TEXT:  Acts 2:38-39;  Matt. 28:19-20;  Mark 16:15-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      3 PASSAGES - ONE THEME - "THE GOSPEL IS FOR ALL!"

B.      WHAT GIVES THE GOSPEL ITS UNIVERSAL APPEAL?

C.      THE GOSPEL IS APPEALING BECAUSE:

I.      IT SATISFIES.

A.      MAN'S NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD( John 1:18;  14:6-10 ).

B.      MAN'S SPIRITUAL APPETITE.

          1.       Where he comes from( Acts 17:28-29 ).

          2.       Why he is here( Ecc. 12:13-14 ).

          3.       Where he is going( John 5:28-29 ).

C.      MAN'S NEED OF A SAVIOR( James 1:21 ).

          1.       Man does need a Savior( Rom. 3:23;  6:23 ).

          2.       The gospel reveals Jesus as our Savior( Acts 5:30-31;  Acts 4:12 ).

          3.       It reveals how he became our Savior( Matt. 20:28;  1 Pet. 1:18-19;  2:24 ).

D.      MAN'S NEED TO KNOW WHAT HE MUST DO( 2 Tim. 3:15-17;  2 Pet. 1:3 ).

II.     IT IS ENDURING( Luke 21:33 ).

A.      IT WILL ENDURE LONG ENOUGH TO JUDGE MAN( John 12:48 ).

B.      THOSE WHO OBEY WILL ENDURE, ALSO( 1 John 2:15-17 ).

III.    IT IS REWARDING.

A.      GOD CALLS US BY THE GOSPEL( 2 Thess. 2:14 ).

B.      WE ARE CALLED BY THE GOSPEL UNTO:

          1.       Freedom( Gal. 5:13;  Rom. 6:17-18 ).

          2.       Peace( Col. 3:15 )>>>>"quiet conviction( Phil. 4:6-7 ).

          3.       Eternal Life( 1 Tim. 6:12 ).

          4.       The kingdom( 1 Thess. 2:12 ).

          5.       A share in the glory of God( 1 Pet. 5:10 ).

C.      WE ARE THE CALLED OUT( 1 Pet. 2:9-10 ).

CONCLUSION:  IT IS SIMPLE.

A.      GOD LOVES YOU( John 3:16;  Rom. 5:8 ).

B.      MAN MUST RETURN THAT LOVE( Luke 10:27 ).

C.      HOW IS OUR LOVE FOR MAN MANIFESTED?( 1 John 3:18 ).

D.      HOW IS OUR LOVE FOR GOD MANIFESTED?( John 14:15 ).