The Very Heart of the Gospel

Q: What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

The Bible teaches that we are to forgive one another as God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). The Bible emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, particularly in Ephesians 4:32, where Paul instructs believers to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to one another. This forgiveness is modeled after God's own mercy towards us, as He forgives us for Christ's sake. This means that our forgiveness towards others should be a direct reflection of the grace that we have received from God. When we remember that we have been forgiven an insurmountable debt by Christ, it compels us to extend that same grace to others, fostering a spirit of kindness and love within the Christian community.

Q: How do we know God forgives us for Christ's sake?

We know God forgives us for Christ's sake because Scripture consistently affirms it, highlighting Christ's atoning sacrifice and mediation (Hebrews 10:21-24). We can trust that God forgives us for Christ's sake based on the clarity of Scripture and the nature of God's dealings with humanity. In Hebrews 10:21-24, Paul explains that because we have a great high priest in Christ, we can approach God confidently. Our forgiveness rests on the completed work of Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, paid the price for our sins. The phrase 'for Christ's sake' signifies that our standing before God is not predicated on our deeds or righteousness but on the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us. This profound truth underlines the essence of the Gospel: our acceptance before God is secure because of Christ's sacrifice, assuring us of our forgiveness.

Q: Why is the concept of mercy important for Christians?

The concept of mercy is crucial because it reflects God’s character and our need for forgiveness, which is central to the Christian faith. Mercy is a central theme in Christianity, embodying the essence of God's love and grace towards sinners. The Bible teaches us that mercy is foundational to our relationship with God. Ephesians 4:32 calls us to forgive one another as we have been forgiven, showcasing how being recipients of God's grace compels us to extend that grace to others. Understanding mercy leads to gratitude and humility, reinforcing the reality that we are all in need of God's forgiveness. This recognition transforms our hearts, motivating us to display mercy in our interactions. Ultimately, mercy not only shapes our individual lives but also cultivates a loving and forgiving community that mirrors the heart of the Gospel.

I want you to turn in your Bibles
to the book of Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32. My subject today
is entitled, The Heart of the Gospel, The Very Heart of the
Gospel. Now, I'd like for you to look
at this verse of Scripture, and look at it carefully with me.
Ephesians 4, verse 32. And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you. Now there are three words in
that verse of scripture that I call the very heart of the
gospel. Look at the verse again. Be ye
kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Now those three words which
I believe are the very heart of the gospel of these for Christ's
sake now you hear those words used in wrath and anger confusion
men are angry or filled with wrath and they use it in a blasphemous
way as an oath for Christ's sake but there are no more precious
words in the human vocabulary no more important words in these
three for Christ's sake for Christ's sake These three words are the
foundation of mercy. God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven
you. These three words are the three
most important words in prayer for Christ's sake. Our Lord said,
if you ask anything of the Father in my name, according to my will,
or for my sake, they shall be done. So those three words are
the foundation of mercy. God, for Christ's sake, has shown
you mercy. And the three most important
words in prayer, for Christ's sake, I pray it in the name of
Christ. And then these three words are
the key to the Old Testament scriptures. In Acts chapter 10
verse 43, the scripture says to him, give all the prophets
witness. That's what it's all about. It's
about Christ. The writings of Moses, the writings
of the minor prophets, the writings of David in the Psalms, the writings
of Isaiah, it's about Christ. for Christ's sake. And these
words are the key to divine healing. All healing that God the Father
does is for the sake of His Son. You know when Peter came to the
man at the gate who was laying from his mother's womb and he
said to him, silver and gold have I none, but such as I have,
give I unto thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, you rise up and walk. It was for Christ's sake that
that man was healed. And then these three words are
the password to the throne of grace. We can come to the throne
of grace to find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
But there's a reason why we can come to the throne of grace,
and that is because we have a high priest at the right hand of God
who makes intercession for us. And because, Paul said in Hebrews
10, because we have such a high priest, let us come boldly. let us come with a full assurance
knowing that we shall be heard. So these three words, for Christ's
sake, are the foundation of mercy, they're the three most important
words in prayer, they're the key to the Old Testament scriptures,
they're the key to divine healing, and they're the password to the
throne of grace. Now, if I should die tonight,
and there's a great possibility that I might, or you might, Because
our Lord said, verse not thyself of tomorrow, you know not what
a day shall bring forth. And David said, teach me to number
my days, that I may apply my heart to wisdom. I may die tonight,
and I may stand before God. And suppose God were to ask me
this question, why should I let a sinner like you into the kingdom
of glory, into the kingdom of grace? Why should I let a sinner
like you into my holy presence? I wouldn't plead my good works.
I wouldn't be that foolish. I wouldn't say, well, because
I've preached in your name, and because I've done many wonderful
works in your name, and because I've cast out devils in your
name, because I've already read in the scripture where some folks
pleaded that at the judgment, and Christ said to them, depart
from me, I never knew you. So if God said, why should I
let a fellow like you into my kingdom? I wouldn't say, well,
I've done many wonderful works, because I may hear him say, just
what he said to those people, I never knew you. And then I
wouldn't plead my righteousnesses, because I know what Isaiah said
about our righteousness. He says, our righteousnesses
are filthy rags. I know what Paul said about the
flesh. He said, in the flesh dwelleth no good thing. I know
what he said about the flesh when he said, in the flesh no
man can please God. And I know what he said and what
he meant when he said, by the works or the deeds of the law
shall no flesh be justified. So I'm not going to plead that.
Suppose the father said, well, why should I let a wretch like
you, a sinner like you, into my kingdom? Well, I'm not going
to plead my faithfulness because I know this, what the old songwriter
said, if one sheep of Christ could fall away, I would fall
a thousand times a day. I know that, and you ought to
know it. And then I wouldn't plead my church membership, because
I remember a fellow named Judas, who was one of the apostles,
who was a member of the early church, who walked with Christ
for three and a half years. And I remember another fellow
named Simon Magus, who was baptized, and a fellow named Demas, who
was a companion of the Apostle Paul. So I'm not going to plead
that. It won't work. Well, what am I going to plead?
I'll tell you the only thing that I choose to plead. I would
say, Admit me into thy kingdom. Receive me into your presence
for Christ's sake. That's the foundation. That's
the foundation of forgiveness and pardon and regeneration and
eternal life. Receive me for Christ's sake.
Take away this foundation and the whole building falls down.
Now I want you to see two or three things from this message.
I'm saying that these three words, for Christ's sake, these three
words are the heart of the gospel. the very foundation of the gospel,
the very essence of the gospel. Now, the reason for mercy is
for Christ's sake. Even as God, He said, now you
forgive one another, you be kind to one another, you be tender-hearted,
remember that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you and shown
you mercy. Why is God the Father pleased
and moved to forgive me for Christ's sake? Why is God the Father pleased
to pardon sinners for Christ's sake? When we do something for
someone's sake or for the sake of another, there's got to be
a reason. If I do something for the sake of another person, there's
got to be a reason. And I'm going to give you some
of the reasons why I believe that God pardons sinners, God
forgives sinners, God gives life to sinners for Christ's sake.
Now here's the first reason. God shows mercy to sinners for
Christ's sake because of the glory of his person. because
of who he is. Listen. When our Lord was standing
in the river Jordan, having been baptized by John the Baptist,
the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descended upon him in
the form of a dove, and God the Father spake from heaven and
said, This, this is my beloved Son. This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased. Again, when our Lord was transfigured
before the apostles' eyes on that mountain, on that high mountain
that day when Moses and Elijah appeared with him, the voice
from heaven spake again and said, This is my beloved son, hear
ye him. Here's the first reason why God
will pardon you for Christ's sake, why God will receive me
for Christ's sake, why God will receive a sinner for Christ's
sake, because of who he is. Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14 tells
us this, Behold, the Lord himself shall give you a sign. A virgin
shall conceive and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name Immanuel, which is being interpreted, God with us. Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary,
walked the streets of Jerusalem, crucified on a cross, buried
and rose again, is none other than God Almighty. That's right,
Isaiah 9, 6 says, Under us a child is born, under us a son is given. His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. And then in Philippians 2, verse
5, Paul writing about the Master says, Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus, who thought it not robbery to
be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation. and took upon
himself the form of a servant, and being obedient even to the
death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted
him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, earth,
under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that he
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." And Paul writing
in Colossians says, "...in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sin through his blood, who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature. One day Philip said to him, Lord,
show us the Father. Give us a glimpse of the Father.
Let us see the Father, and we'll be satisfied. And our Lord replied,
Philip, have I been so long time with you, and yet thou hast not
known me? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Yes, God
shows mercy to sinners for Christ's sake. First of all, because of
who He is. Who is Jesus Christ? When the
angels appeared to the shepherds that morning on that Judean hillside,
they said, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men. We bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. Unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. the Lord. That's the reason.
Let me give you a second reason. God shows mercy to sinners for
Christ's sake because of who he is. He is the eternal, he
is the immutable, he is the infinite, he is the almighty, he is the
sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. And God shows mercy to
sinners for Christ's sake because of the work which he hath done. And my friends, if we accurately
preach the work of Christ in We have to present Christ's work.
Now listen to me. And this is so important. If
we accurately preach the work of Christ in redemption, if we
accurately tell sinners how God saves sinners through Christ
and his person and his work and what he did actually to redeem
us, we have to begin back in eternity past and we have to
go all the way to eternity future. Now you don't present the whole
Christ, the complete Christ, the redeeming Christ, unless
you talk about what he did in the past, what he did yonder
on Calvary, what he's doing now, and what he shall do. In order
to accurately present the work of Christ for sinners, you have
to go back to the time when he first represented sinners, when
he first undertook to save sinners, when he first undertook to be
their surety. That's right. Way back yonder
before the creation of the world. Before God ever put the sun in
space. Before God ever put the stars
in their place. Before God ever made the world.
Before the foundations of this world were ever laid. Christ,
listen to me, was the Lamb slain. That's what God says in His Word.
He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
I'm saying that the Bible teaches There was a Savior before there
was ever a sinner. There was a Savior purposed,
provided. There was a Savior presented
before there was ever a sinner. That's right, a Savior for sinners
before the sinners ever fell. Christ Jesus is the surety of
the eternal covenant. It's an everlasting covenant.
And in Ephesians chapter 1, verse 3 and 4, read that. Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath chosen
us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians
2.13, I thank God for you, beloved of the Lord, because God hath
from the beginning chosen you to salvation. He chose you in
Christ. Christ is the firstborn of every
creature. Christ is the first elect. We
are all in him. And back yonder before the world
ever began, before God ever made the world, before he ever made
Adam and put him in the garden of paradise, there was a savior,
a surety, a redeemer, a covenant head, a representative. That's
right. And then if you want to present
Christ in his redemptive work, in his saving work, and I'm talking
about presenting the whole Christ, the complete Christ, the redeeming
Christ. The redeeming Christ is not someone
who just came on the scene 2,000 years ago. The redeeming Christ
is not one who just appeared in Bethlehem's manger and somebody
says, hey, here's a Savior, here's a Redeemer. He's always been
the Redeemer. He's always been the Savior.
We've always been acknowledged and accepted and approved in
Christ. If you're in Christ now, you
were in Christ back when the eternal covenant was made in
the counsels of God. That's right, that's what the
scripture says. Having loved his own, he loved them to the
end. How long has he loved them? He said, I have drawn you with
an everlasting love, an eternal love. Secondly, his work is represented
and portrayed in all of the Old Testament sacrifices and ceremonies. From Eden's garden, when the
first blood was shed, you know when Adam and Eve fell, and they
tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaf aprons, and God
came and took an animal and slew that animal, shed its blood,
and made coats of skin to cover Adam and Eve? That was Christ.
That's a picture of Christ. His blood is shed to cover our
nakedness, provide for us a robe of righteousness. When Abel brought
that first sacrifice and put it on the altar, that was Christ.
When Israel slew the Lamb in Egypt and put the blood on the
door, on the linen and two side posts, God said, when I see the
blood I'll pass over you, that's Christ. Our Passover is Christ,
that's what Paul wrote. That rock which was smitten in
the wilderness that gave forth a refreshing drink to the thirsty
people, that rock was Christ. Read the scriptures. All of those
types, the tabernacle is Christ, the priesthood is Christ, the
atonement is Christ, every lamb is Christ. And if you want to
talk about the redemptive work of Christ, you've got to go back
to the place where God planned it. Where God purposed it. Where
God presented it. Where God portrayed it. Where
God typified it. where God foreshadowed it with
all these Old Testament sacrifices. He died for our sins according
to the scriptures. He was the fulfillment of every
Old Testament scripture. Abraham wasn't saved by his works,
he was saved by looking to Calvary. Moses wasn't saved because he
was a great prophet, he was redeemed and forgiven and pardoned by
God because Christ died for his sins and he looked to Calvary. Moses wrote of me, Christ said.
Why, those Israelites said, we have Moses to our father. He
said, you don't know Moses. Moses wrote of me. If you'd have
believed Moses, you'd believe me. His whole writings are about
me. Read David's Psalms, the Messianic
Psalms, and you'll see Christ in all of these Psalms. And now,
if we're going to present the redemptive Christ, the redeeming
Savior, in His redemptive work, we've got to come down and talk
about when He actually came into this world. When He actually
came into this world. God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son. The Son of Man came into the
world to seek and to save the lost. God, in the fullness of
time, sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
to redeem them that were born under the law. By one man's disobedience,
that is, the first Adam, the one who was of the earth, earthy,
by his disobedience we were made sinners. By the obedience of
the second Adam, Jesus Christ, We were made righteous. The sinless
became sinful. That the sinful might be sinless. One day, did you ever hear that
song? That's the gospel. Living, he loved me. Dying, he
saved me. Buried, he carried my sins far
away. One day, he's coming. Oh, glorious
day. That's the gospel. Christ loved
me. He justified me. He redeemed
me. He ascended to heaven where he
had received from me and one day he's coming again to receive
me under himself. He died on the cross as our substitute.
If you want to talk about the redemptive work of Christ, you've
got to go to Calvary. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was laid upon him and by his
stripes we're healed. And then he ascended to glory.
You know, Paul asked this question. Who can lay anything to the charge
of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is He that condemns? It is Christ that died. Yea,
rather, is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God,
who maketh intercession for us. God shows mercy for Christ's
sake because of who He is, the infinite, immutable God Almighty. And because of what He did from
eternity past, to eternity future, he has stood for his people,
he has represented his people, and he has come to this earth
in the flesh to do for us what the law could not do, and what
works cannot do, and what church membership cannot do, and what
good work cannot do. He gave unto us a perfect standing
before the holy God, and he satisfied the justice of God by bearing
our sins. And at the right hand of God
right now, he is our mediator. There is one God and one mediator
between God and men. And that mediator is the man
Christ Jesus. And he intercedes for us. He's
our advocate. John wrote and said, my little
children, these things I write unto you that you sin not. But
if any man sin, thank God we have a high priest. We have an
advocate. We have one who pleads his righteousness
and His sacrificing, His blood, and it's all effectual. His praying
is always effectual praying. His pleading is always effectual
pleading, because He has the grounds on which to plead. His
righteousness. And then, He's coming again.
He said, if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may
be also. Jesus paid it all. All the debt
I owe. Sin left a crimson stain, but
he washed it white as snow. I used to hear an old country
preacher from down in Louisiana sing. He'd play the piano. All
he could do was chord it. He wasn't a good pianist, but
he could sing. And he wrote his own songs. And
this is one he wrote. He said, I once was lost, but
now I'm found. And by God's grace, I'm heaven
bound. But my only hope and my only
plea is that when Christ died, he died for me. So the reason
why God will forgive sinners and pardon sinners and give life
to sinners, for Christ's sake, is twofold. Because of who He
is. He's God in the flesh. He's the
perfect, well-beloved, only begotten Son of God. And because of what
He has done for us. He has represented us from eternity
past, and His work on the cross of Calvary was for our justification. and he will come again and take
us to live with him throughout eternity future. Now the second
thing I want you to see. For Christ's sake, it's not only
God's motive for mercy, but for Christ's sake ought to be, ought
to be your motive for what you do in the name of God and for
others. And it ought to be my motive.
Now listen to the text again. It says God for Christ's sake
has forgiven you, but he Preceded that was something he said be
ye kind one to another tender-hearted Forgiving one another even Even
here's your motive even here's your reason Even as God for Christ's
sake has forgiven you now some people have learned this it's
not an easy lesson to learn It doesn't come spontaneously like
wrath does, and anger does, and vengeance does. We have to learn
it. We have to be taught by the Holy Spirit. Hate's already there,
but the love of God has to be shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Spirit. The fleshly life is already there.
It's born there when we come into the world, but the divine
life has to be implanted. The old creature, the old man's
already there, but the new man has to be created. And Paul learned
it. He said, the love of Christ constraineth
me. The love of Christ is my motivating
force. If he died for me, then I was
dead, and I should not live unto myself, but unto him who loved
me and died for me. For Christ's sake. I've read
stories about missionaries with no weapon but the Bible, who
have landed among pagans and heathens and barbarians with
no hope. with no hope of gain except to
make Christ known. With no weapon but the Bible,
with no hope of gain except to make Christ known. And they have
sacrificed and suffered and they have toiled and they have died
and they have buried their children and their wives on foreign soil
just to tell other people about Christ. Why? For Christ's sake,
for his glory. History records stories of those
old Moravian missionaries. Have you ever read about them?
Some of them actually, now this is true, some of them actually
sold themselves into slavery so they could preach the gospel
to the slaves, for Christ's sake. And some of them, now get this,
some of them, some of those old Moravian missionaries actually
entered leper colonies and became lepers so they could preach the
gospel to the lepers. That's love, isn't it? That's
the way God loved me. He actually came down here into
this world and became a leper. He actually came down into this
world and became a slave. He came down into this world
and became a servant so he could tell me, preach to me, the slave
of sin, the gospel of redemption. He came down here and was diseased. He was made in the likeness of
sinful flesh. He took upon himself my filth
and my guilt and my sin. and became identified with me,
numbered with the transgressors, imprisoned with the guilty, so
he could preach the gospel to me. And these missionaries have
caught that. Most of us haven't, but they
did. They caught the message. They caught it. You be kind to
one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, was kind to you.
See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow
mingle down. Did ere such love and sorrow
meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown, Were the whole realm
of nature mine? Some of it is, all of it's not,
but some of it is. That were present far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. This
thing of salvation is not just memorizing some doctrine and
joining the church and and quitting some of your bad habits and trying
to act like a theologian, it's walking in a vital union with
a living Lord. And being able to reveal, for
His glory, some of His grace and some of His mercy. You be
kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. Look back at the
verse preceding the text, verse 31 of Ephesians 4. Let all bitterness
and all wrath, and all anger, and all resentment, and all slander
be put away from you, with all malice, and be ye kind." These
things aren't in keeping in harmony with the grace of God and the
mercy of God. You know, our Lord told a story
one time about a wealthy man who had some creditors or debtors. He had some debtors. These men
owed him some money. One of them owed him an enormous
debt. It was an enormous debt. Millions
of dollars worth of gold and silver. And the Lord forgave
him. He said, I'll just wipe it out.
You don't owe me another thing. And somebody came in after a
while and said, you know that fellow you forgave the debt and wiped
his slate clean? Well, he's out there. Some guy
owed him a quarter and he's out there demanding payment and going
to send him to prison if he doesn't pay him. And he called that fella
in and he said, bind him hand and foot and cast him into prison.
If you forgive not me and their debts, neither will your father
forgive your debts. That sounds like us, doesn't
it? God has forgiven us of so much. He's been so gracious.
For Christ's sake, let that be your motive. Now this message
is on cassette tape. It's available. You write to
me. The address will be given to you by the announcer. Until
next week at the same time, God bless you. is not prayer.

The Very Heart of the Gospel

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

How do we know God forgives us for Christ's sake?

Why is the concept of mercy important for Christians?

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About Henry Mahan

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The Very Heart of the Gospel

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

How do we know God forgives us for Christ's sake?

Why is the concept of mercy important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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