BINDING TIE OF THE GOSPEL

-Introduction

-Phil 4:4 – We as Christians should rejoice.

            -Remember, Paul wrote to the Philippians while imprisoned in Rome.

            -Yet, in this letter we find the word rejoice in one form or another 12 times.

-Acts 8:39 – The Ethiopian rejoiced because he had obeyed the Gospel and therefore

                     had received forgiveness of sins, was a child of God and now had an

                     inheritance to look forward to – everlasting life.

-I Pet 1:3-4, 9

-But, let’s not forget that, as Christians, we have many blessing here and now.

            -Eph 1:3

            -We have hope, peace and comfort that helps us through the challenges of life.

            -By following the scriptures we can have a good attitude regardless of our situations

              and can be more content (Phil 4:11, 1 Tim 6:6).

            -We can truly understand what is most important and therefore enjoy a true quality

               of life.

-And, one of the greatest blessings of being a Christian, is being a part of the Christian

  family.

-The Gospel truly does bind people together.

-The Binding Tie of the Gospel of Christ

-There is nothing that brings people together like the Gospel.

            -The Gospel doesn’t distinguish between cultural differences, racial differences,

              social differences, economic differences, educational differences, gender differences

              and so on.

            -Whether people are young or old; rich or poor; black, white, Hispanic or so on;

              whether they didn’t finish high school or have a masters or doctorate; whether they

              are from a large city or a small, rural community; whether they work in a suit and tie

              or in blue jeans and a t-shirt; whether they are male or female – as Christians, the

              Gospel brings them/us together.

            -Gal 3:26-29

-In life, we can develop many friendships.  But, in the church, we develop true

  relationships.  We are a family.

            -Consider the song, “God’s Family”.

            -Col 2:1-2, Heb 13:1, 1 Pet 3:8

-Example of Paul and Timothy

-Acts 16:1-3

-Phil 2:19, 22

-1 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 1:2-4, 2 Tim 4:9

-Example of Paul and Barnabas

-Although we see the good friendship that developed between Paul and Timothy through

  the Gospel, let’s consider Paul’s circumstances when he first became a Christian.

-Remember, Paul was known as Saul and was a severe persecutor of the Christians.

            -Acts 8:1-4

            -Acts 9:1-2

-Of course we know that Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus and Paul was

  converted to and through the Gospel.

            -Acts 22:16

            -But, remember Ananias had been hesitant to go to Paul (because of his reputation)

              even when Jesus appeared to him. – Acts 9:13-14

-Acts 9:19-27

-We see that because of the Gospel, Barnabas was there for Paul and stood up for him.

-Example of Paul and Philip

-I do think there is another wonderful example of the binding tie of the Gospel that can be

  rather easy to miss.

-The time, it involves Philip.

            -Acts 6:5

-In the context of the Christians being scattered due to Paul’s persecution, we find in Acts

  8:5 that Philip went into Samaria.

            -So, we find Philip being part of those who were scattered abroad because of Paul.

-Oh, but that changed greatly due to the binding tie of the Gospel.

            -Acts 21 – Paul is returning from his third missionary journey.

            -Acts 21:8-10

            -Philip, who fled from Paul now made his house available and open to him.

-Again, the Gospel is the tie that binds.

-Summary and Invitation

-We have a large, large family scattered throughout the world.

-When you travel, you can find people who are automatically your friends because of the

   Gospel.

            -Example of Norwood when in Louisiana.

-Yes, we as Christians have blessings here and now that we should be thankful for and

  should rejoice because of.

-Best of all, the Gospel ties us (not only to one another) but to our God in heaven.

            -When Jesus was teaching the disciples to pray and gave the model prayer, He started

              it with “Our Father”.

            -Gal 3:26-29

            -Jesus Himself is our brother.  Matt 12:50, Heb 2:11

-Mark 10:28-30

-Why would you not want to be a Christian?  You can enjoy the blessings found in this

   life and look forward to an everlasting life in heaven.

            -Obey the Gospel – Believe, Confess, Repent, Be Baptized, Walk in Newness of Life

            -Continue faithfully.

October 16, 2005