We’re starting a new sermon series The Gospel. This is the foundation of our faith, the message that compels us to live differently. Over the next several weeks, we’ll be exploring how the gospel impacts every area of our lives.
Today, we’re going to start at the beginning – how the gospel helps us know God. This is the most crucial aspect, because if we don’t rightly understand who God is and what He has done for us, then the rest falls apart. So let’s dive in.
In the passage we read from Acts 2, we see the disciples waiting in Jerusalem, as Jesus had instructed them. They were anticipating the arrival of the Holy Spirit, not knowing exactly what that would entail. And when the Spirit came – with the sound of a violent wind and tongues of fire resting on each of them – it was a profound, paradigm-shifting moment.
The people who had gathered in Jerusalem from all over the known world were bewildered. They heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages, declaring the wonders of God. Peter then stood up and explained what was happening. This outpouring of the Spirit, he said, was the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s words – God was doing a new thing, pouring out His Spirit on all people.
But Peter didn’t stop there. He went on to proclaim the core of the gospel message: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” In other words, the man they had condemned and executed was in fact the long-awaited Savior, the rightful King over all.
This was earth-shattering news. The people were “cut to the heart” – convicted by the truth of who Jesus was and what they had done. And Peter gave them the response: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Do you see the significance of this moment? The disciples, once confused and afraid, were now boldly declaring the good news. And the people, once unaware and indifferent, were now awakened to their need for redemption. This was the beginning of the church, a revolution sparked by the power of the gospel.
You see, the gospel isn’t just a set of facts to memorize. It’s not just a story from history that we recount. The gospel is the doorway into knowing God Himself. It’s the means by which we are reconciled to our Creator and invited into His eternal kingdom.
The gospel tells us that God, in His great love, sent His own Son to become a man, to live the perfect life we could never live, and to die the death we deserved. Jesus, the sinless Savior, took our place on the cross, bearing the punishment for our rebellion against God. And three days later, He rose from the dead, proving that He had conquered sin and death.
This is the good news – that through faith in Jesus, our sins can be forgiven, and we can be restored to right relationship with God. As Peter said, those who repent and are baptized will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God Himself will come and dwell within us, transforming us from the inside out.
My friends, this is not just head knowledge. This is a life-changing reality. When we truly understand and believe the gospel, it impacts every area of our lives. It changes the way we see ourselves, the way we see others, and the way we see God.
Instead of seeing ourselves as hopeless sinners destined for judgment, we see ourselves as beloved children of God, forgiven and redeemed. Instead of seeing others as threats or competitors, we see them as fellow image-bearers, equally in need of grace. And instead of seeing God as a distant, harsh taskmaster, we see Him as a loving Father who longs to know us and be known by us.
This is what it means to know God. It’s not just intellectual ascent to a set of theological facts. It’s an intimate, transformative relationship. When we put our trust in Jesus, God’s Spirit comes to live within us, guiding us, empowering us, and conforming us to the image of Christ.
And this changes everything. It gives us a new lens through which to view the world. It gives us a new motivation to live differently. Instead of being driven by fear, greed, or self-preservation, we’re driven by love, generosity, and a desire to bring glory to God.
This is why the gospel is so much more than just “good news.” It’s the best news we could ever hear. It’s the news that sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. It’s the news that ushers us into the very presence of the living God.
So my challenge to you today is this: have you truly grasped the magnitude of the gospel? Have you allowed it to penetrate the depth of your heart and transform the way you live? Or have you relegated it to a mere mental assent, a set of doctrines to affirm but not truly embrace?
If you’re honest, you may realize that your understanding of the gospel is still quite shallow. That’s okay – we’re all on a journey, and none of us have arrived. But I would encourage you to ask God to open your eyes to the beauty and power of the gospel. Spend time meditating on the truths we’ve explored today. Allow the Spirit to do a deep work in your heart.
Because here’s the thing: once you truly understand the gospel, it will become the driving force behind every other area of your life. Your relationships, your priorities, your fears, your hopes – everything will be reframed through the lens of the good news of Jesus Christ.
And that’s what we’re going to explore in the weeks to come. We’re going to look at how the gospel transforms the way we know God, the way we grow with others, and the way we change the world. We’re going to see how the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us, empowering us to live as Kingdom citizens in a fallen world.
So I invite you to lean in, to be open to what God wants to do in your life. Don’t settle for a superficial understanding of the gospel. Dive deep, allow it to root itself in your heart, and watch as it bears fruit in every area of your life.
Because my friends, this is the good news. This is the message that can change the world. So let’s embrace it, live it out, and share it boldly with all who will listen.
Let me close in prayer.
Heavenly Father, we are in awe of Your great love and the gift of the gospel. Thank you for sending Your Son to redeem us, to reconcile us to Yourself. Help us to truly know You, to experience the transformative power of Your Spirit at work within us.
Give us eyes to see the beauty and the magnitude of what You have done. Stir our hearts to abandon ourselves fully to You, to live as Kingdom citizens in a fallen world. May the gospel be the driving force behind everything we say and do.
And Lord, use us as instruments of Your grace, that others might come to know You too. May our lives be a living testament to the good news of Jesus Christ.
We give You all the honor and glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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