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| HOW DOES ONE “OBEY THE
GOSPEL”? |
#114
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In the New Testament, we find an expression which is
puzzling to understand. Both Peter and Paul mention this term in
their writings. And, both times the phrase is used in a rather
disturbing setting. Of course, as the title of this Bible Talk
indicates, we are talking about the phrase “obey the gospel.”
In I Peter 4:17 we read, “For it is time for judgment to begin
with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what
will be the outcome for those who do not obey the
gospel of God?” Paul uses the term in II Thessalonians 1:7-9
where he says, “ ... The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out
retribution to those who do not know God and to those who
do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the
penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the
Lord and from the glory of His power.”
In both passages, a bleak destiny awaits those who do not “obey
the gospel.” Perhaps, if we understood the meaning of the
word “gospel,” we might understand “obey the gospel.”
Literally, the word “gospel” means “good news.” Paul defined
exactly which “good news” he meant when he wrote I
Corinthians. In I Cor 15:1-4 we find this: “Now I make known to
you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you ...
that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was
raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” The
“good news” that Paul referred to involved three events in the
life of Jesus.
1. He died
for our sins.
2. He was buried.
3. He was raised on the third day.
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Thus, we see what Paul meant when he used the term
“gospel”; for indeed, the Death, Burial, and Resurrection
of Jesus is “good news.” If Jesus had not done these
things, we would be without hope. What Jesus did is “good
news.”
But still, what did Peter and Paul expect from us.
How does one “obey the gospel”? How can we “obey” what
someone else “did”? We could understand how to “obey” what
someone else “told” us to do. But, how do we “obey” what
Jesus did? Surely God does not expect us to Die, Be
Buried, and Rise Again like Jesus! But how else can we “obey
the gospel”?
Well, Paul explains this mystery in Romans 6:1-4. He wrote
these words: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin
that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who
died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of
us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been
baptized into His death? Therefore we have been
buried with Him through baptism into death, in order
that as Christ was raised from the dead through
the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness
of life.”
It seems that the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of
Jesus (which Paul called “the gospel”) is reenacted when
a person is baptized. Paul says that we are baptized into “His”
death. In a way, we participate in Christ’s death, burial and
resurrection when we are baptized into Christ. From previous
Bible Talks, we have seen that baptism is the point at which we
benefit from His divine sacrifice. Thus, when we die to
our sinful self, are buried in the waters of baptism, and
are then raised from those waters as a new person, we
have demonstrated our faith in the gospel. Or as Peter and Paul
described it, we have “obeyed the gospel.”
When we think about the staggering consequences of failing
to do this, we are reminded again of the importance of baptism
into Christ. Peter asked, “What will be the outcome for those
who do not obey the gospel of God?” Paul answered, “These
will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
| Bible
Probe |
HOW DOES ONE
"OBEY THE GOSPEL"? |
114
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1. Literally, the word “gospel” means “ ________ ________.”
2. In I Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul defined the “gospel” he
preached by highlighting what three events in Jesus’ life?
3. What act of obedience does God require of us which reenacts
these three deeds in the life of Christ? (Romans 6:1-4)
4. Why do you think Peter used the expression “obey the gospel”
to describe this act of obedience? (I Peter 4:17)
5. What will be the fate of those who do not “obey the gospel”?
(II Thessalonians 1:7-9)
6. Have you “obeyed the gospel”?
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Your Bible questions answered here.