Suppose there was a nonbeliever visiting your home church. At the end of the worship service, your pastor asked you to share the gospel with the guest. What would you say to him? What about the good news would you present?
Peter defined the good news as “peace with God through Jesus Christ.” Human beings are all born into sin and rebellion against God—we’re at war with Him. But peace is now possible because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Peter told his audience that Jesus’ baptism showed that He was fully man and fully God (Acts 10:37; Matthew 3:13-17). Following this, the apostle said that Jesus has set us free from the power and bondage of Satan and sin (Acts 10:38). When He was put to death on a cross (Acts 10:39), Jesus “took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing” (Galatians 3:13; see 1 Peter 2:24). Peter also spoke of Jesus’ resurrection. “But God raised him to life on the third day” (Acts 10:40).
In addition, we don’t adequately proclaim the gospel if we leave out the solemn fact of the coming judgment. Peter warned that God has appointed Jesus “to be the judge of all—the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42; see Hebrews 9:27).
Peter concluded his gospel presentation with an invitation: “Everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through [Jesus’] name” (Acts 10:43). And he could boldly present what Jesus lived out and taught, for he was a “[witness] of all he did” (Acts 10:39,41).
Today, we have the commission to go and tell others about Him (Acts 10:42; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). What does that entail? Sharing the good news is simply telling people about who Jesus is and what He’s done to reconcile us to God. That’s the gospel 101!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Galatians 5:13-26
More:
Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 for Paul’s summary of the essential elements of the good news.
Next:
Will you tell someone about Jesus this week? What inspires you about Peter and his presentation of the claims of Christ?
Gary Shultz on November 28, 2014 at 7:06 am
Thank you. We can not forget our responsibility to share the good news.
sercher on November 28, 2014 at 1:12 pm
Thank you, K. T.!
For the war-torn country like Israel those (and currently, unfortunately) “peace with God” was probably the thing most sought after. But instead of physical freedom, Christ brought something much more precious – liberation from sin!
When sharing the gospel with unbelievers, we are not to be verbose or long-winded, Rather, we need to be know what can touch their heart-strings the most with and concisely point them to the “Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
Here’s what I can show to the visitor:
Winn Collier on November 29, 2014 at 3:25 pm
I think one of the multi-textured beauties of Scripture is how many varied ways the gospel is described and given, as if it can’t really be contained in any one description or with any one list. I believe that’s part of how it is truly good news.