation.182 The finished work of Christ is something that was preached by the Apostles through everything they did. When they partook of the Lord’s Supper it celebrated the resurrection and sacrifice of Christ. When they baptized individuals it spoke of the work of Christ in redeeming us from death to life. All doctrines were centered in the Good News of our redemption through the cross of Galatians 6:14, Romans 6:6-7 Galatians 1:6-7, Galatians 3:1-3 178 Romans 9:16 179 Titus 3:8, Ephesians 2:10 180 Romans 12:1 181 John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9 182 John 3:17 176 177

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Christ Jesus. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”183 God has made us who were sinners to become saints not just in word but in actual experience. Such is our standing now that we become holy because of the blood of Christ and His redeeming work.

Our heart is made new as we grow into His likeness.184 Yet from this vantage point of being a redeemed saint of God we should never look down on or despise others who are still in the filth of sin being outside of Christ, for it is from hence we came!185 Thus the true work of Christ in us allows us to love all others because God in Christ loves all: “Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”186 Though there is a narrow road187 that we walk with the Lord—in sanctification and growing into His likeness—we must never forget that it is the Good News of the Gospel that saves us and keeps us in daily communion with our Lord.188 One little girl wrote the words on her arm “Don’t forget Me” as if Christ had written them on her arm; this reminded her of who He is and what He has done for her.

Every time she looked at her arm she communed with the Lord. This is a wonderful example to all the Lord’s people of the need to continually remember our precious Lord who bought us at such a great price.189 The preaching of the Good News must be under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1 it tells us: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”190 Without the work of the Holy Spirit in us we have no witness and no power to do the work of God. The Good News itself is power.191 This message must be preached in purity and simplicity; it doesn’t need any wisdom of words or craftiness of Ephesians 1:7 Romans 8:29 185 Titus 3:3-4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Ephesians 2:11-12 186 1 Timothy 2:6 187 Matthew 7:14 188 1 John 1:7 189 1 Corinthians 6:20 190 Acts 1:8 191 Romans 1:16 183 184

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speech. It doesn’t need any enticing cultural relevance or sensitivity to the hearers. The simple proclaimed Good News stands all on its own.

“Our Gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”192 God has chosen the act of preaching the Gospel as a means to offer salvation to all.193 “Gross moral darkness is none but our hopeful light of Christ’s return. As the darkness intensifies we must shine the Gospel more intently. Abounding lawlessness must produce two characteristics in the hearts of the redeemed, relentless evangelism and hastening Christ’s return.”194 One of the greatest reasons to preach the Good News is the soon coming of Jesus Christ back to the earth. This Gospel must be preached to the ends of the world before His coming195 in the midst of growing lawlessness and wickedness and the reign of the antichrist in the world.

Our Lord gave the great commission to preach His Gospel to the ends of the world. Such preaching is also given by His authority196 so we must have great boldness to proclaim the Gospel. If your goal is anything less than “all nations”197 then we are not obeying some of the last Words given by our Lord Jesus Christ to His Church. Lastly, we have the wonderful assurance and blessing of our Lord’s presence with us as we do His work: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”198 Hallelujah!

1 Thessalonians 1:5 1 Corinthians 1:21 194 Derek Melton 195 Matthew 24:14 196 Matthew 28:18 197 Matthew 28:19 198 Matthew 28:20 192 193