Summary: What drives our desire to respond to the Gospel?

Key Scripture: Romans 10:8-10

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Supporting Passages: Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 7:50; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21; Romans 1:21; Matthew 5:28; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 15:28; Matt. 15:1; Acts 9:1-20.

Our response to the Gospel....

1. Comes from the hearing (and understanding) of God's Word (8a)
2. Is an act of faith (8b)
3. Does not come from us (9-10)
4. Is an act borne of grace (Acts 9:1-20)

What The Gospel Is NOT:

1. It is NOT going to church
2. It is NOT reading the Bible
3. It is NOT doing good things
4. It is NOT believing in God

What The Gospel IS:

1. Recognize we are sinners (Ro. 3:23)
2. Know that our sin separates us from God (Is. 59:2)
3. Realize we owe a debt for that sin (Ro. 6:23)
4. Accept that this makes us an enemy of God (James 4:4; Ro. 5:10)
5. Understand that Jesus paid that debt on the Cross (Colossians 2:14)
6. Confess and believe (Ro. 10:9-10)