Fulton Church of Christ » Making the Gospel Real

Reasons for a disconnect between life and the gospel
- Churchianity
  - 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness but denying its power
  - 1 Corinthians 4:19 Not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power
  - James 3:16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there
- Ignorance
  - 2 Timothy 3:7 Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
  - 1 Corinthians 8:1 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up
  - Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
Seeing the gospel through life
- Limitations of the outsider
  - 1 Corinthians 2:14 Nor can he know them for they are spiritually discerned
  - Romans 5:5 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us
  - Hebrews 10:22 Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
  - 2 Corinthians 3:15 The veil is taken away in Christ
  - John 1:5 The darkness comprehended it not
- Competition for the outsider’s attention
  - Romans 1:21 Became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened
  - Romans 16:18 By smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting
  - Hebrews 3:13 Hardened through the deceitfulness of sin
  - John 3:19 Men loved darkness rather than light
  - Matthew 13:18 – 23 Parable of the sower
- Motives for investigation by the non-Christian
  - Romans 2:15 Their conscience also bearing witness
  - Romans 7:15 What I am doing I do not understand.
  - Ecclesiastes (many times) All is vanity and chasing after the wind
  - Acts 2:40 Be saved from this perverse generation
  - Romans 2:4 The goodness of God leads you to repentance
  - 2 Peter 1:3 [Jesus] called us by glory and virtue
- Promises understandable by the non-Christian
  - 2 Peter 1:4 May be partakers of the divine nature
  - Galatians 5:22 – 23 Fruit of the Spirit
  - Romans 4:16 The promises are certain…to those who have the faith of Abraham
  - Romans 5:3 – 4 Tribulation produces good character
  - Romans 8:13 By the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body
  - Philippians 3:15 God will reveal even this to you
  - Hundreds more
- Evidence
  - Promises certified by a history of miracles
  - Confidence concerning my acceptance based on the work of the Spirit in me
Seeing life through the gospel: viewpoint of a Christian
- Motives for growth
  - Love
    - Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
    - 1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us
    - Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not for his own interests but for the interests of others
  - Fear for the fate of the lost
    - Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
    - 2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men
    - 2 Corinthians 7:1 Perfecting holiness in the fear of God
    - Ephesians 5:21 Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ
    - Philippians 2:12 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
    - Hebrews 4:1 Fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it
    - 1 Peter 1:17 Conduct yourselves throughout your sojourn in fear
  - Eternal life is a result, not a reason
- Tools
  - Word: Hebrews 4:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Acts 20:32, 2 Corinthians 3:7 – 18
  - Singing: Ephesians 5:18 – 21, Colossians 3:16
  - Prayer: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12, Colossians 1:9 – 12, 1 John 5:16
  - Love: Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:12 – 13
  - Fellowship: 1 John 1:5 – 7, Acts 2:42, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:1, Philemon 6, Hebrews 13:16
  - Teaching: Hebrews 5:12
  - Evangelism: 2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:7, 4:13
  - Giving: 2 Corinthians 8:4 – 7
  - Suffering: 1 Peter 4:12, James 1:3, 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Attitudes
  - Believing our potential: 2 Corinthians 5:17
  - Believing our importance: Ephesians 3:10
- Practices
  - Time Management: Ephesians 5:15 – 16, Colossians 4:5, Romans 8:18 – 25
  - Conscious Thought Control: Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:25 – 32, Colossians 3:12 – 15