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The uniqueness of the Gospel... Pastor Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.com) There is one message that is relevant for all times. It was yesterday's news. It is today's news. And it will be tomorrow's news also. It is the eternal Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are three things that make this message unique. For one, its power makes it unique. Secondly, its content makes it unique. And thirdly, its method of delivery makes it unique. Let's look at these three traits. For one its power makes it unique. Romans 1:16-17 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." The word power comes from the Greek word, dunamis. Dunamis is where we get our English word for dynamite. The power of the dynamite is intrinsic and must be released. According to scholars the phrase, power of God, is a unique construction of the original language. It essentially means two things in one. The Gospel is powerful and it is from God. It is the only "news" past, present, or future that can deliver a person from sin and its punishment to eternal life and reward. And its power is released when it is presented and received. The story is told about a family who took their two young children to see Carlsbad Caverns. As is typical of the tour and when the family reached the bottom of the canyon, the tour guide turned out the lights to dramatize the darkness and silence below the earth's surface. After being enveloped in darkness for a couple of minutes, one of the children began to cry. The parents took the child in their arms to comfort her. As they reassured her, her older brother blurted out, "Don't cry sis. Somebody down here knows how to turn the lights on." This is a good illustration of the Gospel's power. It, and it alone, is able to "turn on the light" in the midst of overwhelming darkness and despair. The second unique quality about the Gospel is its content. I Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul writes, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" The Gospel's content is short and sweet. It's not an elaborate theology explained, or a lofty hypothesis exerted. It is simply a declaration of truth presented that breaks Satan's hold on men. There are three key elements in the Gospel's content. First, Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross for our sin. This He did because it was prophesied throughout the Old Testament. The Bible speaks clearly of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) who would come in to the world to suffer and die as a sacrificial lamb of slaughter. Another key element is the fact that Jesus was buried. In other words, He died and was put away forever. When He died, my old nature of sin died with Him (Galatians 2:20). He died a vicarious death. He died in my place. I was the one who was guilty and needed to die. But Christ died for me. By placing my faith in the Gospel, I died with Him. My sin was destroyed. My sickness and pains were forever judged defeated foes. Then thirdly, Jesus arose from the dead. In other words, death could not hold Him. And although death will one day claim me, it will not hold me in the grave. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will raise me up from the grave also. I now live by resurrection power! The Gospel content is concise and powerful with its three points. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. And He arose on the third day just as the Bible had predicted for centuries. The third unique quality about the Gospel is its method of delivery. It is to be proclaimed by word and action. In Romans 10:14-15 says, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And How shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Whether we package the message in drama, picture, or words its power is released when we go forth and present it. We need not add anything to the message. We simply preach the message--testify to its power by living it--and the message does all the rest. It is the message that saves the sinner, not the medium in which it is given. Again, I can preach it from the pulpit. I can dramatize it in a skit in the park. I can paint its message as a mural on a wall. No matter which medium I may choose to present the Gospel, it is the message itself that breaks the holds of sin. This is certainly illustrated well with the Passion of the Christ. The message was presented in media format for a visual effect. The language spoken by the actors was not English and yet thousands were powerfully moved by the movie's message--the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The three point Gospel carries all the power needed to change the heart of man. In conclusion remember this. The Gospel is unique within itself. It does not need novelty to make it appropriate for the modern man. We need to preach it. We need to live it. We need to embrace it always. The Gospel or Good News is that Jesus died for our sins on the Cross as the Bible had predicted long before it became a fact of history. He was buried in a tomb. On the third day, He arose from the grave by the power of the Holy Spirit to live forevermore. You may tell the story. You may demonstrate the story. You may paint a canvass with the story, but it is the message that breaks the back of the devil and frees men from their sins. Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again. Pastor T.