309 – The Message of the Church

SEMESTER 1

309 – The Message of the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY I LESSON # 9
THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH

Read Mat. 28:19, Mk. 16:15, Lk. 24:46-47.

INTRODUCTION

1. In all the above texts we have the commission to the church.
2. More than that, we have a description of the message they are to “preach” or “teach.”
3. Never has there been a greater need for the understanding of this.
4. Since gospel means “good news,” many today seem to feel that any “good news” about God, or His blessings upon His creatures is the gospel.

I. THE CHURCH’S BASIC MESSAGE IS THE GOSPEL

1. That is not to say we stop there, i.e., “only concerned about seeing men saved.”
2. We are to baptize them and teach them to observe all things. (Mat. 28:20)
3. All this, however, is built upon the foundation work of the gospel.
4. If these things are reversed, both our going and their response is detrimental to them.
5. What then is the gospel?

II. WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT

1. It is not simply any Bible preaching.
2. It is not the message of baptism, or the administration of it, “obey the gospel.”
3. It is not simply the good news that God loves sinners and has a wonderful plan for them.
4. It is not the mere statement of the death, burial and resurrec­tion of Christ.

III. WHAT THE GOSPEL IS (I COR. 15:1-4)

The above passage describes the gospel in detail, let us look at it analytical­ly.

1. Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture (a very broad statement).

i. This means not merely in the fashion described or merely because the Scripture said it.
ii. It deals with the biblical explanation of His death, in purpose and act. (Heb. 10:1-10)
iii. This involves the penalty for sin which is death.
iv. This essentially hangs on the doctrine of substitution. Consider ways in which one might die for our sins, yet not be a substitute.

2. It involves the work of death to sin in His burial.

i. In this there is not only the suffering of penalty, but the putting away of the body of death. (Rom. 7:24)
v. In divine plan and covenant, we not only died in Christ, but our sins were put away in His burial.

III: The goats of Lev. 16:1-22.

vi. Our sins were actually borne away by the burial of Jesus Christ.

3. It involves His resurrection the third day according to the Scriptures.

i. This is of infinite importance.

III: The apostles were to be witnesses of His resurrec­tion

ii. His resurrection was the evidence of life in Him. (Jn. 5:26, Acts 2:24)
iii. As He had life in Himself, He gave it to us, we are raised up. (Eph. 2:5-6)
iv. He saves us by His endless life and intercession. (Rom. 5:8,10, Heb. 7:24-25)