2010 Issue 1 - God's Good News - Counsel of Chalcedon

8/12/2019 2010 Issue 1 - God's Good News - Counsel of Chalcedon

1/29

byWayne Rogers

Introduction toGreg Bahnsens

Dr. Greg Bahnsen, noted Apologist, Postmil-lennialist, and author of Teonomy in Chris-tian Ethics, passed away in 1995. Sometime beforehe passed away I found this little booklet by him,Gods Good News. We had Dr. Bahnsen speak at ourchurch, the St. Paul Presbyterian Church, Jackson,

Ms., the year of his death. As we visited one of thethings I asked him was if he minded if I used andeven tweaked his booklet a bit. He graciously toldme I could use it any way I wished.

Gods Good News is no Gospel in a nutshell.(You might call it Te Gospel in a Coconut Shell!)Tere are many ways in which we might summa-

rize the gospel, he states in his Introduction. Some, he noted, are short and simpleenough for a child to understand. On the other hand some further detail willprove beneficial in elaborating on this brief account of Gods good news. Tatswhat this booklet is, a detailed elaboration of Gods good news. Its no RomansRoad of Salvation; its more of a Calvins Road of Salvation!

his booklet is NO, I repeat NO, one I would give to someone in generalto explain the gospel. Frankly its probably more of an elaboration of the Gospelfor those who are already Christians. hat is not to say it could not be used inan evangelistic way with an unbeliever as a study guide. It certainly points outthat probably a lot that goes on in the name of evangelism does not present the

biblical gospel at all. his booklet is virtually a covenantal, biblical-theological,Calvinistic, Westminster, Reformed presentation of the Biblical Gospel. Now,we would be the first to say that you dont have to be a self-consciousCalvinistfirst in order to become a Christian (but, then, theres nothing wrong with thatwhy not start off on the right foot?). However, under certain circumstances, as Isaid, it certainly could be used by a Christian as a study guide to explain GodsPerfect Plan of Salvation from beginning to end. In any case, these furtherdetails are beneficial for a better, more thorough understanding and apprecia-

Wayne Rogers

Due to the length of the article and for the sake of continuity,

this issue of Te Counsel of Chalcedon is being devoted to Gods

Good News by Dr. Greg Bahnsen.

Gods Good News


2/29

5Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 2010

Introduction to Gods Good News

tion of the biblical Gospel. So, as youread and begin to think to yourself Iwould never give this to someone asan evangelistic booklet, I agree. hatwould be a Phillip and Ethiopian Eu-

nuch moment: Do you understandwhat you are reading? How can I un-

less someone guides me? (Acts 8:30-31)! However, I could sit down withan unbeliever and say Do you wantto know the whole story of redemp-tion? Well here it is. And I couldsit down with a Christian and say, Do

you want to know the whole story ofredemption? Well here we go. And,in the end, the unbeliever may be con-

verted, or a Christian become a muchbetter Christian (a Calvinist) and abetter evangelist!

Wayne Rogers

Helpful literature on Biblical

Evangelism:

Reformed Evangelism by Mor-

ton H. Smith:

http://www.the-highway.com/Reformed_Evangelism.html

Tell e Truth by Will Metzger

Evangelism and the Sovereignty

of God by J. I. Packer

Come with desire and you shall go away

with comfort. You shall have the virtues of

Christs blood, the inuences of His Spirit,

the communications of His love.

After several years of meditation, study,and prayer, Judy has completed writ-ing and composing songs for each of the

Beatitudes.

Judy says, This may be the most signi-

cant body of songs I have written.

Greg and Friends


3/29

Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 1 20106

Gods Good News

INTRODUCTION

Gods good newsthe gospelisthe best and most important newsyou will ever hear. It can be found per-manently recorded in the Bible.

However the Bible is a big book, andwithout some introduction to it many

people will give up reading it throughbefore they understand its magnificentmessage. So maybe a short explanationwill be valuable to you.

Te Bible, Gods own unfailingword of truth, is the final authoritywhen it comes to Gods news for us

and this is where you should go to checkup on what anybody says about God andHis relationship to man. Tis booklet isbut a short summary.

Of course, there are many ways inwhich we might summarize the gospel.

Paul tells us of mans problem andGods way of solving it Te wages of

sin is death, but the free gift of God iseternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord(Romans 6:23).

John tells us in Christs own wordshow this gift of salvation comes to be en-

joyed, For God so loved the world thatHe gave His one and only Son, that who-

Compiled by Dr. Greg Bahnsen

Gods Good News

Dr. Greg Bahnsen


4/29


Gods Good News

ever believes in Him should not perish,but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

In one sense, this short accounttells us the story. It is simple enough forany child to understand.

On the other hand, some furtherdetail will prove beneficial in elaboratingon this brief account of Gods good news.In the following booklet such detail is of-fered in terms of a seven point summarywhich you might want to get into mindfrom the outset. It goes like this:

1. A loving creator continuallyblesses us.

2. As ungrateful creatures, we

rebel against Him.

3. So righteous judgment

awaits us all;

4. But God has made a cov-enant of grace.

5. Christ accomplished unde-

served salvation for sinners.

6. To be saved we must repent

and believe, enabled by the

Holy Spirit.

7. ose who are saved lead

new lives.

Tis news is not only good, it is alsourgent!

Your response to it is a matter ofeternal life and death. So please readthrough the booklet carefully and se-

riouslyand then consider how youstand before God.

Tose who spurn or ignore Godsgood news only further alienate them-selves from God. Tose who receive itgladly and trust in Christ will find it

the best thing that has everor couldeverhappen to them.

1. A LOVING CREATOR

CONTINUALLY BLESSES USTe living and true God created allthings in the beginning by His power-ful word, and everything was very good.Man was made to know, enjoy, andserve God in loving dependence. Manoriginally was morally upright, submit-ting to Gods will.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYSABOUT CREATION

By faith we understand that the uni-verse was formed by the word of God,- sothat what is seen was not made out ofwhat was visible (Hebrews 11:3).

For by Him all things are created: thingsin heaven and on earth, visible and in-visible; all things were created by Himand for Him (Colossians 1:16).

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYSABOUT MAN

So God created man as His own image(Genesis 1:27).

and put on the new man, created to belike God in true righteousness and holi-ness (Ephesians 4:24).

You guide me with Your counsel and

afterward will take me into glory. Whomhave I in heaven besides You? and thereis none upon earth that I desire besidesYou.God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever.It is good for meto draw near to God (Psalm 73:24-28).


5/29


Gods Good News

God made mankind upright, but menhave gone in search of many schemes(Ecclesiastes 7:29).

Even after man turned away from the

Creator, God continues to bless menwith good giftssuch as sunshine,crops, families, increase in knowledgeand understanding through which lifeis made easier and more enjoyable (re-frigerators, air conditioners, etc). Healso gave man His law for mans goodso that we might know how to worship

God properly, how to bring love andjustice between men, and to overcomepersonal fear, frustration, and failure.

GODS GOODNESS TO MANAS CREATOR

He himself gives all men life and

breath and everything else.For inHim we live and move and have ourbeing (Acts 25:28).

As long as the earth endures, seedtimeand harvest, cold and heat, Summer andWinter, day and night will never cease(Genesis 8:22).

Every good and perfect gift is fromabove (James 1:17).

He has not left Himself without testimo-ny: He has shown kindness by giving yourain from heaven and crops in their sea-sons; He provides you with plenty of foodand fills your hearts with joy (Acts 14:17).

Do you show contempt for the riches ofHis kindness, tolerance, and patience,not realizing that Gods kindness leadsyou toward repentance? (Romans 2:4).

THE GOODNESS OFGODS LAWS TO MANKIND

observe the Lords commands and de-crees that I am giving you today for your

own good (Deuteronomy 10:13)

In my inner self I delight in Gods law(Romans 7:22).

And His commands are not burden-some (I John 5:3).

Graciously grant me your law (Psalm

119:29).

Te law is holy, and the commandmentholy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12).

Tis is love, that we walk after His com-mandments (2 John 6).

Finally God even sent His own Son into

the world so that men might enjoy new,abundant, and eternal life through Him.

LIFE

If Christ is in you, your body is deadbecause of sin, yet your spirit is alive be-cause of righteousness (Romans 8:10).

I have come that they may have life, andhave it more abundantly (John 10:10).

I tell you the truth, he who believes haseverlasting life (John 6:47).

2. AS UNGRATEFUL

CREATURES, HOWEVER,WE HAVE REBELLEDAGAINST HIM.

In self-assertive disobedience to Godswill, man in the beginning followed hisown ways and pretended to be his own


6/29


Gods Good News

god. We too ignore Gods word for ourown wisdom, being dominated by awrong master. We have a bad heart con-trolling our attitude toward God andmanleading to a bad life: hatred, un-

fairness, frustration, alienation, mean-inglessness, and moral defeat.

OUR FALL INTO SIN

Sin entered the world through one man,and death through sin, and in this waydeath came to all men, because all

sinned.Trough the disobedience of theone man the many were made sinners(Romans 5:12,19).

OUR WAYWARDNESSDUE TO SIN

All we like sheep have gone astray;

each of us has turned to his own way(Isaiah 53:6).

Tere is no one righteous, not even one;there is no one who understands, no onewho seeks God. All have turned away(Romans 3:10-12).

WE HAVE A BAD MASTER

Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyonewho sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34).

You followed the ways of this world andthe ruler of the kingdom of the air, thespirit who is now at work in the childrenof disobedience, among whom we also allonce lived, gratifying the cravings of oursinful nature and following its desires andthoughts, and were by nature children ofwrath (Ephesians 2:3-4).

WE HAVE A BAD HEART

Te heart is deceitful above all thingsand exceedingly corrupt who can knowit? (Jeremiah 17:9).

For from within, out of mens hearts, comeevil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,murder, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness,envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. Allthese evils come from inside and make aman unclean (Mark 7:21-23).

OUR INABILITY

Te sinful mind is hostile to God It doesnot submit to Gods law, nor can it doso. Tose controlled by the sinful naturecannot please God (Romans 8:7-8).

We have lived in an unthankful man-ner toward God. In our own individual

ways, throughout our lives, whetherby passive indifference or active defi-ance to Gods will, we have each brokenGods commandments. We do not con-form to what He requires, and we dowhat He forbids.

OUR INGRATITUDEDUE TO SIN

For although they knew God, they nei-ther glorified Him as God nor gave thanksto Him, but their thinking became futileand their foolish hearts were darkened(Romans 1:21).

OUR DISOBEDIENCEDUE TO SIN

If we claim to be without sin, we deceiveourselves and the truth is not in us(I John 1:8).


7/29


Gods Good News

For all have sinned and fallen short ofthe glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Whoever keeps the whole law and yetstumbles at just one point is guilty of

breaking all of it (James 2:10).

Everyone who sins breaks the law, for sinis lawlessness (I John 3:4).

Far from having a perfect or evencomparatively perfect record, we areall found guilty before God. What weconsider our best performance is still

polluted in Gods sight Far from havingspiritual life within us, we are all deadin our sins.

WE HAVE A BAD RECORD

O God, you know my foolishness, and mysins are not hid from you (Psalm 69:5).

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, whocould stand? (Psalm 130:3).

So that every mouth may be silencedand the whole world held guilty beforeGod (Romans 3:19).

WE ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD

All of us have become like one who is un-clean; and all our righteous acts are likefilthy rags (Isaiah 64:7).

You were dead in your transgressionsand sins (Ephesians 2:1).

He who does not have the Son of Goddoes not have life (I John 5:12).

3. SO RIGHTEOUSJUDGMENT AWAITS US ALL

o be true to His own holy character,God cannot tolerate unholy people in

His presence. o be true to His wordand to respect our personal choices, Hecannot arbitrarily pretend that we havenot ignored and spurned His law.

GODS PURITY

God is light; in Him there is no darkness

at all (I John 1:5).

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;you cannot tolerate wrong(Habakkuk 1:13).

You are not a God who takes pleasure inevil; with you the wicked cannot dwell(Psalm 5:4).

GODS JUSTICE

Te Lorddoes not leave the guilty un-punished (Exodus 34:7).

Do not be deceived: God cannot bemocked. Whatever a man sows, that

shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

It is a dreadful thing to fall into thehands of the living God (Hebrews. 10:31).

Now we know that Gods judgmentagainst those who do such things is basedon truth.Because of your stubbornnessand your unrepentant heart, you arestoring up wrath against yourself for theday of Gods wrath, when His righteousjudgment will be revealed God will giveto each person according to what he hasdone.For, those who are self-seeking andwho reject the truth and follow evil, there


8/29


Gods Good News

will be wrath and anger.God does notshow favoritism (Romans 2:2, 5-6,8, 11).

Because God hates all wrongdoing, oursins separate us from our Creator:

WE ARE REPUGNANTTO GOD

You are the ones who justify yourselvesin the eyes of men, but God knows yourhearts. What is highly valued among menis detestable in Gods sight (Luke 16:15).

Te arrogant cannot stand in Yourpresence; you hate all who do wrong(Psalm 5:5).

Te Lord detests the way of the wicked(Proverbs 15:9).

GOD REPUDIATES USTe way of the wicked will perish(Psalm 1:6).

But your iniquities have separated youfrom your God; your sins have hiddenHis face from you (Isaiah 59:2).

Gods wrath and curse will certainlybe expressed against all sinners in thislife and the next. Tey will be eternallyseparated from Him and suffer unend-ing punishmentthe final death.

WE EXPERIENCE PRESENTGRIEF IN THIS LIFE

In sorrow you will bring forth children.Cursed is the ground for your sake; insorrow shall you eat of it all the days ofyour life (Genesis 3:16-17).

Te wicked are brought down by theirown wickedness (Proverbs 11:5).

Te wicked have their fill of trouble(Proverbs 12:12).

But the wicked are like the tossing sea,which cannot rest, whose waves cast up

mire and mud. Tere is no peace, says myGod, for the wicked (Isaiah 57:20-21).

SIN LEADS TO DEATH

Te soul that sins will die (Ezekiel 18:4).

Te wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).

He who sins wrongs himself; all whohate me love death (Proverbs 8:36).

SIN LEADS TO SEPARATION

He will punish those who do not knowGod and do not obey the gospel of our LordJesus. Tey will be punished with everlast-ing destruction and shut out from the pres-ence of the Lord and from the majesty ofHis power (2 Tessalonians 1:8-9).

Ten He will say to those on His left,Depart from me, you who are cursed,into the eternal fire prepared for die deviland his angels (Matthew 25:41).

FINAL AND ETERNALPUNISHMENT

Tey will be tormented day and nightfor ever and ever.Te lake of fire is thesecond death. If anyones name was notfound written in the book of life, he was

thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation20:10, 14-15).


9/29


Gods Good News

4. BUT GOD HAS MADEA COVENANT OF GRACE

In mercy toward undeserving sinnersGod established a bond between Him-

self and those who would trust and sub-mit to Him as His peoplea covenantof grace. Tis covenant relationshipwas sovereignly imposed, unilateral,by God, yet it is a thoroughly gracioustransaction entered into by God for theundeserved benefit of sinful men. Itstemmed from His lovingkindness. Its

aim was that He would save a peopleand He would be their God, and theywould be His people.

GOD IS A COVENANTKEEPING GOD

Repeatedly in the Bible we find state-

ments like I will establish My covenantwith you (Genesis 6:18), and God re-membered His covenant (Exodus 2:24).

THE BASIS OF THE COVENANT

Te Lord did not set His love upon you,nor choose you, because you were more

in number than any people.but be-cause the Lord loves you, and because Hewould keep the oath which He swore toour forefathers, has the Lord brought youout with a mighty hand and redeemedyou.Know therefore that the Lord yourGod, He is God, the faithful God whokeeps covenant and lovingkindness with

them that love Him and keep His com-mandments to a thousand generations(Deuteronomy 7:7-9).

THE PURPOSEOF THE COVENANT

So shall you be My people, and I will beyour God (Jeremiah 11:2-4).

In the covenant of grace God made apromise of eternal salvation to sinners.In it He freely offers to sinners life andsalvation by Jesus Christ, requiring faithin Him. But, He also promised to giveHis Holy Spirit to some to make themwilling and able to believe. By taking anoath to support it Himself, God boundHimself to this saving word of promise.Tose who trust in Gods promise arecalled upon to keep the covenant byobeying its stipulations.

THE PROMISEOF THE COVENANT

He is the mediator of a New Covenant inorder thatthey which are called mightreceive the promise of eternal inheri-tance (Hebrews 9:15).

A GOD BOUND COVENANT

When God made promise to Abraham,since He could swear an oath by nonegreater, He swore by Himself.Te oath isfinal for confirmation (Hebrews 6:13-19).

A COVENANT OF PROMISE

Te promises were spoken to Abrahamand to his seed.Te law does not setaside the covenant previously estab-lished by God and thus do away with thepromise. For if the inheritance dependson the law, then it no longer depends ona promise; but God in His grace gave it toAbraham through a promiseIs the law


10/29


Gods Good News

therefore opposed to the promises of God?Absolutely not! (Galatians 3:15-22).

THE COVENANT

REQUIREMENTSUBMISSIONNow therefore if you will obey my voiceindeed, and keep my covenant, then youwill be my own possession from amongall peoples: you will be unto me akingdom of priests and a holy nation(Exodus 19:5-6).

Te provisions of Gods promise wereprogressively made known in variouscovenants through Biblical history. Ev-ery provision pointed to Jesus Christ,the coming Savior:

IT IS A SINGLE PROMISE WITHMANY COVENANTS

You were at that time separate fromChrist.., strangers from the covenants ofthe promise, having no hope and withoutGod in the world (Ephesians 2:12).

THE PROVISIONSOF THE COVENANT

Gods covenant promise to Adam wasthat one of his descendants would bethe Savior who utterly destroys the Sa-tan, the empter (Genesis 3:15).

o Noah God promised that earthwould be preserved while God accom-plished salvation for His people (Gen-esis 8:21-9:17).

o Abraham God promised that Godspeople would multiply, and that hisseed would be granted a kingdom inwhich all nations would be blessed(Genesis 12:2-3; 17:1-8).

o Moses God revealed that righ-teousness must prevail in mens af-fairs, and that the blood of a sacrifi-cial substitute would atone for un-righteousness (Exodus 19-24).

o David God said that the Savior wouldbe an everlasting King with a blessed andwidespread rule (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89).

Te New Covenant promised full forgive-ness of sin, empowering to keep Godscommandments, and a widespread knowl-edge of the Lord (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

CHRIST IS CENTRAL TO THECOVENANT PROMISEAND FULFILLMENT

For how ever many be the promises ofGod, in Him is the Yes; wherefore alsothrough Him is the Amen unto the gloryof God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20).

He is the one through whom all the pro-visions will be fulfilled.

And beginning from Moses and from allthe prophets He (Christ) interpreted forthem in all the scriptures the things con-

cerning Himself (Luke 24:27).

You search the scriptures because youthink that in them you have eternal life;yet these scriptures testify about me(John 5:39).

CHRIST FULFILLS EVERY

COVENANT PROMISE

Jesus Christ is the one who destroys Sa-tan (John 12:31-32; I John 3:8) and pre-serves creation (Hebrews 1:3; Romans8:19-25; Revelation 3:21; 4:3).


11/29


Gods Good News

He gained the Abrahamic inheritance(Hebrews 11:8-10; Galatians 3:16; Ephe-sians 1:14; I Peter 1:4), and all nationsare blessed in Him (Luke 2:32; Matthew12:21; Acts 13:47-48; Galatians 3:14).

He was the model of righteousness(Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 4:15; I John2:5-6) and thus qualified to offer Him-self up as the perfect atoning sacrificefor sinners (Hebrews 9).

Jesus Christ is the long awaited King(Luke 1:32-33; Acts 5:31; I imothy6:15; I Corinthians 15:25). Establishingthe New Covenant in His blood (Luke22:20; Hebrews 13:20; 2 Corinthians3:6; Hebrews 8:6-13; 10:14-18),

Christ grants forgiveness of sins (Mat-thew 1:21; Acts 13:38), empowers obe-dience to the law by His Spirit (Romans

8:4), and spreads the knowledge of theLord (Matthew 28:18-20).

In accord with the developing anticipa-tion of the Old estament, it was GodHimself who came to save His people.Jesus was the divine Messiah (the Christ),Gods eternal Son. Being of one substanceand equal with the Father, He becameman by taking on our nature, so that thedivine and human natures were insepa-rably united in one single person. As theGod-man, Jesus Christ was the perfectMediator between God and men, fulfill-ing the covenant promise of salvation.

THE DIVINE MESSIAH

According to the Old estament,God was the Savior and source of salva-tion (Exodus 15:2; Deuteronomy 32:15;Psalm 3:8; 19:14; 27:1; 37:39; 62:1; 65:5;68:19; 74:12; 88:1; Isaiah 12:2; 45:21;60:16; Jonah 2:9).

Te prophet promised that God Him-self would come and save (Isaiah 35:4;44:22; 45:17; 46:12; 52:9; Jeremiah 3:23;Zechariah 9:16; Hosea 1:7; Luke 1:68-70).

Te promised Messiah would be theLord, the Mighty God who was fromeverlasting, Jehovah (Psalm 110:1; Mal-achi 3:1; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2; Isaiah40:3; Jeremiah 23:5-6). Te New testa-ment applies these passages to Jesusthe Christ (Matthew 22:44-45; Acts2:34-36; Luke 2:11; Matthew 2:6; Mark

1:2-3; Matthew 3:3; I Corinthians 1:30;Matthew 11:10).

Te woman said, I know that Mes-siah (called Christ) is coming. TenJesus declared, I who speak to you amhe (John 4:25-26,42).

Simon Peter answered, You are the

Christ, the Son of the living God(Matthew 16:16). See also texts such asActs 17:2-3; I John 2:22.

So Scripture speaks of our great Godand Savior, Jesus Christ (itus 2:13; 2Peter 1:1).

DIVINE PREROGATIVESAND TITLES

Jesus Christ did things which wereappropriate only for Godsuch as for-giving sins (Luke 5:20-21) and receivingworship (Matthew 4:10; 28:17).

In a completely unique sense He

could be called the Son of God (John1:14; 20:17; Matthew 11:27)a sensewhich indicated that He was equalwith God Himself (see John 5:18; 10:30-33,36; 19:7), even though Scriptureuniformly teaches that there is only one


12/29


Gods Good News

God (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 4:35;6:4; I Corinthians 8:4; James 2:19)

Jesus said, I and my Father are one(John 10:30). Anyone who has seen me

has seen the Father (John 14:9).

Tey are equal in eternality (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:8-10;13:8; Revelation 1:17-18), in sovereigntyoverall (John 16:15), in honor (John5:23), and in eternal glory (John 17:5)so that they can be placed on a parregarding their name (Matthew 28:19),and Christ need not grasp after beingequal with God (Philippians 2:6).

Te most sacred name for God in theOld estament (Jehovah or I AM,Exodus 3:14) was claimed by Jesus (John8:24,28, 58). Repeatedly the New esta-ment applies to Jesus passages which

referred to Jehovah in the Old esta-ment (for instance: Isaiah 44:6 and Rev-elation 1:7; 22:13, Psalm 102:25-27 andHebrews 1:10-12; Isaiah 8:13-14; and IPeter 2:8; Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13).

Another designation for God inthe Old estament was Lord; it wascommonly substituted for the nameof Jehovah (notably in the Greektranslation of the Old estament).he thrust of the New estament wit-ness is that Jesus is Lord (Romans10:9; I Corinthians 8:6; 12:3; 16:22).Peter called HimLord over all (Acts10:36). John called Him the Lord oflords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Paul

and James called Him the Lord ofglory (I Corinthians 2:8; James 2:1).

Tomas said to Him, My Lord and myGod! (John 20:28).

JESUS IS GOD - In the beginning wasthe Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God (John 1:1).

About the Son He said, Your throne, O

God, is forever and ever* (Hebrews 1:8,from Psalm 45:6).

Christ is over all, God blessed forever(Romans 9:5).

His Son, Jesus Christ. .is the true Godand eternal life (I John 5:20).

His Son.who is the radiance of Godsglory and the exact representation (im-press) of His substance (Hebrews 1:3).

Who being in the form of God did notregard equality with God something tobe grasped (Philippians 2:6).

REMAINING FULLY GOD,THE SON BECAME A MAN

Before Jesus Christ appeared in his-tory as a man, He already existed as theeternal and glorious Creator (John 8:58;17:5; Colossians 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:2,8-10; John 1:1-3). Being sent by the Fa-ther, the eternal Son came down fromheaven to do the work of -the Messiah(John 3:13,17; 6:38,57; 13:3,16:28), beingborn of a woman (Galatians 4:4).

She shall give birth to a son, and youshall call His name Jesus. Behold avirgin shall be with child and shall givebirth to a son and they will call Him Im-

manuelwhich means God-with-us(Matthew 1:21-23).

Who being in the form of God.hum-bled Himself, taking on the form of aservant, and was made in the likeness ofmen (Philippians 1:6-7).


13/29


Gods Good News

Te Word was made flesh and dweltamong us (John 1:14).

Tus the expression Gods own blood isunderstandable (Acts 20;28).

And admittedly, great is the mystery ofgodliness: Who was manifested in theflesh (I imothy 3:16).

Who is the visible likeness (image) of theinvisible God (Colossians 1:15).For inHim (Christ) dwells all the fullness of De-ity bodily (Colossians 2:9).

AS THE GOD MAN, HE IS OURMEDIATOR

Te separation between God and manproduced by sin calls, for a Mediatorwho is fully divinethus he is perfectand successful (Hebrews 7:11-28)and

who is fully humanthus he is appro-priate and sympathetic (Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:15-16).

As God and man Jesus Christ is the onesatisfactory Mediator between God andmen (I imothy 2:5).

Christ came to fulfill the promise ofthe covenant of grace for His people those He had been given by the Fatheraccording to His eternal plan. Christkept the whole law for His people andfully satisfied divine justice by His sub-stitutionary suffering of the punish-ment due to their sins.

For those whom Christ particularlydied, eternal redemption was defi-nitelyrather than partially or poten-tiallyobtained; since sins penaltyhad been completely paid and God rec-onciled, not one of them for whom Hedied can now perish.

CHRIST WAS GIVEN A PEOPLE

All that the Father gives me will come tome.Tis is the will of Him who sent me,that I should lose none of all that He has

given me, but raise them up at the lastday (John 6:37-40).

My Father, who has given them to me, isgreater than all; no one can snatch themout of my Fathers hand (John 10:29).

GODS PLAN

For He chose us in Him (Christ) beforethe creation of the world to be holy andblameless in His sight In love He pre-destinated us to be adopted as His sonsthrough Jesus ChristIn Him we werealso chosen, having been predestinatedaccording to the plan of Him who worksout everything in conformity with thepurpose of His will (Ephesians 1:4-5,11).

SALVATION WASDEFINITELY SECURED

Christ redeemed us from the curseof the law, having become a curse forus(Galatians3:13).

God loved us and sent His Son as a pro-pitiation (atoning sacrifice to turn awaywrath) for our sins (I John 4:10).

He entered the Most Holy Place once forall by His own blood, having obtainedeternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

When we were Gods enemies, we werereconciled to Him through the death ofHis Son (Romans 5:10).

Tere is therefore now no condemna-tion for those who are in Christ Jesus(Romans 8:1).


14/29


Gods Good News

Nothing in all creation will be ableto separate us from the love of God inChrist Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

(Also see verses above, under Christ

Given a People)

CHRIST DIED PARTICULARLYFOR HIS PEOPLE, THE SHEEP,

THE CHURCH

For you granted Him authority over allpeople that He might give eternal life to all

those you have given HimI am not pray-ing for the world, but for those you havegiven me, for they are yours (John 17:2,9).

You shall call His name Jesus, for Hewill save His people from their sins(Matthew 1:21).

Who gave Himself for us to redeem us

from all iniquity and to purify for Him-self a people of His own (itus 2:14).

When the Son of Man comes in His glory,He .will separate the people one from anoth-er as a shepherd separates the sheep fromthe goats (Matthew 25:31-32).

I am the good shepherd; I know mysheepand I lay down my life for thesheep.My sheep listen to my voice; Iknow them; and they follow me. I givethem eternal life, and they shall neverperish (John 10:14-15,27-28).

Christ loved the church and gave Him-self up for her (Ephesians 5:25).

Be shepherds of the church of God,which He obtained with His own blood(Acts 20:28).

By His covenant of grace, God has alwaysshown a corporate concern in savingmen from sin. His promise is made with

families (even though not all membersare automatically saved). His graciouscall of salvation creates a people or acommunity to be His own. Trough theages the redeemed of the Lord constitute

one unified people of God.

FAMILIES

I will establish my covenant as an ev-erlasting covenant between me and youand your descendants after you for thegenerations to come, to be your God and

the God of your descendants after you(Genesis 17:7).

Te promise is for you and your chil-dren (Acts 2:39).

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will besavedyou and your household(Acts 16:31).

your children are holy (I Corinthians7:14).

A COVENANT COMMUNITY

to purify for Himself a people that areHis very own (itus 2:14).

God placed all things under His feet andappointed Him to be head over every-thing for the church, which is His body.

You are nolonger foreigners and aliens,but fellow citizens with Gods peopleand members of Gods household.Make every ef fort to keep the unity ofthe Spirit through the bond of peace.here is one body and one Spirit(Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19; 3:3-4).

You are a chosen people, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people belongingto God, that you may declare the praises


15/29


Gods Good News

of Him who called you out of darknessinto His wonderful light Once you werenot a people, but now you are the peopleof God (I Peter 2:9-10).

THE UNITY OF GODS PEOPLE

Old estament Israel and the New es-tament church are both part of one olivetree of faith (Romans 11:17-24); followersof Moses and of Christ are both part ofone household of God (Hebrews 3:1-6).

Tose who have faith in Christ are thesons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7,29),the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

Te church is described as the Old es-tament assembly at Mount Sinai (I Peter2:9; Exodus 19:6); those in the churchhave been incorporated into the com-monwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12-13).

Te church is the restored house ofDavid (Acts 15:13-18). It is Judah andIsrael, with whom God made His NewCovenant (Jeremiah 31:31; I Corinthi-ans 11:25). Tere is no middle wall ofpartition between Jew and Gentile inthe church (Ephesians 2:14-18). o be

a Jew todaypart of Gods chosen peo-pleis an inward matter of the heart(Romans 2:29).

Te consummation of all things willbring the City of God to completion,incorporating the twelve tribes of Israeland the twelve apostles of the Church(Revelation 21:12-14).

So there is but one flock of God and oneShepherd over it (John 10:16).

5. SO, CHRISTACCOMPLISHED

UNDESERVED SALVATIONFOR SINNERS.

God has loved those who deserve onlyHis wrath. He sent His Son, JesusChrist, into the world to live a perfectlife and to die as a sacrificial substitutefor His people, taking their condemna-tion upon Himself.

GODS LOVE FOR THE UNLOVELY

God demonstrates His own love for us inthis: while were still sinners, Christ diedfor us (Romans 5:8).

CHRIST WAS SINLESS

For we do not have a high priest whois unable to sympathize with our weak-nesses, but we have one who has beentempted in every way, just as we areyetwithout sin (Hebrews 4:15).

CHRISTA SUBSTITUTE

Christ died for our sins according to thescriptures (I Corinthians 15:3).

He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquitiesTeLord laid on Him the iniquity of us all(Isaiah 53:5-6).

Christ redeemed us from the curse

of the law by becoming a curse for us(Galatians 3:13).

Christ died for sins once and for all, therighteous for the unrighteous, to bringyou to God (I Peter 3:18).


16/29


Gods Good News

God made Him who had no sin to besin for us, so that in Him we might be-come the righteousness of God (2 Cor-inthians 5:21).

Christs death was a work of obediencewhich perfectly atones for the sins ofHis people. He actively obeyed the lawsprecepts and passively suffered the lawspenalty. In so doing Christ offered asacrifice which expiates (or covers) sinand cleanses from guilt Tereby Hewas a propitiation which pacified the

wrath of God. Tus the enmity Godhas for sinners is taken away, achievingreconciliation. Likewise, Christs deathaccomplished redemption; His bloodwas the ransom-price of release frombondage, forgiving our sins and purify-ing our defilement

CHRISTS OBEDIENCE

hrough the obedience of the oneman the many will be made righteous(Romans 5:19).

A CLEANSING SACRIFICE

Te blood of Christ, who through theeternal Spirit offered Himself unblem-ished unto God, will cleanse our con-sciences from dead works, so that wemay serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

CHRISTS DEATH PACIFIESGODS WRATH

He loved us and sent His Son as a propi-tiation for our sins (I John 4:10).

CHRISTS DEATH REMOVESALIENATION

When we were enemies we were recon-ciled to Him through the death of His

Son (Romans 5:10).

CHRISTS DEATH OBTAINSREDEMPTION BY PAYING

THE RANSOMPRICE

In Him we have redemption throughHis blood, the forgiveness of sins

(Ephesians 1:7).

Who gave Himself for us to redeem usfrom all wickedness and to purify forHimself a people of His very own, eagerto do what is good (itus 2:14).

Te Son of Man(came) to give His lifeas a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

For you know that it was not withperishable things such as silver or goldthat you were redeemed from the emp-ty way of life handed down to you fromyour forefathers, but with the preciousblood of Christ, a lamb without blem-ish or defect (I Peter 1:18-19).

By His death and resurrection Christmakes His people right before God.He removes their guilt by replacingtheir bad record with His good one. Hebreaks their bondage to sin, becomingtheir Lord in the place of their bad mas-ter. He grants new life by giving them anew heart for their bad.

HIS RESURRECTION JUSTIFIES

He was delivered over to death for oursins and was raised to life for our justifi-cation (Romans 4:25).


17/29


Gods Good News

HIS DEATH PROVIDES FORGIVENESS AND A GOOD RECORD

When you were dead in your sinsGodmade you alive with Christ, having for-

given us all of our trespasses(Colossians 2:13).

It is because of Him that you are inChrist Jesus, who has become for us wis-dom from Godthat is, our righteous-ness, holiness, and redemption(I Corinthians 1:30).

IN CHRIST WE HAVEA NEW MASTER

For we know that our old self was cru-cified with Him so that the body of sinmight be rendered powerless, that weshould no longer be slaves to sin. Countyourselves dead to sin but alive to God inChrist Jesus. But now you have been setfree from sin and have become slaves toGod (Romans 6:6,11:22).

If you will confess with your mouth Jesusas Lord and will believe in your heartthat God raised Him from the dead, youwill be saved (Romans 10:9).

IN CHRIST WE HAVE A NEW LIFEAND A NEW HEART

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrec-tion and the life; be who believes in me,though he were dead, yet shall live; andwhoever lives and believes in me shall

never die (John 11:25).

A new heart also will I give you, and anew spirit will I put within you; and Iwill take away the stony heart out of yourflesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my Spirit within you andcause you to walk in my statutes(Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Christ accomplished a thorough salva-

tiondelivering His people from theeffects of sin in every aspect of theirlives. Because they are ignorant, He isa prophet declaring the will of God.Because they are guilty, He is a priestinterceding to God for them. Becausethey are undisciplined and helpless, Heis a king ruling over all and defending

them. Christ offers deliverance, rec-onciliation, and redemption in a waywhich is inclusive of sin in all of its as-pects, consequences, and expressions.

CHRIST IS OUR PROPHET

Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the

Lord God raise up unto you; to Himyou shall hearken in all things that Hespeaks to you. Indeed all the prophetsfrom Samuel on, as many as have spoken,have foretold these days When Godraised up His servant, He sent Him firstto you to bless you by turning each of youfrom your wicked ways (Acts 3:22-36).

In the past God spoke to our forefathersthrough the prophets at many times and invarious ways, but in these last days He hasspoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).

In whom (Christ) are deposited all thetreasures of wisdom and knowledge(Coiossians 2:3).

CHRIST IS OUR PRIEST

So that He might be a merciful andfaithful high priest in things pertainingto God, to make ^conciliation for the sinsof the people (Hebrews 2:17).


18/29


Gods Good News

Terefore He is able to save completelythose who come to God through Him, be-cause He ever lives to make intercessionfor them (Hebrews 7:25).

For there is one God, and one Mediatorbetween God and men, the man ChristJesus (I imothy 2:5).

CHRIST IS OUR KING

God has highly exalted Him to His righthand to be a Prince and Savior that He

might give repentance and forgiveness ofsins (Acts 5:31).

And the government shall be upon Hisshoulder.Of the increase of His govern-ment and peace there shall be noend,upon the throne of David and upon hiskingdom, to order and establish it withjudgment and justice from hencefortheven forever (Isaiah 9:6-7).

And the lamb shall overcome them, forHe is Lord of lords and King of kings(Revelation 17:14).

For He must reign until He has putevery enemy under His feet (I Corin-

thians 15:25).

THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVESALVATION

Redemption secures such a completeand final deliverance from evil that theword redemption can be used for the

consummation order when all thingswill have been renewed (for instance,Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:14; 4:30).

Te Lord Jesus Christgave Himself forour sins to rescue us from the present evilage (Galatians 1:4).

For He has rescued us from the domin-ion of darkness and brought us into thekingdom of the Son He loves, in whomwe have redemption, the forgiveness ofour sins.For God was well pleased

through Him to reconcile to Himself allthings, whether on earth or things inheaven, by making peace through Hisblood, shed on the cross. Now He hasreconciled you by Christs body throughdeath to present you holy in His sight,without blemish and free from accusa-tion (Colossians 1:13; 19-20, 22).

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;old things have passed away, and all thingshave become new. All this is from God, whoreconciled us to Himself through ChristGod was reconciling the world to Himselfin Christ, not counting mens sins againstthem (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

Te salvation secured by Jesus Christ iscompletely by Gods mercy and grace.Not one of us could earn it by anythingwe do. God gives it to us as a giftanundeserved favorand never on the ba-sis of our imagined good works.

SALVATION IS GODS GIFT

For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith, and this is not fromyourselves; it is the gift of God, notby works lest any man should boast?(Ephesians 2:8-9).

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift

of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus ourLord (Romans 6:23).

Being justified freely by His gracethrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).


19/29


Gods Good News

Not by works of righteousness which wehave done, but according to His mercyHe saved us (itus 3:5).

Te tax collector stood at a distanceand

beat his breast, saying God, have mercyupon me, a sinner. I tell you that this man,rather than the other, went home justifiedbefore God (Luke 18:13-14).

SALVATION IS NOTBY MANS EFFORTS

Terefore by the deeds of the law thereshall no one be justified in His sight(Romans 3:20).

Now when a man works, his wages arenot credited to him as a gift, but as anobligation. However, to the man whodoes not work but trusts God who jus-tifies the wicked, his faith is credited asrighteousness (Romans 4:4-5).

And if by grace, then it is no longer byworks; if it were, grace would no longer begrace (Romans 11:6).

Knowing that a man is not justified bythe works of the law, but by faith in Je-

sus ChristFor if righteousness could begained through the law, then Christ diedfor nothing (Galatians 2:16, 21).

And be found in Him, not having a righ-teousness of my own that comes from thelaw, but that which is through faith inChristthe righteousness that comes fromGod and is by faith (Philippians 3:9).

Because God has clearly revealed Him-self through nature and conscience toall men, they are without any excuse for

violating His standards and are justlycondemned by Him. Te only satisfac-tion of His justice which can be accept-

able in His sight is that way of salvationprovided by God Himself through HisSon in the covenant of grace. Tus thesalvation accomplished by Jesus Christis the one and only way by which any

person can be made right with God.

ALL MEN AREWITHOUT EXCUSE

Te wrath of God is being revealedfrom heaven against all the godlessnessand wickedness of men who suppress the

truth by their wickedness, since whatmay be known about God is plain tothem, because God has made it plain tothem. For since the creation of the worldGods invisible qualitiesHis eternalpower and divine nature have beenclearly seen, being understood from whathas been made, so that men are without

excuse (Romans 1:18-20).

SALVATION IS ONGODS TERMS

Have I not the right to do what I willwith what is mine? (Matthew 20:15).

What shall we say then? Is God unjust?Not at all! For He says to Moses: I willhave mercy on whom I have mercy, andI will have compassion on whom I havecompassion. It does not, therefore, de-pend on mans desire or effort, but onGods mercy (Romans 9:14-16).

God presented Him (Christ) as a propiti-

ation through faith in His bloodso as tobe just and the one who justifies the manwho has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26).

In fact, the law requires that nearlyeverything be cleansed with blood, and


20/29


Gods Good News

without the shedding of blood there is noforgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).

CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY

Jesus answered, I am the way and thetruth and the, life. No one comes to theFather except through me (John 14:6).

Salvation is found in no one else, forthere is no other name under heavengiven to men by which we must be saved(Acts 4:12). .

Nothing impure will ever enter it (theNew Jerusalem)but only those whosenames are written in the Lambs book oflife (Revelation 21:27).

5. TO BE SAVED WE MUST

REPENT AND BELIEVE,ENABLED BY THEHOLY SPIRIT

Being fully divine, the Holy Spirit pow-erfully applies Christs redemptive workto His people by making the gospelsummons effective, inwardly testifyingto its truth, and producing within themnew spiritual life. Because sinners areunable to do what God requires with-out help of the Holy Spirit, it is by thegrace of the Spirit that their hearts arechanged (regenerated) and made fit forfellowship with God.

THE HOLY SPIRITIS DIVINEGOD

Why has Satan filled your heart to lie tothe Holy Spirit?You have not lied untomen but unto God (Acts 5:3,4).

What is spoken by the Lord accordingto Isaiah 6:8-10 is reported as the state-ment of the Holy Spirit through Isaiah,the prophet, unto your fathers in Acts28:25-27.

Te Holy Spirit is mentioned on a parwith the Father and Son in the GreatCommission (Matthew 28:19) and inthe Apostolic Benediction(2 Corinthians 13:14).

THE HOLY SPIRIT APPLIES THE

SONS REDEMPTION

If anyone does not have the Spirit ofChrist, he does not belong to ChristTose who are led by the spirit of God aresons of God (Romans 8:9,14).

God our Saviorsaved us through thewashing of rebirth and renewal by theHoly Spirit, whom He poured out onus generously through Jesus Christ ourSavior (itus 3:5-6).

IT IS AN EFFECTIVE CALLSUMMONS

We preach Christ crucified: a stum-bling block to Jews and foolishness toGentiles, but to those whom God hascalledboth Jews and GreeksChristis the power of God and the wisdom ofGod (I Corinthians 1:23.-24).

You also are amongthose who are calledto belong to Jesus Christ.. who have been

called according to His purpose (Ro-mans 1:6; 8:28).

No one can come to me unless the Fa-ther who sent me draws him (John 6:4).


21/29


Gods Good News

IT IS A CONVINCINGTESTIMONY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

My message and my preaching werenot with wise and persuasive words,

but with a demonstration of the Spiritspower.We have not received the spiritofthe world but the Spirit who is fromGod, that we may understand whatGod has freely given us. Tis is whatwe speak, not in words taught us by hu-man wisdom, but in words taught by theSpiritTe man without the Spirit does

not accept the things that come from theSpirit of God, for they are foolishness tohim, and he cannot understand them,because they are spiritually discerned(I Corinthians 2:4,12-14).

Our gospel came to you not simply withwords, but also with power, with the HolySpirit, and with deep conviction (I Tes-

salonians 1:5).

But you have an anointing from the HolyOne, and all of you know the truth Hisanointing teaches you about all things (IJohn 2:20,27).

REBIRTH AND RENEWAL

REGENERATION

I tell you the truth, unless a man is bornagain he cannot see the kingdom of God.Itell you the truth, unless a man is born ofwater and the Spirit, he cannot enter thekingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh,but the Spirit gives birth to spiritTe

wind blows wherever it pleases, so it is witheveryone born of the Spirit (John 3:3-8).

He saved us through the washing ofrebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit(itus 3:5).

BY GODS GRACE AND POWERALONE!

He saved us, not because of righteousthings we had done, but because of His

mercythrough the washing of rebirth andrenewal by the Holy Spirit (itus 3:5).

Yet to all who received Him, to thosewho believed on His name, He gave theright to become children of Godchil-dren born not of natural descent, nor ofhuman decision or a husbands will, butborn of God. (John 1:12-13).

Gods free gift of salvation is receivedwhen the Holy Spirit unites us to Christby producing faith and repentancewithin us. Tose who would be savedare commanded by Gods word to re-pent of sin and believe in Christ. Repen-tance is turning in sorrow from your

sins, bating and forsaking them becausethey are displeasing to God Havingfaith in Christ is to entrust yourself toHim alone, accepting His claims andpromises, and resting on His work forforgiveness, cleansing, and eternal fifewith God.

YOU ARE BROUGHT INTOUNION WITH CHRIST

God who has called you into fellowshipwith His-Son Jesus Christ our Lord, isfaithful (I Corinthians 1:9).

I am the vine; you are the branches. Ifa man remains in me and I in him, hewill bear much fruit; apart from me youcan do nothing. If anyone does not re-main in me, he is like a branch that isthrown away and withers; such branchesare picked up, thrown into the fire andburned (John 15:5-6).


22/29


Gods Good News

Since, then, you have been raised withChrist, set your hearts on tljings above,where Christ is seated at the right handof GodFor you died, and your life isnow hidden with Christ in God

(Colossians 3:1-3).

We know that we live in Him and He inus, because He has given us of His Spirit(I John 4:13).

I pray that out of His glorious riches Hemay strengthen you with . power throughHis Spirit in your inner being, so thatChrist may dwell in your hearts throughfaith (Ephesians 3:16-17).

YOU MUST REPENTREPENTANCE

I have declared to both Jews andGreeks that they must turn to God inrepentance and have faith in our LordJesus (Acts 20:21).

Let the wicked forsake his way and theevil man his thoughts. Let him turn tothe Lord, and He will have mercy onhim, and to our God, for He will freelypardon (Isaiah 55:7).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful andjust and will forgive us our sins and purifyus from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Repent, then, and turn to God, so thatyour sins may be wiped out, that timesof refreshing may come from the Lord(Acts 3:19).

YOU MUST BELIEVEFAITH

He asked, Men, what must I do to besaved? hey replied, Believe in the

Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(Acts 16:30-31).

If you confess with your mouth, Jesusis Lord, and believe in your heart that

God raised Him from the dead, youwill be saved, for everyone who callson the name of the Lord will be saved(Romans 10:9,13).

I tell you the truth, whoever hears myword and believes Him who sent me haseternal life and will not be condemned;he has crossed over from death to life(John 5:24).

I tell you the truth, he who believes haseverlasting life (John 6:47).

For God so loved the world that He gaveHis one and only Son, that whoever be-lieves in Him should not perish but have

eternal life (John 3:16).

Christ has secured wonderful benefitsfor those who trust in Him for salvation.

In this life believers are justifiedby being declared righteous in Christ(thus forgiven of sin and treated as ifthey had never sinned), are adoptedas Gods children, are sanctified in all

aspects of their persons (made holy inheart and conduct), are assured of finalacceptance with God, and are strength-ened to persevere in the faith. So believ-ers now enjoy Gods love, peace, joy, andhope. Ten at death believers are madeperfect in holiness, and they spirituallylive to enjoy the very presence of God

At the general resurrection of all men,when Christ returns in glory for the Fi-nal Judgment of the world, believers areresurrected in redeemed bodies, glori-fied like unto the Savior, acknowledgedand acquitted by Him, and enter into


23/29


Gods Good News

the holy, happy and eternal life of Godsconsummated kingdom.

JUSTIFICATION

THEY ARE JUSTIFIEDare justified freely by His gracethrough the redemption that came byJesus Christ (Romans 3:24).

o the man who does not work but trustsGod who justifies the wicked, his faith iscredited as righteousness (Romans 4:5).

ADOPTIONTHEY ARE ADOPTED

He predestined us to be adopted as Hissons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5).

For you did not receive a spirit that makesyou a slave again to fear, but you received

the Spirit of adoption. And by Him we cry,Abba, Father(Romans 8:15).

SANCTIFICATIONTHEY ARESANCTIFIED

God has chosen you from the beginningfor salvation through sanctification

of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2Tessalonians 2:13).

For we know that ourold self was cruci-fied with Him so that the body of sin mightbe rendered powerless, that we should nolonger be slaves to sin (Romans 6:6).

ASSURANCETHEY HAVE ASSURANCE

I write these things to you who believe onthe name of the Son of God so that youmay know that you have eternal life (IJohn 5:13).

Te Spirit Himself testifies with ourspirit that we are Gods children. ForI am convinced that nothing in all cre-ation can separate us from the love ofGod that is in Christ Jesus our Lord .

(Romans 8:16, 38-39).

PERSEVERANCETHEY PERSEVERE

Terefore, my brothers, be all the moreeager to make your calling and electionsure. For if you do these things you will

never fall, and you will receive a richwelcome into the eternal kingdom of ourLord and Savior Jesus Christ(2 Peter 1:10-11).

Who through faith are shielded by Godspower until the coming of the salvationthat is ready to be revealed in the last-

time (I Peter 1:5).

THEY KNOW LOVE, PEACE,JOY AND HOPE

Terefore, since we have been justifiedthrough faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ, through

whom we have gained access by faith intothis grace in which we now stand, rejoic-ing in the hope of the glory of GodAndhope does not disappoint us, becauseGod has poured out His love into ourhearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He hasgiven us (Romans 5:1-2, 5).

For the kingdom of God isrighteous-

ness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit(Romans 14:17).

THEY WILL RECEIVEPERFECTING AT DEATHAND GODS PRESENCE


24/29


Gods Good News

You have come to God, the Judge ofall men, to the spirits of righteous menmade perfectwhose names are writtenin heaven (Hebrews 12:23).

We are confident, I say, and would pre-fer to be away from the body and at homewith the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

CHRISTS RETURN FOR FINALJUDGMENT AT THE GENERAL

RESURRECTION

For the Lord Himself will come downfrom heaven with a loud command,with the voice of the archangel andwith the trumpet call of God, and thedead in Christ will rise first (I hes-salonians 4:16).

And have hope toward Godthat thereshall be a resurrection of the dead, bothof the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15);

Te hour is coming when all who are inthe graves shall hear His voice and comeforth: those who have done good unto theresurrection of life, and those that havedone evil unto the resurrection of dam-nation (John 5:28-29).

Because He has appointed a day inwhich He will judge the world in righ-teousness by that man whom He hasordained (Acts 17:31).

For the Fatherhas committed all judg-ment unto the Son (John 5:22).

When the Son of Man comes in His glo-ry, and all the angels with Him, He willsit on His throne in heavenly glory. All thenations will be gathered before Him, andHe will separate the people one from an-other as a shepherd separates the sheepfrom the goats (Matthew 25:31-32)

THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION IN REDEEMED BODIES

We ourselves, who have the first fruits ofthe Spiritwait eagerly for our adoption

as sons, the redemption of our bodies(Romans 8:23).

So will it be with the resurrection of thedead. Te body that is sownis raised im-perishablein glory,in powera Spiri-tual body (I Corinthians 15:42-44).

THERE WILL BE GLORIFICATIONAND ACQUITTAL

Te Lord Jesus Christ, by the power thatenables Him to bring everything underHis control, will transform our lowlybodies so that they will be like His glori-ous body (Philippians 3:21).

And He shall set the sheep on His righthand (Matthew 25:33).

Whoever shall confess me before men,him will I confess also before my Fatherwho is in heaven (Matthew 10:32).

THERE WILL BE ETERNAL LIFE IN

GODS KINGDOM

Ten the King will say to those on Hisright, Come, you who are blessed by myFather; take your inheritance, the king-dom prepared for you since the creationof the world (Matthew 25:34).

And this is the will of Him who sent me,that every one who sees the Son and be-lieves in Him may have everlasting life,and I will raise him up on the last day(John 6:40).


25/29


Gods Good News

Tat He might present it to Himself aglorious churchthat it should be holyand without blemish (Ephesians 5:27).

Ten I saw a new heaven and a new

earth.I saw the Holy City, the new Jeru-salem, coming down out of heaven fromGod, prepared as a bride beautifullydressed for her husband. And I heard avoice from the throne sayingTey willbe His people, and God Himself will bewith them and be their God. He will wipeevery tear from their eyes. Tere will be

no more death or mourning or cryingor pain, for the old order of things haspassed away. He who was seated on thethrone said, I am making everythingnew! (Revelation 21:1-5).

7. THOSE WHO ARE SAVED

LEAD NEW LIVES NOW.By the sanctifying power of the HolySpirit, believers determine to live ac-cording to Gods will; as redeemed andrenewed, they seek to give their livesnew direction. Te Spirit-empoweredchange which characterizes them af-fects all areas of their lives.

THEY HAVE A NEW PATTERN

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new cre-ation; the old has passed away, the newhas come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Just as He who called you is holy, so yoube holy in all you do (I Peter 1:15).

Terefore, I urge you, brothers, in view ofGods mercy, to offer your bodies as livingsacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.Donot be conformed any longer to the patternof this world, but be transformed by the re-newing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2).

Believers renounce self-centered sin,strive to live in love toward God andmen, determine to obey the Lords com-mandments and to demonstrate the at-titudes becoming a Spirit-filled life.

THEY BREAK WITH SIN

We died to sin; how can we live in it anylonger?Just as Christ was raised fromthe dead through the glory of the Father,we too may live a new life (Romans 6:2,4).

Put to death,, therefore, whatever be-longs to your earthly nature: sexual im-mortality, impurity, lust, evil desires andgreed, which is idolatry. Because of thesethe wrath of God is coming. You used towalk in these ways, in the life you oncelived. But now you must rid yourself ofall such things as these: anger, rage, mal-

ice, slander, and filthy language fromyour lips. Do not lie to each other, sinceyou have taken off your old self with itspractices, and have put on the new self,which is renewed in knowledge in the im-age of its Creator (Colossians 3:5-10).

THEY ARE RID OF

SELFCENTEREDNESS

He died for all, that those who liveshould no longer live for themselves butfor Him who died for them and wasraised again (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Nobody should seek his own good, butthe good of others (I Corintfiians 10:24).

THEY LOVE

Terefore, as Gods chosen people, holyand dearly loved, clothe yourselves withcompassion, kindness, humility, gentle-ness and patience. Bear with each other


26/29


Gods Good News

and forgive whatever grievances you mayhave against one another. Forgive as theLord forgave you. And over all these vir-tues put on love, which binds them togeth-er in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14).

Love the Lord your God with all yourheart and with all your soul and withall your mind. Tis is the first and greatcommandment, and the second is like itLove your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

We love because He first loved us. If any-one says, I love God, yet hates his broth-er, he is a liar. For anyone who does notlove his brother whom he has seen can-not love God whom he has not seen. AndHe has given us this command: whoeverloves God must also love his brother (IJohn 4:19-21).

OBEDIENCETHEY OBEY

If you love me, keep my commandments(John 14:15).

We know that we have come to knowHim if we obey His commandments. Teman who says, I know Him, but does not

do what He commands is a liar, and thetruth is not in him. But if anyone obeysHis word, Gods love is truly made com-plete in him (I John 2:3-5).

THEY HAVE SPIRITGIVEN ATTITUDES

Tose who live by the Spirit have theirminds set on what the Spirit desires.Tesinful minddoes not submit to Godslaw, nor can it do so.You, however, arecontrolled, not by the sinful nature butby the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives inyou (Romans 8:5-9).

Te fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faith-fulness, gentleness, and self-control.Against such things there is no law(Galatians 5:22-23).

Followers of Jesus Christ desire to wit-ness about His saving mercy to otherswho are lost in sin. Tey are also willingto endure suffering for their commit-ment to the Savior.

TESTIMONYTHEY BEAR

WITNESS TO OTHERS

You will be my witnessto the ends ofthe earth (Acts 1:8).

Since, then, we know what it is to fear theLord, we try to persuade men. We aretherefore Christs ambassadors, as thoughGod were making His appeal through us.We implore you on Christs behalf: Be rec-onciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:11,20).

Always be prepared to give an answer toanyone who asks you to give the reasonfor the hope that you have (I Peter 3:15).

THEY EXPERIENCEPERSECUTION

Even if you suffer for what is right, youare blessed (I Peter 3:14).

In fact, everyone who wants to live agodly life in Christ Jesus will be perse-cuted (2 imothy 3:12).

If anyone would come after me, he mustdeny himself and take up his cross dailyand follow me (Luke 9:23).

Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you and falsely say all kinds ofevil against you because of me. Rejoice


27/29


Gods Good News

and be glad, because great is your re-ward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).

By making other disciples of Christ andwitnessing to the will of God, Chris-

tians pray that the Kingdom of Godmight more and more come to expres-sion in the world andto the greatestdegree possiblereform all areas of lifefor Gods glory.

THEY PURSUE OVERALLREFORM UNDER THE KING

All authority in heaven and on earthhas been given to me. Terefore, havinggone, make disciples of all the nations,baptizing them in the name of the Fatherand of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, andteaching them to observe whatever I havecommanded you (Matthew 28:18-20).

Tis is how you should pray:Your king-dom come, your will be done on earth asit is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

You are the salt of the earth (Mat-thew 5:13).

So whether you eat or drink or whatever

you do, do it all for the glory of God (ICorinthians 10:31).

For of Him, and through Him, and untoHim are all things. o Him be the gloryforever and ever (Romans 11:36).

All things have been created by Himand for Him.And He is the head of

the bodyin order that in all things Hemight have the preeminence. For it wasGods good pleasureto reconcile allthings unto Himself through Him(Colossians 1:16-20).

And He put all things in subjection un-der His feet and made Him head overall things for the sake of the church(Ephesians 1:22).

Love the Lord your. God with all yourheart and with all your soul and with allyour mind (Matthew 22:37).

Be holy in all that you do (I Peter 1:15).

CHRISTIANS CULTIVATE THEIRNEW LIFE BY MEANS OF BIBLE

READING, PRAYER, AND THEFELLOWSHIP OF GODS PEOPLE.

Tey are united to one another in thechurch, in which they worship God,observe the sacraments of baptismand the Lords Supper, and grow by thepreaching of the Word of God.

THE BIBLE

Like newborn babies, crave the puremilk of the word so that you may grow upin your salvation (I Peter 2:2).

Sanctify them by the truth; your word istruth (John 17:17).

If you live in my word, you are reallymy disciples. Ten you will know thetruth, and the truth will set you free(John 8:31-32).

All Scripture is God-breathed and isuseful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,and training in righteousness, so that theman of God may be thoroughly equippedfor every good work (2 imothy 3:16-17).

PRAYER

Pray continually (I Tessalonians 5:17).


28/29


Gods Good News

In everything, by prayer and petition,with thanksgiving, present your requeststo God (Philippians 4:6).

Let us approach the throne of grace with

confidence, so that we may receive mercyand find grace to help us in our time ofneed (Hebrews 4:16).

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

THE CHURCHS FELLOWSHIP,

PREACHING, AND WORSHIP

In Christ we who are many form one body,and each member belongs to all the oth-ers.Share with Gods people who are inneed. Practice hospitality. (Rom. 12:5, 13)

Make every effort to keep the unity of theSpirit through the bond of peace. Tere is

one body and one SpiritBut to each oneof us grace has been given as Christ ap-portioned it. .to prepare Gods people forworks of service, so that the body of Christmay be built up (Ephesians 4:3-13).

Tey devoted themselves to the apostlesteaching and to the fellowship, to the

breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2:42).

We proclaim Him (Christ), admonishingand teaching everyone with all wisdom,so that we may present everyone perfectin Christ (Colossians 1:28).

Preach the Word; be prepared in sea-son and out of season; correct, rebuke

and encouragewith great patience andcareful instruction (2 imothy 4:2).

Let us not forsake meeting together,but let us encourage one another(Hebrews 10:25).

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,since as members of one body you werecalled to peace. And be thankful Let theword of Christ dwell in you richly as youteach and admonish one another with all

wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns,and spiritual songs with gratitude in yourhearts to God (Colossians 3:15-16).

I want men everywhere to lift up holyhands in prayer (I imothy 2:8).

Trough Him let us offer up the sacrificeof praise to God continually, which is thefruit of our lips that confess His name(Hebrews 13:15).

THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISMAND THE LORDS SUPPER

Te sacraments instituted by Christfor His church are observed as signsand seals (Romans 4:11; I Corinthians10:16)symbols and confirmationsofthe benefits of the Savior; their observa-tion strengthens faith and the Christianwalk (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4), dis-tinguishing Gods people from the world(I Corinthians 10:21). Teir effectivenessrests on a proper heart and response to

the truth signaled by the sacrament.

Baptism signifies and confirms unionwith Christ and cleansing from sin byHis blood (Acts 2:38; Romans 4:11; Co-lossians 2:11-12). It is received by thosewho are under and undertake Godscovenant believers and their children

(Acts 2:38-39; Colossians 2:11-12; Acts16:30-33; I Corinthians 7:14).

Te Lords Supper signifies and con-firms the atoning sacrifice of Christsbody and blood for the remission of sins(I Corinthians 11:23-26). It is receivedby professing members of Christs


29/29


church who can examine themselves inthe faith (I Corinthians 10:16-17; 12:3;12-13; with 11:29-30).

YOUR RESPONSE O Gods good

news is indeed an urgent matter for you.It is, in fact, more important than anyother decision you can make in life. Itis a choice between life and death itself.

LET US REVIEW WHAT GODSGOOD NEWS HAS SAID:

1. A Loving Creator Continu-

ally Blesses Us.

2. As Ungrateful Creatures,

We Rebel Against Him.

3. So Righteous Judgment

Awaits Us AIL

4. But God Has Made A Cov-

enant of Grace.

5. Christ Accomplished Unde-

served Salvation for Sinners.

6. To Be Saved We Must Re-

pent and Believe, Enabled by

the Holy Spirit.

7. ose Who Are Saved Lead

New Lives.

Christ invites you to belong to Himby faith, promising to receive you. Hewho comes to me I will by no meanscast out (John 6:37).

God commands your submission toChrist: I have declared to both Jewsand Greeks that they must turn to Godin repentance and have faith in ourLord Jesus (Acts 20:21)

While these things are still heavy onyour heart, before secondary cares dis-tract you, you should seek Gods for-giveness in prayer.

You may be unaccustomed to speakingwith God, but He welcomes your prayer.

(1) Confess your sinfulness and yoursorrow for it.

(2) Call upon the name of Jesus Christas the only one you trust to save you inGods sight.

(3) Commit yourself to following Christin everything you do hereafter. And thenenjoy the privilege of being adopted as achild of God, one who can call Him Fa-ther and be assured of His love.

(4). Every one who was saved was addedto the church,

Acts 2:41, Ten those who gladly receivedhis word were baptized; and that dayabout three thousand souls were addedto them.

Acts 2:47, praising God and having fa-vor with all the people. And the Lord

added to the church daily those whowere being saved.

Find a Bible-believing church whereyou can worship God in spirit andtruth according to His Word and youcan strengthen and grow in your faithin fellowship with other Christians (asoutlined in this presentation).

YOU ARE WARMLY WELCOMETO MAKE OUR CONGREGATION

YOUR CHURCH HOME!

Documents

2010 Issue 1 - God's Good News - Counsel of Chalcedon