Why do we need the Gospel?

What’s wrong with this picture?

Maybe nothing (unpack).

But it could be used to symbolise a problem we know exists. That some people are so addicted to the virtual world that they miss out on experiencing a lot of the real world which, for all its issues, is still more rewarding.

Why do we do that?

In part, because we lose sight of (or don’t grasp in the first place) what is most important and rewarding in life. We focus on things of lesser importance and limited reward thinking that we are getting the best.

To become a bit more philosophical, it is the struggle to make right choices for a preferred outcome.

Some people just don’t get it.

You see that:

• In the relationships they choose
• In how they choose to use their time
• In how they choose to deal with the problems they have in life
• In how they choose to use the opportunities that are set before them
• In many other areas

We all struggle with this in one way or another, but sometimes you want to grab some people by the ears and say, “Don’t you get it? That choice is going to mess up your life”

And I have seen lives ruined because of poor choices.

What is sad is that often they have had others around them with advice that could have made a world of difference but foolishly they deceived themselves into believing that what they wanted was right.

“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For as each man wishes, that he believes to be true.” Demosthenes.

Wise people ask the advice of others about important decisions and use those who disagree as much as those who agree in their thinking and decision making.

Thankfully, some poor choices don’t end up with terrible consequences. But no one can presume on that.

Thankfully some people who have made wrong decisions with terrible consequences have had their lives turned around for the good again.

But sometimes poor decisions end with poor consequences.

Now there are choices in life that are not a matter of right or wrong. And the consequences of those decisions don’t really matter.

Like:

• Whether or not you put pineapple on a pizza
• Which way the toilet paper roll is put on the holder
• Who gets to hold the TV remote?

But clearly there are other decisions that are more important with more significant consequences.

There is once choice though, that towers above all other choices… a choice that is infinitely more important even than choosing:

• Who you will get married to
• Where you will live
• What work you will do
• Where you will go on holiday
• What car you will drive
• What team you will support

It is a life and death choice.

And that is what you choose to do the with the gospel.

What is the gospel?

The word gospel literally means “good news”. And in the Bible that good news is about Jesus and what He did to save us.

And in this three-part series, I am going to look at:

• Why we need the gospel, why we need saving?
• What Jesus did to save us
• How the gospel that saves us is the gospel that guides us as Christians

My prayer is:

• That people who don’t get this yet will get it and be saved
• That people who are saved will get just how much the gospel should drive their lives and decision making

Have you got it? Hopefully you will get it.

Ok, so this week…

Why do we need the gospel?

Why do we need to be saved? What do we need to be saved from?

Here is the shocking answer from the Bible. We need to be saved from God!

Let me explain…

God makes it very clear in Genesis 1 – 3 that He created the heavens and everything in them … and the earth and everything on it.

We also see that the high point of all creation on the earth for God was when He created people.

God made people in His image… God made them something like Him and in a special relationship with Him.

Part of that special relationship with God were special responsibilities for God. The people were to rule the earth. And God told them how to rule.

And always at the heart of this ruling was the special relationship they had with God and at the heart of that was love.

God’s love for them shown in creating them, having this special relationship with them, giving them special responsibilities, giving them a love relationship with each other as people and all the other blessing that God had placed on the earth.

How would they express their love for God? By living and ruling His way and choosing to not do one thing.

They had all the freedom in the world, but they were not to eat the fruit of one tree. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because if they did that they would die.

The people would show they loved God, just like any child shows their Father they love him, by obeying His good command.

But tragically, the people God created did what He told them not to do (sin). They ate the fruit of that tree.

And as a result, the nature of the relationship between God and the people He created changed.

Instead of the special, loving relationship they had, God banished the rebellious, sinful people from His presence. And now they would die. He had warned them of this.

And it turns out that death wasn’t just physical death but worse still it was also spiritual death and separation from God.

Which also meant God’s judgement on these sinners and all people who would be born sinners here on this earth and for eternity.

Hebrews 9: 27 sums it up like this, “people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment”.

You and I might think that is too harsh and unfair. But that is why we are not God and keep messing things up with our poor choices.

And as bad as the word judgement sounds, the reality is worse.

Let’s look at how the Bible describes this.

And because it is so hectic, I want to look at a passage of Scripture that couches this hectic truth in the language of peace, hope, grace and the gospel.

I can’t leave you hanging with the bad news for a whole week without understanding something of the good news.

And I don’t take any delight in telling you this. but I believe this to be true and therefore I must tell you. To keep quiet about this would be the cruellest, most unloving thing I could do.

I would rather risk you turning against me than keeping quiet about this.

Turn with me to Romans 5: 1 – 11 (unpack).

In the middle of that glorious good news did you see those brain jarring words in 8 – 10?

Before people are saved, they are sinners 8. Ok, we have already spoken about that.

But did you see what being a sinner makes us in relation to God? 10. Sinners are God’s enemies.

Did you see how God feels about His enemies in verse 9? His wrath is on them (not just abstractly their sin).

And God’s wrath is a terrible thing. It is holy and just … but terrible for those under it. His wrath is His settled, intense anger poured out on sin and sinners that sin … if not on this earth then in hell for all eternity. And there is no one that can stop Him from doing that.

And we need saving from that.

And we can be saved from that. God’s wrath punishes sin, but His love provides a way for that wrath to be avoided and be in a special relationship again 5: 1 – 11 (note death).

When (according to God’s plan) Jesus died on the cross, He took the wrath and judgement of His Father on Himself so that we would be saved from God pouring it out on us. God did that to be just and loving at the same time.

And if we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus and what He has done to save us from God’s wrath and judgement, we will be saved from that.

Jesus Himself says in John 3: 36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”

But God’s wrath is terrible. It is this wrath that when Jesus thought about facing it for us and how awful it was (in the Garden of Gethsemane) He (as a man) ask His Father if there wasn’t any other way to save us. And that is what unsaved sinners face for eternity.

But there wasn’t another way and it is this wrath that Jesus had to endure on the cross (worse than any physical pain) and made Him cry out “why have you forsaken me?”.

He had to take His Father’s wrath so that we wouldn’t have to … and this awaits unsaved sinners for eternity!?

How horrific the plight that unsaved sinners are in … but how glorious the gospel that saves them. How badly they need it.

Have you got it?

If you’ve got it, you would cry out to Jesus to save you.

And if you don’t do that you haven’t got it. You don’t understand what is at stake. You are still blind to the truth.

And if it would help to shake you by the ears to wake you up, I would do that … but that won’t help. God Himself must do that.

But if you reject Jesus only wrath waits for all eternity.

Christian, have you got it?

Just how desperately people need saving?

If getting the good news out to people is not a significant part of our lives, we don’t get it (secret medicine).

What could be right with this picture?

What if this was two young people who got it?

Who after having spent some time enjoying God’s creation together … sat down, opened their Bible Apps to read and discuss the gospel and then pray and make plans to get the gospel out to people they know? You would say they have got it!

What if they wisely understood that as amazing as creation is, you can’t obsess about that when the high point of God’s creation, people, are in rebellion against God and under His wrath in desperate need of salvation.

What if they understood that there will be plenty of time on the new earth God is going to create for them (when there will be no people in sin needing to be saved) to walk with Him and others they love enjoying creation with not a care in the world. but now there is something much more pressing to focus on. Do you get it?

You and I know and love people who desperately need that salvation. I find it terrible to even think about what happens to them if they die unsaved. They certainly will not rest in peace. And there are thousands that enter that eternity every day.

We must pray…

For their salvation.

For God to encourage, equip and use us in saving people.

We must act…

In telling them about the gospel or bringing them here where they can hear it. No matter how scared we are at the prospect. What is going to happen to them if they are not saved is far worse than what can happen to us if they turn against us for trying to tell them.

And they won’t get it by osmosis, by just being in your wonderful presence. They must hear the truth!

And if we don’t have time to do that, or choose to do other things instead, then we don’t get it.

The gospel must take priority in how we prioritise our time and lives.

Including being at church every week so the Lord can inspire, support and equip us to live gospel lives in a way that will not happen on our own or without the other brothers and sisters who partner with us on this gospel mission.

It is not like we will miss out on anything by spending too much time on gospel things on this earth … we have eternity on the new earth to do those things.

Have you got it? You can get it today!

You have got it? Help others get it! Those who need salvation and those who need encouragement to go tell others about salvation.

There is nothing more important than this!

Home Group Questions:

1. What is the gospel?
2. Why do all people need the gospel?
   1. Answer that from Genesis 1 – 3
   2. Answer that from Hebrews 9: 27
   3. Answer that from Romans 5: 1 – 11
   4. Answer that from John 3: 36
3. What should Christians like us do to make sure people get the gospel?
4. Make plans together as a Home group to make sure that people we know get the gospel as per no 3 above.
5. Pray for those people and plans.
6. What can we do to encourage each other and others at St Matthews to be gospel people?