Urgency of the Gospel

TEXT:  2 Tim. 4:1-2

INTRODUCTION:

A.      AN URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN.

B.      STATEMENTS INDICATING URGENCY.

          1.       Jeremiah( Jer. 20:7-9 ).          

          2.       John the Baptist( Matt. 3:2 ). 

          3.       Jesus( John 9:4;  Luke 19:40 ).

          4.       The apostles( Acts 4:20 ).

C.      WHY THE RUSH?  WHAT'S THE URGENCY?

I.      BECAUSE THE WORLD IS LOST.

A.      SIN IS UNIVERSAL( Isa. 53:6;  Rom. 3:23;  1 John 5:19 ).

B.      THE NEED FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION( 1 Pet. 5:8 ).

C.      SIN HAS HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCE( Isa. 59:1-2;  Eph. 2:1, 12 ).

D.      THE WORLD LIVES IN FEAR( Matt. 10:28;  2 Cor. 5:11 ).

II.     BECAUSE JESUS DIED TO SAVE SINNERS.

A.      WHY DID JESUS COME?( Luke 19:10;  1 Tim. 1:15 ).

B.      WHAT DID THIS ENTAIL?

          1.       Heb. 2:9, 14-15.  Becoming flesh and dying.

          2.       Rom. 5:8-9.  He died for us, in our place( 1 Pet. 4:24 ).

C.      URGENCY IN THAT THERE IS NO OTHER( John 14:6;  Acts 4:12 ).

D.      IF THE LOST HAD AN OPTION, THE GOSPEL WOULD NOT BE SO

          URGENT.  THERE IS NONE!  IF ONE IS NOT SAVED BY CHRIST, HE

          WILL BE LOST FOREVER!

III.    BECAUSE THE GOSPEL CAN SAVE.

A.      PAUL AND THE REST( 1 Cor. 2:2;  3:11;  1:22-24 ).

B.      ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN( 1 Cor. 1:21 ).

C.      GOD'S POWER IS IN THE GOSPEL( Rom. 1:16 ).

D.      THAT POWER IS THE INFORMATION IT CONTAINS( Rom. 1:17 ).

          1.       It tells of man's condition( Rom. 3:23;  6:23 ).

          2.       It tells of the sacrifice( 1 Cor. 15:1, 3-4 ).

          3.       It tells what we must do( Mark 16:15-16;  Rom. 6:3-4 ).

          5.       It tells how we must live( Titus 2:11-12 ).

E.      NO INFORMATION IS LACKING( 2 Tim. 3:16-17;  2 Pet. 1:3 ).

F.      WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION WE ARE LOST( Prov. 14:25;  Jer. 10:23 ).

G.      Romans 10:13-15!

CONCLUSION:

A.      TIME IS FLEETING( 2 Cor. 6:1-2 ).

B.      DO NOT LET THIS CRY BE HEARD( Jer. 8:20-22 ).

C.      THE LOST CANNOT BE SAVED WITHOUT IT, AND WE CANNOT BE

          SAVED UNLESS WE PREACH IT.