HOFC Sermon Archive: Gospel of Mark Part 6: The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptation of Jesus

5. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus I

6. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II

Today is Sunday. February 9^th, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Last week, I spoke of the preaching ministry of Jesus and how it involved proclaiming the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God that was foretold in Daniel 2:44 & Daniel 7:13-14.

We examined the nature of the Kingdom and how it involves the reign of God through the person of Christ Jesus. It is spiritual in nature and manifests itself visibly today as “the Body of Christ,” the Lord’s church.

It also has present and future elements.

The Kingdom of God is available NOW to all who freely submit to the authority of Jesus.

But Jesus did more than just announce the coming Kingdom of God. He called people to repent and believe.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 1:14-15

“Now after John had been delivered up into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe [LIT: put your trust] in the gospel.”

I. JESUS PREACHED THE NEED TO REPENT

a. What does repent mean?

i. There are two common misconceptions about repent.

1. E.g., That it means “sorrow.”

a. “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have godly sorrow [sorrow according to God], so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For godly sorrow produces a repentance, leading to salvation without regret, but the sorrow of the world brings about death.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

b. Sorrow, according to God, LEADS to repentance.

c. Sorrow, according to the world, leads to death. (the second death)

d. How do you know the difference between sorrow according to God which leads to salvation, and sorrow of the world which only leads to death?

i. Godly sorrow is a deep, heartfelt grief over sin because it offends God.

1. Example 1: After denying Jesus three times, Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). His sorrow led him to repentance, restoration, and a life dedicated to Christ.

2. Example 2: The Prodigal son in Luke 15 realizes his sin, repents, and returns to his father, symbolizing returning to God.

ii. Worldly sorrow is regret and remorse over sin, not because it offends God, but rather because of the consequences or shame it brings.

1. Example 1: Judas Iscariot: After betraying Jesus felt remorse according to Matthew 27:3-5, but he did not turn to God. Instead, he took his own life because of the shame of what he had done.

2. Example 2: Pharaoh, in Exodus, repeatedly showed regret when each plague struck Egypt, but his heart remained hardened, and he never truly repented.

2. E.g., The second misconception about repentance is that it, in itself, is a “changed life.”

a. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 read, godly sorrow leads to salvation without regret.

b. But repenting and a changed (or converted life) are different things.

c. Repentance is a “change of mind” and the turning from sin to God.

d. The “changed life” or “conversion” is a decision to turn from sin to God that was produced by godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), followed by a decision to change your lifestyle.

i. 2 Corinthians 7:11 “For behold what earnestness this very thing—this godly sorrow—has brought about in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.”

Jesus, therefore, called on people to make a decision regarding sin because of the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God.

b. Do we still need repentance today?

i. Y E S!

1. Luke 24:46-47 “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.”

2. Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent,”

3. So we read that Paul preached to both Jews and Gentiles that they should repent.

ii. Wherever there is sin, repentance needs to be proclaimed.

1. They need to turn to God and do works worthy of repentance (Acts 26:20)

iii. Whenever the Kingdom of God is proclaimed, it must include a call to repent!

1. Paul preached the Kingdom of God (Acts 20:25), including telling people about repentance (Acts 20:21).

Any preaching of the Kingdom of God that does not include a call to repent is not the true gospel!

II. JESUS ALSO PREACHED THE NEED TO PUT YOUR TRUST IN (BELIEVE)

a. What does believe mean?

i. As described in the Bible dictionary

1. Faith is the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true

2. Its primary idea is “trust.”

ii. It is a firm conviction or trust in something

1. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.”

2. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot “see.”

iii. For Example, I had faith the sun would rise this morning. Not because I could see it, but because it has proven itself again and again, and I responded accordingly by trusting that it would rise again, I awoke and prepared for the day.

1. I also put my faith in the coming judgment, the new heaven, and a new earth. Each one of us is being held accountable for all the things we do here and now, not because I have seen it, but because God has proven Himself, again and again, to be trustworthy in His sayings.

2. So we should respond accordingly.

3. Jesus proclaimed people should repent. Therefore, I “believe” or put my trust in that to be fact and respond accordingly to His word.

b. Do we still need to believe today?

i. People NEED to believe.

1. In God, to be pleasing to Him (Hebrews 11:6)

2. And in Jesus, to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life (John 8:24; John 20:31)

ii. Jesus said in our text today people also need to believe

1. In the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15)

iii. Paul sought to convince his Jewish brethren in Acts 28:23

1. If we do not believe, then the Good News of God’s Kingdom should be taken to others.

2. Acts 28:24-28 “‘Go to this people and say,

“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;

And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;

27 For the heart of this people has become dull,

And with their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes;

Lest they might see with their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I heal them.”’

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God was sent to the Gentiles—they will also hear.”

iv. WE NEED TO BELIEVE AND PUT OUR TRUST IN THE FACT THAT

1. Jesus now reigns over all

a. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

b. Ephesians 1:20-22 “which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church”

c. 1 Peter 3:22 “Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

2. That those who OBEY the gospel become members of the Kingdom

a. Colossians 1:12-14 “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

3. That those who persevere will inherit the everlasting Kingdom

a. 2 Peter 1:10-11 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”

4. That those who persist in sin will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God

a. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate by perversion, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the Kingdom of God.”

b. Ephesians 5:5 “For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

CONCLUSION

The preaching ministry of Jesus began with proclamations of the coming Kingdom and the need for people to repent and believe.

The Kingdom of God came just as Jesus and the prophets said it would, and Jesus received all authority and now reigns at the right hand of God.

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

1 Peter 3:22 “who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

Jesus exercises that reign, even in the midst of His enemies (Psalm 110:1-2)

His people (the church) freely volunteer in the day of His power (Psalm 110:3)

And when Jesus returns, it will be to deliver the Kingdom to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

Do you wish to be part of that everlasting Kingdom? Then you must be in the Kingdom of God now, freely submitting to the reign of God in your life today!

If you have not yet done so, then repent of your sins, put your faith in Jesus Christ, be baptized for the remission of your sins, and begin living for Him today...!

Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-38

NEXT WEEK: “Part 7: The Call of Four Fishermen”

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