And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop  teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42 

Acts 3: 13-26,4:1-12; 13: 12-42

Recurrent Thought

Telling the Good found in the Gospel is the essence of testifying Christ to the Lost. Essentially, it stands on two truths: God is good and what He has done for us is good!

The Gospel is the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is “Good” because of what it stands on and what it proffers to humanity.  When human beings fell in Sin (Gen. 3) their relationship with God broke down and remained irreparable except only when God himself crossed the chasm with help. He did this through the atoning blood of animal sacrifice. The animal sacrifice, however, spoke of Jesus who in essence died before the earth existed (Rev. 13:8). 

Jesus and the New Testament Church articulated with simplicity the elements of “Good” in his coming. They clearly showed that his arrival, which was the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, was a “good thing,” worth heralding. The Acts of the Apostles reveals some lists of doctrinal elements that became essential in articulating the beliefs of the Church. These are the Apostles’ Teaching 

Apostles Teaching (Acts 2: 42)

The Apostles Teaching became a standard narration of principles that the New Testament Church preached during its formative period. Essentially, it had three-fold emphasis. First, it narrates the incarnation of the Christ into human form. This uses the O.T historical narratives of the Patriarchs and how they foretold the coming of the Christ and who later is seen in his humanity as a son of Joseph. Second, it narrates the Work of Jesus as manifested in his Crucifixion, Burial Resurrection and his Ascension to glory with the promise of his coming. Third, it also revealed the blessing of the arrival of the Christ to humanity. The arrival of the Christ leads to the transformation of Human beings. This demanded people to respond to the message of the Kingdom. In the Early Church, proclaiming these pieces of the Apostolic Teaching was called the kerygma (proclamation).

Two Examples of the Apostles Preaching (the Kerygma)

Proclamation (Kerygma) by Peter (Acts 3:13-26,4:1-12)

• The Event is the healing the man who used to stay at the Temple Gate Beautiful 
• He shows that Jesus healed the man. Furthermore, he proceeds to narrate the historical narrative of the arrival of the Christ, who was Jesus in the flesh (Acts 5: 47).
• He shows how Jesus was confirmed as the foretold Messiah through fulfillment of prophecies 
• Glorified Son of God (Jesus 3: 13) ; Holy and Righteous one (3:14); The Author of Life (3:15); The Suffering Messiah (3: 18); The Prophet (3: 22) Like unto Moses; God’s Servant (3: 26); Rejected Stone (4: 11); and there is No other name (4:12) for salvation

Proclamation by Paul (Acts 13:13-42)

• Paul and Barnabas are received in the synagogue where they are given opportunity to greet and share something 
• He outlines the prophetic background of the Messiah and connects it with the Jesus who came and lived among them to the end of dying on the Cross.
• He mentions the prophetic credentials of Jesus that showed he was the message

The Two Major Elements of Good in the Gospel

1. Jesus Dying for humanity is one Major Good in the Gospel
   • The Good in the Gospel is that nothing is normal and usual about Jesus identifying with and dying for humanity
   • The arrival of Jesus was a total humiliation of deity (Phi. 2: 5). 
   • The paradox is that the only person who could save humanity was God. None had capacity to do it. 
   • The paradox is that God would never save humanity in his essence as God. He needed to be man to save man
     
     (Heb. 4:14: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
      
   • The paradox is that the holy died for the unholy. 
   • Jesus had to fulfill all that was necessary for him to the lamb of God (John 1:29)
   • The Apostles Teaching was centered on showing that Jesus is the Christ, or the Christ is Jesus
   • The Gospel is empty without the incarnation of Jesus and his upbringing
   • The Gospel shows the relation of the messiah to the prophesies about him
   • What Jesus did was all for human beings. 
   • As you testify don’t Forget that the Gospel Stands on the Finished Work of Jesus; on his capacity and not ours. 
2. The Undeserving being Saved is another Major Good in the Gospel
   • The Good in the Gospel is the fact that God is good to the undeserving. He went to extreme lengths to give eternally life-changing good to humanity.
   • Don’t forget the Good for humanity found in the Gospel 
   • The humiliation of Jesus (Phil. 2:5-11), which includes his taking up human form (incarnation) and vicariously dying for human beings, repaired the broken relationship between God and humanity and permanently bridged the chasm created by the human Fall (Gen. 3).
   • The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, also called “The Work of Jesus” forever and marvelously changed the estate of humanity. It is the good eternally imprinted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Humanity that had no hope now has hope in God.
   • Forgiveness of Sins is the Good to the undeserving and is worth Announced to all (Acts 13:38)
   • The Good in the Gospel is the fact that through this man, the resurrected one, Forgiveness of sin is programed 
     
     Act 13:38  Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (ESV)
     Act 13:38  Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, (NET)
      
   • Justification from everything that Made us Guilty is the Good For all 
     
     Act 13:39  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (ESV)
     Act 13:39  and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you (NET)
      
   • Many times we have described justification as a state where you are counted righteous before God. Legally absorb you of the guilt, because another one went to the cross for you.
   • However, we must emphasis that there is also a larger meaning of this benefit of the Cross. It means God renders you innocent and holy.

As You testify to others never forget the good that is in the gospel.

Altar Time

1. Lord, thank you for doing the impossible and allowing Jesus to die for us
2. Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins, and justifying from all unrighteousness 
3. Lord, help me to testify of the Good in the Gospel