“The Gospel In Five Seconds”
(I Corinthians 15:1-4)
I. Introduction.
A. Getting peoples’ attention is necessary before you can teach
anything. God did this time and time again, and then
brought an important message to those so attracted.
1. For example, Moses’ attention was directed to a
bush that burned, but was not consumed by the
flames.
2. Jesus, with signs and wonders, gathered many
people to Him and then taught them.
3. People in Jerusalem, on Pentecost, were attracted
by the unusual events surrounding the coming of the
Holy Spirit on the apostles.
4. A long list could be made of such occurrences that
had a divine purpose.
B. Without the benefit of such miraculous power, or events,
we resort to other devices to direct peoples’ attention to
God’s message.
1. One preacher entitled a sermon “No Unmarried
Man Can Go To Heaven.” His point was that a
Christian is “married” to Christ as a part of His
Church, the “bride of Christ.”
2. Titles aside, it is still the message that makes the
difference. Our focus should not be upon a title –
which contains only a superficial idea (sometimes
wrongly understood) – but upon the content of the
message – which should illuminate a portion of
God’s Word and make it understandable and
applicable to the hearer.
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C. Obviously, “The Gospel In Five Seconds” has nothing to
do with time. What it does pertain to are five things that are
“second” in sequence, or in line, connected with the
gospel.
1. The gospel is that “good news” that Christ died for
our sins, and that’s how Paul described it in
I Corinthians 15. Verses 3 and 4, especially,
summarize the whole gospel message (RE-READ).
2. The gospel is the complete story of power, and love,
and desire of God that all who hear it, and believe
it, and obey it might have everlasting life.
D. Even though something may be classified as “second” that
does not mean it’s inferior. In fact, often may be an
improvement over what came first. The gospel has a close
relationship to some “seconds” that were even better than
what was first given by God, or that come first in order.
II. Five Things That Are “Second.”
A. First, the gospel itself is contained in a “second law” God
gave.
1. Book of Hebrews has much to say about the first
and second, or “old” and “new”, covenants or laws.
2. Hebrews 8:6-7: Writer says that Christ is the
“. . . Mediator of a better covenant, which was
established on better promises. For if that first
covenant had been faultless, then no place would
have been sought for a second.”
3. Read on, in verses 8-13. (READ).
4. Then, Hebrews 10:9 says: “. . . He takes away the
first, that He may establish the second.”
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5. God made a covenant with His “chosen people,” the
descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Were
certain things they were to do and, in turn, things
God promised to do. One of the things God promised
was a Savior for His people. He fulfilled that promise
and, in His Son, also fulfilled (completed) that first
covenant (Matthew 5:17).
That covenant was set aside, taken away, at the
cross on Calvary and replaced by a second, new,
and better, covenant. (Colossians 2:14).
6. (John 1:17): “For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” This second
law is that which saves us eternally.
B. Number two, the gospel commands a “second birth.”
1. Jesus told the Pharisee, Nicodemus: “. . . Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.” (John 3:3).
2. How can we be “born” a second time? Find answer
in John 3:5: “Unless one is born of water and the
spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
3. This “second birth” involves obeying the commands
given to us in inspired writing – and that includes
baptism for the remission of sins.
(READ I Peter 1:22-23 and I Peter 3:20-21).
4. To live eternally, we must be born twice; and this
“second birth” is even more important than our
entry into this world.
C. Three, the gospel promises a “second coming” of Christ.
1. Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was
lost.” (Luke 19:10).
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2. Many scriptures assure us He will come a second
time, but do not give us that “day or hour.”
3. There continues to be so much speculation on when
Christ will come again and what will happen when
He does.
a. As to the first point, no amount of
calculation can ever bring us to a correct
conclusion on when Christ will return, “But
of that day and hour no one knows, not even
the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only
the Father.” (Mark 13:32).
b. But, as to what will happen, that we are told:
I Thessalonians 4:14-17. (READ).
4. The promise of Christ’s second coming can be
relied upon as true. Our responsibility is to prepare
for our own death, or His return, whichever comes
first.
D. Four, the gospel warns of a “second death.”
1. To be born once is to die twice. To be born twice is
to die once.
2. That one death – that universal experience of
mankind – is separation of physical body and
spiritual person. (James 2:26).
3. The “second death” involves separation of the
spiritual person from God, forever. There shall be
eternal punishment “from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of His power.” (II Thess. 1:9).
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4. The good news is, there are some over whom this
“second death” has no power: “Blessed and holy
is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over
such the second death has no power, . . .”
(Revelation 20:6).
5. Everyone must die, but not everyone need be
separated from God forever. The gospel proclaims
salvation and a place prepared for those prepared
for it.
E. And, fifth, the gospel contains a “second law of pardon.” A
second opportunity – even a third, fourth, and beyond, for
those who wander away from a relationship with God.
1. God has always extended His mercy, and another
chance, to those who would accept it, so long as we
live.
a. To a rebellious man like Jonah, the word of
the Lord came “. . . the second time. . .”
(3:1).
b. To Peter, in spite of weakness and denial,
Jesus appeared to call him back to another
chance for service.
c. No one can read, or hear, the parable of the
prodigal (or wayward) son and not get
Jesus’ point about the Father’s merciful
forgiveness, even of willful disobedience.
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2. A poet wrote:
“How I wish there was some wonderful place,
Called the ‘Land of Beginning Again.’
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches –
And all our poor selfish grief –
Could be dropped like a shabby coat at the door,
And never put on again.”
3. This is possible through obedience to the gospel, and seeking the continuing
forgiveness of a merciful Father.
III. Conclusion.
A. We live under a second, far better, law, and can experience
the second birth “of water and the spirit”, live in hopeful
expectation of the second coming of Christ, avoid the
second death, and always know there is a second chance as
long as we live, to receive forgiveness from God.
B. The gospel’s “five seconds” give us hope for eternal life –
won’t you come and take advantage of what God offers?