Spiritual Development October 2016
While attending the Southern Baptist Convention this past June, David Platt, the president of the International Mission Board, emphasized the need for Southern Baptists to be gospel-centered people. Platt preached a sermon that was based off of an acrostic of the word “GOSPEL”. This acrostic is based out of Ephesians 2:1-10 and is a helpful tool to use as we meditate on and present the gospel with those around us. We will be using this acrostic in our next Growth Initiative class to illustrate how knowing the story of the Bible helps us and others know Christ and live for Him in an increasingly secular culture.
God’s Character - “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…” (Ephesians 2:4) The full character of God should be emphasized in the sharing of the gospel. God is a loving, merciful God. At the same time, He is a just judge Who will not let the guilty go unpunished. (Habakkuk 1:13; Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 2:4)
Offense of Sin - “...even when we were dead in our transgressions…” (Ephesians 2:5) Man’s sinfulness is a critical part of the gospel. Man’s rebellion, beginning in the Garden of Eden and passed down to every human in history, separates us from this holy, merciful God. Without the understanding of sin, there is no realization for the need for a Savior.
(Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3)
Sufficiency of Christ - “...made us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:5-6) Christ is either sufficient to forgive us of sin through His death and resurrection, or He is not. The gospel must clearly state that Christ is not simply “an answer” but “the only answer” to the sin of mankind and the resulting separation. Because Christ is sufficient, nothing needs to be added to the gospel to complete the promise of redemption. (Isaiah 53:6, 11; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Personal Response - “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:5, 8-9) Though God clearly acted in eternity past with a divine plan to redeem His people, He has also placed on us a responsibility to hear and believe the gospel. This belief in Christ and the gospel will result in a person turning to God from sin to worship and serve Him. (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; Romans 1:16, 2:4, 10:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Eternal Urgency - “...so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:7) The Bible teaches that eternity presses on us. Those who do not place their trust in Jesus Christ will perish into eternal hell, separated from God. Those who trust the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross will spend eternity with God in heaven. This urgency drives us to share the gospel. (Exodus 34:7; John 3:16; Romans 2:4-11, 6:23)
Life Transformation - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) When one hears the gospel and accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, the result is a changed life. Life is transformed by the power of the gospel, not the efforts of man - and the change is dramatic.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:2-10)