The first teaching in the series "Growing Deep in the Gospel". In this teaching we answer the question "Why is the Gospel Important?" by looking at Romans 1:16, several other Bible verses and quotes from pastors and Christian authors. Then in light of the importance of the gospel we look at what we should do with the gospel.

1. Why is the Gospel
Important?

2. Growing Deep
Growing Deep
in the Gospel

3. Why is the Gospel
Important?

4. The Big Picture
Jesus
Gospel Church Mission

5. Apostle Paul

6. Importance of the Gospel to Paul
To all who are in Rome, beloved of
God, called to be saints: Grace to
you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I
thank my God through Jesus Christ
for you all, that your faith is spoken
of throughout the whole world.
Romans 1:7-8 (NKJ)

7. Importance of the Gospel to Paul
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers
and sisters, that I planned many times to
come to you (but have been prevented
from doing so until now) in order that I
might have a harvest among you, just as I
have had among the other Gentiles. I am
obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks,
both to the wise and the foolish. That is
why I am so eager to preach the gospel
also to you who are in Rome.
Romans 1:13-15 (NIV)

8. Importance of the Gospel to Paul
For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, because it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who
believes…
Romans 1:16 (NIV 84)

9. Importance of the Gospel to Paul
When I came to you, brothers, I did
not come with eloquence or superior
wisdom as I proclaimed to you the
testimony about God. For I resolved
to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ and him
crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NIV)

10. Why the Gospel is Important
For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God that
brings salvation to everyone who
believes…
Romans 1:16 (NIV)

11. Power = Dunamis

12. Volcano & Lightning

13. The Universe

14. Salvation = Rescue

15. Salvation
Justification – Beginning
Sanctification – Middle
Glorification – End

16. Salvation
Justification – Beginning
Justification is God declaring those
who receive Christ to be righteous,
based on Christ’s righteousness
being imputed to those who receive
Christ through repentance and faith.

17. Jesus on Cross
Justification – Beginning
Jesus Photo

18. Salvation
Sanctification – Middle
The process of being conformed
more and more into the likeness of
Christ through the work of the Holy
Spirit and God’s Word within a
community of believers called a
church.

19. Jesus Carrying Cross

20. Salvation
Glorification – End
Glorification is the completion,
the consummation, the
perfection, the full realization of
salvation.

21. Jesus Returns

22. Jesus on Throne

23. New Jerusalem

24. Salvation
Justification – Penalty of Sin
Sanctification – Power of Sin
Glorification – Presence of Sin

25. CJ Mahaney Speaking

26. Why the Gospel is Important
“If there’s anything in life we should
be passionate about, it’s the gospel.
And I don’t mean passionate only
about sharing it with others; I mean
passionate in thinking about the
gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing
in it, allowing it to color the way we
look at the world and all of life.”
C. J. Mahaney

27. Why the Gospel is Important
“… very small errors in a person’s
understanding of the Gospel
seemed to result in very big
problems in that person's life.”
C. J. Mahaney

28. Why the Gospel is Important
“Early in my Christian life, I thought the
Gospel was the message to win people to
Christ, then, in disciple-making, one
moved on to “deeper things.” What a
fallacy! You never move beyond the
Gospel. You go deeper and higher with
the Gospel, but never beyond the
Gospel.”
P.J. Miller

29. Why the Gospel is Important
“We never “get beyond the gospel” in our
Christian life to something more
“advanced.” The gospel is not the first
“step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it
is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of
truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s
but the A-Z of Christianity. The gospel is
not just the minimum required doctrine
necessary to enter the kingdom, but the
way we make progress in the kingdom.”
Tim Keller

30. Why the Gospel is Important
“The gospel is not only the most
important message in all of history;
it is the only essential message in all
of history.”
Jerry Bridges

31. Greek Bible

32. Why the Gospel is Important
But he replied, “I must preach the
Good News of the Kingdom of God
in other towns, too, because that is
why I was sent.”
Luke 4:43 (NIV)

33. Jesus teaching
crowd

34. Why the Gospel is Important
For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and
to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 (NIV)

35. Jesus Dead on Cross

36. Why the Gospel is Important
This will happen when the Lord Jesus is
revealed from heaven in blazing fire with
his powerful angels. He will punish those
who do not know God and do not obey
the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will
be punished with everlasting destruction
and shut out from the presence of the
Lord and from the glory of his might.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NIV)

37. Jesus on Horse

38. Why the Gospel is Important
It is like a person building a house who
digs deep and lays the foundation on
solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and
break against that house, it stands firm
because it is well built. But anyone who
hears and doesn’t obey is like a person
who builds a house without a foundation.
When the floods sweep down against that
house, it will collapse into a heap of
ruins.”
Luke 6: 48-49 (NLT)

39. Foundation

40. Storm Clouds

41. Tsunami Destruction

42. Rock Foundation

43. Why the Gospel is Important
Now to him who is able to strengthen
you according to my gospel and the
preaching of Jesus Christ…
Romans 16:25 (ESV)

44. Woman Bench Pressing

45. Why the Gospel is Important
Strengthen, Establish
Stērizō - 1) to make stable, place
firmly, set fast, fix 2) to strengthen,
make firm 3) to render constant,
confirm one's mind.

46. Woman Bench Pressing

47. Why the Gospel is Important
But when I saw that their conduct
was not in step with the truth of the
gospel
Galatians 2:14 (ESV)

48. Lighthouse

49. Why the Gospel is Important
I am astonished that you are so
quickly deserting the one who called
you to live in the grace of Christ and
are turning to a different gospel—
which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently some people are throwing
you into confusion and are trying to
pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:6-7 (NIV)

50. Torah Scroll

51. Lots of Cash

52. Three Lane Street
Three Ways
to Live

53. Three Ways to Live
1. By the Law - Legalism
2. Against the Law - License
3. By the Gospel - Grace

54. Living by Law - Legalism
Legalism is adding our own efforts
and works to what Jesus did to
either attain or maintain our
justification before God and/or to
earn or keep God’s favor by what we
do.
Jesus + works = legalism

55. Against the Law - License
Moreover the law entered that the offense
might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace abounded much more, so that as
sin reigned in death, even so grace might
reign through righteousness to eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in
sin that grace may abound? Well then,
should we keep on sinning so that God
can show us more and more of his
wonderful grace?
Romans 5:20-6:1 (NLT)

56. Against the Law - License
Means “against the law” or “lawlessness”
and is the belief that there are no moral
laws God expects Christians to obey. It is
the unbiblical practice of living without
regard to the righteousness of God, using
God's grace as a license to sin, and
trusting grace to cover willful sin.
Jesus + abuse of grace = License to sin

57. Against the Law - License
Well then, should we keep on sinning so
that God can show us more and more of
his wonderful grace?
Romans 6:1 (NLT)

58. Against the Law - License
Of course not! Since we have died to sin,
how can we continue to live in it? Or have
you forgotten that when we were joined
with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined
him in his death? For we died and were
buried with Christ by baptism. And just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the
glorious power of the Father, now we also
may live new lives.
Romans 6:2-4 (NLT)

59. Three Lane Street

60. Blessings of the Gospel
1. Aligns our knowledge and
understanding of God, ourselves and
everything else with reality.
2. Moves us to love God and people.
3. Fills our lives with joy and
thanksgiving.
4. Gives meaning and purpose to our
lives and changes our priorities.
5. Guides us as we live out our lives.

61. Danger Sign

62. Satan

63. Why is the Gospel
Important?

64. The Gospel is Important
1. Because it was the reason that
God the Father sent Jesus.
2. Because it provides the means to
avoid judgment, hell and wrath.
3. Because it gives us a rock-solid
foundation on which to build our
lives.
4. Because it strengthens us
spiritually.

65. The Gospel is Important
5. Because it guides us on how to
live the best life.
6. Because it keeps us from being
deceived by false gospels.
7. Because it keeps us from falling
into legalism or licentiousness.
8. Because it provides the means to
avoid judgment, hell and wrath.

66. One Fingers in Air

67. Why the Gospel is Important
For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, because it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who
believes…
Romans 1:16 (NIV 84)

68. Reection
Does your life reflect that the gospel
is important to you?
What changes do you feel the Lord
wants you to make in your life in
light of the gospel?

69. Growing Deep
Grow Deep!

70. Grow Deep!
What you do with the gospel and
Jesus determines not only your
eternal destiny but how you live in
the here and now.

71. Grow Deep!
Resolve to make the gospel the
highest priority in your life and ask
Jesus to empower you to do so day
by day through the Holy Spirit.

72. Grow Deep!
Take the time to study, meditate and
pray over the gospel on a regular
basis so that you are continually
growing in your understanding of it.

73. Grow Deep!
As you grow in your knowledge and
understanding of the gospel take a
hold of it by faith and learn how to
live it out.

74. Last Word
Take a hold of the gospel so
Jesus can take a hold of you!

75. Invitation from Jesus

76. Walking on Path
The Gospel Journey
Take a hold of the gospel