THE GOOD NEWS

In his book "The Birth", Gene Edwards imagines the excitement that must have been among the angels when they knew that they were, at last, going to be able to announce the birth of the Messiah. They knew that John was to be his forerunner, but when he was born in Bethlehem, they were going to be able to herald first of all that the savior was born.

Their excitement was great, but it pales beside the message that we have. He not only was born, but he died for the sins of the world, and after three days arose from the grave to live again. His message for the world today is, "I go to prepare a place for you" "If the angels were excited, how much more ought we to be excited! This is the greatest good news there is in the world today.

1. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospelof Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyonethat believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
A. What reason does the writer give for not being ashamed of the gospel?
B. For whom is this message "good news"?
C. Why was the good news for the Jew first?
D. Why does he mention only "Jew" and "Greek".
E. Were there not more nations than those?

2. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures:"
A. What three events does Paul list as making up the gospel?
B. When he uses the words "according to the scriptures" twice, what scriptures does he mean?
C. How many witnesses does he refer to in verse 5?
D. Verse six adds how many more?
E. How many witnesses are required under Jewish custom to establish a truth?

3. John 3:16,17 "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved."
A. So what was the purpose of God in sending his Son into the world?
B. Who does verse nineteen tell us is already condemned.? Why?
C. Why would men "love darkness rather than light"?

4. Acts 2:38 "Peter said unto them repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
A. On the day of Pentecost, Peter adds two results of believing the facts of the gospel. What are they?
B. What two things are the result?
C. What had Jesus called the Holy Spirit when he spoke of leaving the apostles, but that he would send the Spirit? (Comforter)
D. What is the chief purpose of the Spirit in our lives today?(Comfort, guide, protect)

5. Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
A. We have another "unto" word here. What is it?
B. What is this word spoken of as being unto?
C. Verse thirteen makes a very clear statement we need to remember? What is it?
D. Read also verses fourteen and fifteen.

6. Acts 3:19 This is how men and women became Christians in New Testament times. -
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"
A. If repentance is Godly sorrow for our sins, then what does it mean to "be converted?"

7. Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
A. What two things did Philip preach?
C. "The kingdom of God" and "Jesus Christ" must have also included Baptism. How do we know this?

8. Acts 8:35-38 "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water , both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
A. What did the eunuch say that he believed?
B. How did Philip ask if he believed? (With all his heart)
C. Why did they both go down into the water?

9. Acts 16:31-34 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway."
A. How do we know that there were no children in the house of the jailer?
(They preached "to all that were in his house")

10. Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
A. According to verse eighteen, by whose authority does our Lord give this great commission? (His own, all authority has been given to him.)
B. Who are they (and we) to teach? (All Nations)
C. In whose names are baptism to be performed?
D. What are the limitations of what we are to teach?
E. Are we alone in this work of the Lord? (No)
F. How long is this promise to be for?
G. This being so, is the promise only for the apostles? (For all Christians)

11. Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
A. What are the parallels of these four elements of worship as we knowthem today?
1) Bible study;
2) hymns, giving;
3) the Lord’s Table or communion service;
4) Prayers.
B. The dictionary defines "steadfast" as firm, or unchanging.
C. Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Clearly we need that fellowship we only find with others of like faith!
D. Acts 20:7 "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them," Paul knew they would gather on the first day of the week. (Not the Sabbath day.) It was the custom of the church.

The purpose was to worship as in Acts 2:42.