9.60 What it means to obey the gospel?
Today, let us share more verses to further expound on the “obedience of faith” under the New Covenant.
In the following passage, Paul tells us that not all have “obeyed the Gospel”. So what does it mean to obey the Gospel? Paul quotes Isaiah asking, “Who has believed our report?” So Paul equates obeying the Gospel to believing in the Gospel. He ends off by saying that faith (to believe the Gospel) comes through hearing the preaching of the Gospel.
(Romans 10:14-17)
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” So then FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Isn’t it amazing? So much if Christianity focuses of right doing (with reference to the law) when Christianity is really about right believing in Jesus! Today, it is not about the obedience of works of the law. It is the obedience of faith in Jesus. Right believing will result in right doing. Faith will result in true works of faith.
How do we come to the obedience of faith (right believing?). The first part of the above passage tells us that the capacity to believe comes through hearing the revelation of the Gospel. But how will people hear the gospel without a preacher? And how will the preacher preach unless he is sent?
So God raises in the church ministers of the Gospel of Christ. They may be apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers or pastors. But the most important thing is that they are sent to preach the good news of the gospel. The gospel is also called the gospel of peace or the gospel of grace.
The preaching under the New Covenant must be Christ centered (not law centered). It must produce right believing, or the obedience of faith. It must produce works of faith rather than works of the law. It must produce life transformation rather than behavior modification. We are also called to preach this wonderful gospel. The Bible also calls us ministers of the New Covenant.
In the following passage, Paul tells us that not all have “obeyed the Gospel”. So what does it mean to obey the Gospel? Paul quotes Isaiah asking, “Who has believed our report?” So Paul equates obeying the Gospel to believing in the Gospel. He ends off by saying that faith (to believe the Gospel) comes through hearing the preaching of the Gospel.
(Romans 10:14-17)
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all OBEYED THE GOSPEL. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” So then FAITH comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Isn’t it amazing? So much if Christianity focuses of right doing (with reference to the law) when Christianity is really about right believing in Jesus! Today, it is not about the obedience of works of the law. It is the obedience of faith in Jesus. Right believing will result in right doing. Faith will result in true works of faith.
How do we come to the obedience of faith (right believing?). The first part of the above passage tells us that the capacity to believe comes through hearing the revelation of the Gospel. But how will people hear the gospel without a preacher? And how will the preacher preach unless he is sent?
So God raises in the church ministers of the Gospel of Christ. They may be apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers or pastors. But the most important thing is that they are sent to preach the good news of the gospel. The gospel is also called the gospel of peace or the gospel of grace.
The preaching under the New Covenant must be Christ centered (not law centered). It must produce right believing, or the obedience of faith. It must produce works of faith rather than works of the law. It must produce life transformation rather than behavior modification. We are also called to preach this wonderful gospel. The Bible also calls us ministers of the New Covenant.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:05 AM
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