Law and Gospel in the “gospel booklet.”
In the gospel booklet, Page 2 = Gospel. (page 1 is Need, 3 is response, and 4 is benefits).
Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:2-3. “I make known to you the Gospel – that Jesus died…
Gospel is from Old English god spel, which means “good news.”
Verse: Romans 1:16 “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation”
Billy Graham and others are called Evangelists. The meaning is the same:
Eu = good (as in English word eulogy – good words said at a funeral)
Angel = messenger
If it does not sound like good news, it is not Evangelism; it is not gospel.
Page 1 = Law. God’s law shows us that we have broken God’s laws and therefore we need a savior. God’s law is good, but we are not; that’s why p. 1 is called “problem”
Page 1 “shows sin”
Page 2 “shows savior”
Entire Bible is full of law and gospel (threats and promises)
Pages 2, 3 and 4 are all “gospel” in nature -- all “good news.”
Pages 3 and 4 are based on page 2.
P. 3 (repent and believe) shouldn’t sound like “law.”
Not “Thou shalt believe” but Jesus saying “come to me.”
Not “faith is a good work that saves me,” but rather “Jesus saves me, and I depend on Jesus, not on my own good works.”
Verse: Ephesians 2:8-9 By grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, …
P. 2 – Jesus has paid for everyone’s sins -- but not everyone experiences forgiveness. The link is page 3 (believing).
Verse: John 3:16. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son, so that whoever believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life.
P. 2 solves our root problem – separation from God.
P. 4 solves our felt needs. (like worry, guilt, shame, meaninglessness)
The link is p. 3.
“Living by faith” is a life of doing p. 3 & experiencing p. 4, which are made possible by page 2, and page 1 shows us why we need it.
Myths about law:
1. You get a relationship with God by keeping God’s law.
Verse: Romans 1:21 “no one shall be saved by keeping God’s law.”
2. God gave the law because God is a killjoy.
Verse: “these words are life to you.” God’s law is a protection, the “owner’s manual” for successful operation. Humans have not kept the law, which has led to problems.
3. The law tells us what not to do.
The law also tells us what to do.
4. The Old Testament is mostly law, the New Testament is mostly grace.
In fact, law and grace are found in both old and new testaments.
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