Obeying the Gospel

I remember when it was popular to say, “The gospel is the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor 15:3-4). Good news is just believed; it cannot be obeyed. We should not speak of obeying the gospel.”

The rather obvious problem with such thinking is that the Bible itself speaks of obeying the gospel (1 Thess 1:8).

We obey the good news when we reenact the death, burial, and resurrection in baptism (Rom 6:3-4). But surely that is not all. We must not stop at a ceremonial reenactment. The last phrase of that passage indicates that we are to rise to “walk in newness of life”.

What will be characteristic of a gospel shaped life?

The gospel did not begin at Calvary, at Jerusalem, at Nazareth, or even at Bethlehem. The gospel began in eternity, in the decision of God to become man. Jesus, in giving up what was rightfully his, chose to bless others. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). To live a gospel shaped life, we also must find ways to serve others. Out of our confession of the gospel will flow gifts to others (2 Cor 9:13-14).

What is flowing from our lives? Are we obeying the gospel?

Obeying the gospel is not seen primarily in the “bad” things we avoid (although there are plenty of bad things we should avoid). Obeying the gospel is patterning our lives after the example of Jesus; it is a matter of actively seeking a life of service to others (especially of spiritual service that will make a difference for eternity).

Let us all ask ourselves, “Am I obeying the gospel?”