The Content of the Gospel
A Sermon on Acts 8:35
Scripture
35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Sermon Description
What makes the gospel so unique? In the sermon “The Content of the Gospel,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones opens Acts 8:35 and shows how the good news of Jesus Christ is not a message of human invention. The gospel of Christ is by design opposed to the ways of sinful people who do not know God. For this reason, it is a great stumbling block to Jew and Gentile alike. This is because the Christian message is one of salvation from sins by the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who died upon a cross so that all who are sinful could be counted righteous before God. So, it is not a matter of personal experience nor is it about mystical revelations. The truth of Christianity is revealed truth and it is found in God’s holy and inspired word. This is the sure and steady foundation for Christianity, for in it is all that is needed to achieve godliness and holiness. It is in this word that the truth of what Jesus Christ did on Calvary’s cross is found. When the Christian stands to proclaim the truth of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, they do not come on the basis of experience, but with the very words of the living God.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon text is Acts 8:35 which reads “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.”
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Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch provide an example of how one becomes a Christian. While the details may differ, there are fundamental principles that are always present.
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Philip had authority and knew exactly what to say because he had a clear message from God found in Scripture. He did not speculate or share his opinions.
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The Christian message is not seeking or a quest for truth. Christians have found the truth in Jesus Christ.
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The Christian message is not just relating one’s experience. While experiences may differ, the fundamental message of the Gospel does not change.
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Philip began with the Scripture the eunuch was reading and used it to preach Jesus. There is a unity in the Bible's message from beginning to end.
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The message of the Bible is that the world has gone wrong due to sin but God has provided redemption through Jesus Christ.
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The Old Testament points forward to Jesus Christ. The Gospels show He has come. Acts looks back to Him. The Epistles explain Him. Revelation shows He is coming again.
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Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died and rose again. He came to seek and save the lost by providing forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
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One becomes a Christian by repenting of sin, being baptized, and believing in Jesus Christ. This results in salvation and rejoicing.
The Book of Acts
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.