"The Essence of the Gospel"
February 27, 2011
Senior Pastor Dr.
David Craig
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Date: February 27, 2011 - WEFC
Sermon Title: "The Essence of the Gospel" - Sermon 12 of Colossians Series
Text: Colossians 1 : 5 - 14
Sermon Notes for
"The Essence of the Gospel"
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Essence of the Gospel
The Essence of the Gospel – Colossians 1:5-14
Dr. David P. Craig
– February 27, 2011
Paul Summarizes What the Gospel Is and Does in Verses
5-14
1) The
gospel is objective truth. – Col. 1: 5b
“Of this you have heard before
in the word of truth, the gospel.”
2) The
gospel is universal. – Col. 1: 6a
“which has come to you, as
indeed in the whole world…”
3) The
gospel is fruitful. – Col. 1: 6,10
“it [the gospel] is bearing
fruit and growing—as it also does among you…bearing fruit in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
4) The
gospel is humanly communicated. Col. 1: 7
“just as you learned it
[the grace of God in truth] from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He
is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.”
5) The
gospel is good news. – Col. 1: 12-14
“giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in
light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to
the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption the
forgiveness of sins.”
Paul’s Articulation of the Gospel in Romans 1-4
1) Who made us, and to whom are we accountable?
Paul tells his readers that it
is God to whom they are accountable.” – Romans 3:19
“Now we know that whatever the
law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be
stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” – Romans 3:19
2) What is our problem?
Paul tells his readers their
problem is that they rebelled against God.
– see Romans 1:25; 2:1; 3:9-10
“they exchanged the truth about
God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator…Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For
in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge,
practice the very same things…we all are under sin both Jews and Gentiles, as
it is written: ‘No one is righteous, no, not one.”
3) What
is God’s solution to that problem? How has he acted to save us from it?
Paul says that God’s solution to humanity’s sin is the sacrificial
death and resurrection of
Jesus. – see Romans 3:24-25
“and are justified by his grace
as a gift, through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as
a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s
righteousness, because his divine forbearance had passed over former sins.” –
Romans 3:24-25
4) How do
I—myself, right here, right now—how do I come to be included in that salvation?
What makes this good news for me and not just for someone else?
Paul tells his readers how they
themselves can be included in this salvation.
– see Romans3:22; 4:5
“the righteousness of God
through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…And to the one who does not
work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as
righteousness.” Romans 3:22 & 4:5
The Essence of the Gospel in 4 Words:
1)
God
2)
Man
3)
Jesus
4)
Response
–
See Romans 1-4; 1 Cor. 15:1-5;
Acts 2:38; 3:18-19; 10:39-43; 13:38-39
The Essence of the Gospel – Colossians 1:5-14 – Guide
for Study & Discussion
Dr. David P. Craig – February 27, 2011
1) Of
the six components of the gospel discussed in Colossians 1:5-14 which of these
provokes the most excitement for you? Why?
2) What
are the essential elements (the essence) of the gospel according to Paul’s
exposition of Romans 1-4 (see sermon outline if needed)?
3) The
gospel is paradoxically simple and complex. Think about and discuss these two
realities. How is it simple? How is it complex, or deep?
4) Take
some time to thank God for the four “words” of the gospel from the sermon and
how God has graciously saved you.
Resources for
Further Study:
What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert (For
Understanding the Gospel)
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller (For Understanding
the Gospel)
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger (For Sharing the
Gospel)
The Gospel & Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever
(For Sharing the Gospel)
Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul (For Understanding
How God Saves Us)
( Click here to download or open the Word
document file for these notes. )
The Essence of the Gospel – Colossians 1:5-14
Dr. David P. Craig – February 27, 2011
Paul Summarizes What the Gospel Is and Does in Verses 5-14
1) The gospel is objective truth. – Col. 1: 5b
“Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel.”
2) The gospel is universal. – Col. 1: 6a
“which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world…”
3) The gospel is fruitful. – Col. 1: 6,10
“it [the gospel] is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you…bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
4) The gospel is humanly communicated. Col. 1: 7
“just as you learned it [the grace of God in truth] from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf.”
5) The gospel is good news. – Col. 1: 12-14
“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.”
Paul’s Articulation of the Gospel in Romans 1-4
1) Who made us, and to whom are we accountable?
Paul tells his readers that it is God to whom they are accountable.” – Romans 3:19
“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” – Romans 3:19
2) What is our problem?
Paul tells his readers their
problem is that they rebelled against God.
– see Romans 1:25; 2:1; 3:9-10
“they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things…we all are under sin both Jews and Gentiles, as it is written: ‘No one is righteous, no, not one.”
3) What
is God’s solution to that problem? How has he acted to save us from it?
Paul says that God’s solution to humanity’s sin is the sacrificial
death and resurrection of
Jesus. – see Romans 3:24-25
“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because his divine forbearance had passed over former sins.” – Romans 3:24-25
4) How do
I—myself, right here, right now—how do I come to be included in that salvation?
What makes this good news for me and not just for someone else?
Paul tells his readers how they
themselves can be included in this salvation.
– see Romans3:22; 4:5
“the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Romans 3:22 & 4:5
The Essence of the Gospel in 4 Words:
1) God
2) Man
3) Jesus
4) Response
– See Romans 1-4; 1 Cor. 15:1-5; Acts 2:38; 3:18-19; 10:39-43; 13:38-39
The Essence of the Gospel – Colossians 1:5-14 – Guide for Study & Discussion
Dr. David P. Craig – February 27, 2011
1) Of the six components of the gospel discussed in Colossians 1:5-14 which of these provokes the most excitement for you? Why?
2) What are the essential elements (the essence) of the gospel according to Paul’s exposition of Romans 1-4 (see sermon outline if needed)?
3) The gospel is paradoxically simple and complex. Think about and discuss these two realities. How is it simple? How is it complex, or deep?
4) Take some time to thank God for the four “words” of the gospel from the sermon and how God has graciously saved you.
Resources for Further Study:
What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert (For Understanding the Gospel)
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller (For Understanding the Gospel)
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger (For Sharing the Gospel)
The Gospel & Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever (For Sharing the Gospel)
Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul (For Understanding How God Saves Us)
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