THE IMPORTANCE OF GOSPEL PREACHING

Introduction:
1. 1 Cor. 1:18-25 (vs 21)
2. Many look at gospel preaching as just a bunch of foolishness---
   BUT--The Bible teaches something entirely different!
3. I feel that some brethren look upon a GOSPEL MEETING as useless
   --a thing of the past, of little value, a TIME CONSUMER, etc.
4. In this study I would like to look at the importance of
        PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

I. CHRIST COMMANDED THAT THE GOSPEL BE PREACHED:
   1. One of the last earthly concerns of Jesus was gospel
      preaching.  Mark 16:15-16. Did He not charge the apostles to
      "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the
      whole creation"?
   2. By their response, and the example of the early Christians,
      we, too,have the same commandment to "Go ye," means "Go me."
   3. When has this command not been needed, when did disciples
      ever need to ignore the command to "Go...preach"?

II. PEOPLE ARE BEGOTTEN THROUGH THE GOSPEL:
   1. 1 Cor. 4:15-- "For though ye have ten thousand tutors in
      Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I
      begat you through the gospel."
   2. James 1:21 -- "Wherefore putting away all filthiness and
      overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the
      implanted word, which is able to save your souls." In no
      other way, other than through receiving the implanted word,
      can souls be begotten.
   3. John 15:3 -- "Already ye are clean because of the word which
      I have spoken unto you."
   4. Just as there can be no physical birth without a father,
      there can be no spiritual (NEW) birth without gospel
      preaching.
   5. And, we cannot excuse ourselves (INDIVIDUALLY) from the
      responsibility our Lord has placed upon each of us.

III. WE ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE PROMISES BY THE GOSPEL:
   1. Ephesians 3:6 --"That the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and
      fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the
      promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
   2. 2 Peter 1:3,4 -- granted unto us his precious and exceeding
      great promises....those who have escaped from corruption....
   3. It is by (through) the gospel that people from every nation
      under heaven can enjoy the promises found in Christ Jesus.
   4. If this gospel is not preached, then mankind will never
      enjoy or partake of the great promises in Christ.

IV. THE GOSPEL IS GOD'S POWER TO SAVE:
   1. Rom. 3:23 -- "For all have sinned and come short of the
      glory of God."
   2. Sin is a universal disease, capable of destroying souls in
      eternal condemnation.
   3, Eph. 2:12 -- In sin, man is without God, without Christ; and
      without hope. LOST--How devastating.
   4. Rom. 1:16 -- "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is
      the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth
      to the Jews first, and also to the Greek."
   5. 2 Cor 4:3-4 -- "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is
      veiled in them that perish...."  Those who refuse the gospel
      will perish, have no access to the throne of Jehovah.

V. THE GOSPEL MUST BE OBEYED:
   1. 2 Thess. 1:7,8 --"...rendering vengeance to them that know
      not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord
      Jesus..."
   2. It is not a matter of individual taste, or preference; not a
      inconsequential choice that one might make to please self.
      IT IS A MATTER OF ETERNAL CONSEQUENCE. Where will one spend
      eternity!!!
   3. Rom. 10:13 -- Paul states, "Whosoever will call on the name
      of the Lord shall be saved." Yet, there are at lease four
      things that one must do to call upon the name of the Lord:
   4. Rom. 10:14-17 --(1) Preaching, (2) hearing, (3) believing,
      and (4) obeying.
   5. One cannot be saved unless the gospel is obeyed. But, he
      cannot obey it unless he believed it; and he cannot believe
      it unless he has heard it; but he cannot hear it unless it
      is preached; and ...
          THAT IS WHERE YOU AND I COME INTO THE PICTURE. THUS,
              THE IMPORTANCE OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL,
              THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOSPEL MEETING!!!!!!!!

VI. MAN WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL:
   1. John 12:48 --"The word that I spake, the same shall judge
      him in the last day."
   2. Rom 2:16 -- "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of
      men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ."
   3. 2 Cor. 5:10 -- all must appear before judgment seat of C.
   4. What a horrible conclusion to a life lived if the gospel has
      never been obeyed and lived.
   5. Since man will be judged by the gospel, it is imperative
      that he hear the gospel; that he knows what it says.

Conclusion:
   1. Eph. 6:15 --May we have our feet shod with the preparation
      of the gospel of peace.
   2. Surely, we know someone with whom we have a little influence
      to invite them to a gospel service.
   3. We may not be able to stand before an audience and teach a
      lesson; perhaps even feeling inadequate to teach someone
      personally; BUT, can we not bring someone with us while
      someone else teaches the gospel.
   4. May we be zealous in filling the world with the soul-saving
      gospel.
   5. And then lastly just here, if you are in this audience and
      have not obeyed the primary commands of the gospel, we plead
      with you to look at your circumstances, see your needs and
      even now decide to put Christ first in your life.

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