Key Elements of the Gospel

Series Break • Luke 24:44-49 • August 23, 2020

 
 
 

Luke 24:44-49 NASB

44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Notes

Before Christ ascended to the Father, He opened the minds of His disciples about how He fulfilled the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. Furthermore, He gave his apostles final instructions about certain truths: His death, resurrection, and the message of repentance. He expected them to proclaim what they witnessed, His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Moreover, they were to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His name. No other name. This gospel message should spread to every nation, which would mean tribes, languages, and people groups.

  1. The Lord reminded His disciples what He taught them about Himself and that He was the fulfillment of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. He opened their minds to understand the Holy Scriptures (44-45).

  2. The Lord explained that He, the Christ, should suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day. And that repentance for forgiveness should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations (46-47).

  3. The disciples witnessed His suffering, death, and resurrection. Thus, Christ called them His witnesses. He assured them of the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, who would empower them (48-49).

Application

  1. Believe that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. We should study the Old Testament with the New Testament lens, which makes Christ the center of God’s plan.

  2. A key element in the gospel is the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord, which we must proclaim. Moreover, we should preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His name to all people groups and tribes.

  3. We believe the statements of His apostles about who Jesus Christ is. And we echo what they witnessed about His death and resurrection. We trust that His Holy Spirit accompanies us with power.

  4. In our present context, we should find ways for people be exposed to the Gospel message through the internet, and from house to house. Thus, we encourage you to start new growth groups online and to start house churches.

  5. In His time, we shall extend our ministry to other areas of Bicol and the world. But we must begin to learn to welcome people in our homes where we may proclaim His word.

Discussion Guide

  1. What does it mean when Christ opened the mind of His disciples? (44-45)

  2. What are the key elements of the gospel? (46-47)

  3. What did the Father promise to His witnesses? (48-49)

  4. How should we preach the gospel?

  5. How may we faithfully fulfill the command of Christ in our context?