Overview of the Gospel 16th March 2025
Where Did This Life Come From And Why?
Divine Inspiration & Authority of the Bible
- 2 Timothy 3:16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
- 2 Peter 1:19 Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Some Proof: God, who dwells outside of time, inspired and dictated to men to write it:
- The Fall of Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-22, Jeremiah 51:37)
- Ancient Literature Attestations: Herodotus (Histories 1.191). Josephus (Antiquities 10.11). The Cyrus Cylinder.
- The Destruction of Tyre (Ezekiel 26)
- Ancient Literature Attestations: Josephus (Antiquities 11.4.6). Arrian (Anabasis of Alexander 2.19). Plutarch (Life of Alexander 25.3).
- The Destruction of Nineveh (Nahum 1:8-10, Zephaniah 2:13-15)
- Ancient Literature Attestations: Herodotus (Histories 1.106). Diodorus Siculus (Bibliotheca historica 2.25). Josephus (Antiquities 10.2).
- The Fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 25:9-12, 2 Kings 25:1-21)
- Ancient Literature Attestations: Babylonian Chronicle. Josephus (Antiquities 10.9.7).
- The Return from Exile and the Rebuilding of the Temple (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1; Ezra 1:1-4) Ancient Literature Attestations: Cyrus Cylinder. Herodotus (Histories 1.214).
- The Coming of the Messiah and the Destruction of Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:2)
- Ancient Literature Attestations: Josephus (Wars of the Jews 6.4). Tacitus (Histories 5.13)
There are many more.
Who Is God?
The Supreme Holiness and Unquestionable Sovereignty of God
God, the First Cause and Creator of all that exists, is a being of infinite power and majesty. His creative act was utterly perfect—He fashioned the cosmos without error or flaw. As the source of life, wisdom, and all beauty, He stands far above all created things. Our finite minds can barely grasp His glory, and our very existence is a testament to His sovereign design.
In this light, the notion of complaining, showing partiality or presuming to correct God is not only misplaced—it is a direct affront to His holiness and authority.
Because God is infinitely above us—our Creator, Sustainer, and the very source of life itself—the only rational response is total surrender.
He had every right to create exactly as He pleased, establishing a universe that is the embodiment of order, beauty, and perfection.
God Wants More Family So Free Will Is Essential
God wanted a bigger family. He did not want pets, and certainly not robots, but beings that have free choice to love Him. Maybe you could say that God did, make His ‘imaginary friends’. We were created in His Image, to be like Christ. Hence, people like God and family for God
So, in His divine wisdom, He chose to bestow upon humanity the precious gift of free will. This was a great risk, for His creation may reject Him, however, if His creation was to genuinely ‘love’ Him, they MUST have free will.
Our freedom of choice, brings great responsibility. Because God is not only loving, He is totally holy and just. All sin (wrong actions, attitudes and thoughts) demands justice, that will rightfully, put us in hell, a place of God’s judgment.
We did sin (wrong actions, attitudes or thoughts) and the Consequence of Sin: Isaiah 59:2 But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God…
God Provides A Way And A Sacrifice To Redeem Humans
Jesus, His Son, a member of the Trinity, God Himself.
The Plan of Redemption: Covenants with Abraham
God creates a way to send His Saviour.
- The Abrahamic Covenant
- Genesis 12: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. 2 Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name. (With an animal sacrifice pointing the Jesus, and covenant.)
- Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD credited it as righteousness to him.
- A World Plan of Redemption
- Galatians 3: 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.
God Covenants With Israel – The Mosaic law
Romans 7:12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
God greatly reveals Himself is a new way with the Law given to Moses.
Animal sacrifices are a type of Christ who was to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God for sin. To pay for sin, and to satisfy the wrath of God against all sin and violations against Him and His Nature.
Understood Through ‘Types or Shadows’
The Law given to Israel had three main categories: Moral Law (absolute commands like the Ten Commandments, reflecting God’s holiness), Civil Law (governing Israel as a nation), and Ceremonial Law (sacrificial and ritual laws pointing to Christ). The Tabernacle was God’s dwelling place among His people and was filled with types and symbols of Christ: the Brazen Altar (His atoning sacrifice), the Laver (spiritual cleansing), the Lampstand (Christ as the Light), the Table of Showbread (Christ as the Bread of Life), and the Ark of the Covenant (God’s presence and Christ’s fulfillment of the Law). The veil symbolized separation from God, which Christ tore down at His death (Matthew 27:51). Altogether, the Law and Tabernacle foreshadowed Christ’s work, revealing the way to holiness, atonement, and restored fellowship with God.
Messiah/Savior – Jesus Christ
Both fully God and fully human. Two natures.
- God in Person
- Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.
- Man in power
- Philippians 2:6-8 – “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”
The perfect, sinless Sacrifice.
- Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
How To Be Saved
- Romans 2:38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 16:31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (believe = believe and live it for life.)
- Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
We Are Now Servants Of God To Not Only Be Like Christ But To Do The Work Of Christ
- Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Assured of Salvation – Trust God Without Doubting
Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
God Provides the Help We Need to Live for Him – The Holy Spirit
Indwelling & Empowering Believers
- John 14:16 Then I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.
- Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For Personal Transformation and Sanctification
Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you
The Mission: The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Why Bring In Others? Back To God’s Original Plan
God wanted a bigger family. He did not want pets, and certainly not robots. The masses are created beings that had free choice, to love Him. They were created in His Image, to be like Christ, and reconciled to Him forever.
We must always maintain a Kingdom perspective. Jesus is everything.
When Is Jesus Coming Back To Take Us To The Father?
We Are To Do The Work Of The Kingdom Of God Until Jesus Comes Again
- Luke 19:13And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’
- Matthew 25:14For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (Everything we have, and are, belong to God.)
- Luke 18:8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
End Times Are Here – What Was Predicted?
Before Christ returns, a great deception will lead many astray, resulting in a falling away from the faith (2 Thess. 2:3), while the world plunges into the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21). But at the appointed time, Jesus will rapture, will gather true believers to Himself (1 Thess. 4:16-17), and He will return in power to judge the wicked, save Israel, and establish His kingdom reign (Rev. 19:11-16) for 1,000 years of peace (Mat 24:30) and finally oversee the Great Judgment (Rev 20:11-15) where those who rejected Him are condemned to hell, but the righteous enter eternity in heaven with Him.
Matthew 24:30Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Followed by a 1000 years of peace with Jesus Christ as King and Ruler.
Our Great Hope – Being Like Christ, Living As Family With The Father
Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. 4 ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”