Lesson 1 The Chief Goal of the Church

Question 3

Jesus Christ has been given all authority, “in” heaven, and “on” earth because He died on the cross for our sins and rose victorious on the third day. Yes, Jesus was crucified, buried in a tomb and raised from the dead, and this is the event Jesus was referring to, the good news of the gospel. The gospel then becomes the foundation upon which Jesus' authority rests.
And this is the message that makes disciples. The gospel is the message that defines a disciple as one who has died with Christ and been raised up to a new life in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel is the one message that cuts the hearts of its hearers (Acts 2:37). Any other message other than the gospel message is void of the power of God because the gospel is the “power of God”.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16
Not only is it the power for salvation but also power for those being saved.
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
And this is why we read in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 that the gospel is of “first importance.”
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
There is nothing more powerful and nothing of equal value. It is the gospel that is the heart of the message of the church. It is the gospel that transforms the heart and mind making one a new creation. It is the gospel where we find the forgiveness of sins. And it is through believing the gospel that we die with Christ and are raised to new life. This is why it is always of first importance.

Question 3: It’s critical that we define the gospel, for often it happens that a person thinks they are holding to or preaching the gospel, when in truth they haven’t seen it clearly defined in Scripture. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, what is the gospel?

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The Gospel for the Church