Preaching the Gospel Like An Apostle

In their excellent book “Being a Pastor“, Alistair Begg and Derek Prime succinctly outline the gospel that the Apostles preached. As you read their six point summary, ask yourself whether ALL these points regularly surface in your gospel presentations.

“It is helpful to remind ourselves from time to time of the six main elements in the apostolic declaration of the gospel, once they were sure that they had gone back far enough to enable their hearers to realize that their message was from the one true God, the Creator and Supreme Law-Giver:

First, the appointed time, concerning which the Old Testament prophets had spoken, and to which God’s chosen people had looked forward, has come. Through Christ, God has visited and redeemed His people (Acts 2:16-21).

Second, this act of God intervening in human history is to be seen in the life of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, sent by God, rejected, put to death by men, and raised up by God on the third day (Acts 2:32, 36).

Third, by his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ has conquered sin and has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Salvation is found in no one else. (Acts 4:12)

Fourth, the proofs of God’s present power in the world are to be found in the fact of the resurrection of Christ and evidence of the Holy Spirit’s working in the church (Acts 4:33, Romans 1:4; Ephesians 1:19-20).

Fifth, this is but the beginning of God’s kingdom. Our Lord Jesus Christ will return again as Judge, and God’s kingdom will be finally established (Acts 3:20-21; 17:30-31; 2 Thesalonians 1:7-10).

Sixth, all men and women, therefore, should repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ the Messiah and Lord for the forgiveness of their sins, and they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

(pages 139-140)

Advertisement