Receiving the Good News

March 26, 1989 PM, Easter Sunday evening

II Corinthians 5:16-21 - I Corinthians 15:1-3,4-8

I. We exist for the sake of the gospel

. . . and the heart of the gospel is Jesus this is the heart of our faith: Jesus has conquered death and hell.

  1. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
  2. that he was buried (there was no mistake: Jesus was dead)
  3. that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
  4. that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time then he appeared to James ... then to all the apostles

    That is the gospel! But it isn't quite enough for Paul!

  5. Last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born — Paul said: "I had to receive this gospel for myself!

II. "What I received ..."

This is something of what Paul is speaking about by "receiving" the gospel Paul cannot be content with simply human persuasion: Paul has to hear from God Himself. And so do WE!

The story of how Paul met Jesus is relevant to Easter Sunday evening. [My favorite story is the walk to Emmaus. The two people surprised by Jesus. But what I am saying this evening is; everybody can have an Emmaus Road experience. Paul had His— only it was a "Road to Damascus" experience!

Jesus did not appear to Paul out of the blue, un-introduced. I am not sure that He ever does come without some "human contact."

Paul met Jesus first through a man named Stephen.

Paul's zeal. His nagging doubt about being "right" when he sees how Stephen died. But Paul is able to put all this behind him, and go on with his own way.

The encounter with the living, risen Savior changes Paul forever.

[It is wonderful if we truly believe but 'believing' is more than simply deciding that "now I will believe in Jesus, that he died for me and rose again!" Believing is a gift of God.

How we believe has mysterious elements.

'unconscious' factors: people 'living out' their faith deliberate factors: witness in the spirit to a decision

II Corinthians 5:17 "A new creature in Christ!"

Paul wrote later (II Corinthians 5:16-21) When you meet the risen Savior you will be a new creation! It will be beyond mere human persuasion! Not even having know Jesus in the flesh will suffice now!

You must have RECEIVED JESUS! What does this "RECEIVED" mean??? [Also found in I Corinthians 11:23-26 "Received ... Delivered"]

I have received:[received= (Grk.) paralambano/ to associate with/ to assume an office/ to take unto ones' self; a sacred trust; a permanent injunction; a challenge to perpetuate.]

III. But Paul says: what I received I also delivered!

I have delivered unto you: [delivered= (Grk.) paraDIDomai/ surrender/ yield up/ entrust/ transmit/ give over (as, an important prisoner, OR, as a doctrine carefully handed over we must be part of this 'receiving-delivering' chain. We must not be satisfied until we can say:

I have delivered this faith about life to ["you!"]

"Delivered ... Received"

Delivering the truth about life and death: This is not something Paul "made up." He wants us to see that it is the most precious thing he knows. Paul cannot "deliver" this truth alone. He needs help. Our faith must be REVEALED to us from God. but in the completion of receiving comes the acceptance of the fact: we are also to take some part in the task of delivering! "What I received I also delivered to you!"

The world needs the delivery of this truth: Jesus is alive. He is stronger than all earth's problems. He is bigger than YOUR problems and mine.

Can it be that the world doesn't get delivery because the church hasn't realized how rich it is when it is poor, and how poor it is when it tries to save the world with its own wisdom and strength and power?

We don't have to "arrive" to begin delivery. We don't have to be completely mature and finished. We just have to be pure vessels through which the Holy Spirit can pour Himself!

What a joy it is to 'make a delivery!' about this great conquering savior!

[Marion Janes (excuse me for talking in front of her!) sang last Friday in 1st Baptist, Braintree. On the way home she said: "I can't tell you how much better I feel after I sang than I did before!" She was delivering what she had received!]

Have you 'received' saving faith? By a deliberate acceptance of the challenge to lordship, to faith?

Will you seek to be a 'deliverer of the faith'? At least in some measure?

#52 Ye Servants of God