1
"Obey the Gospel"

• 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For
  Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our
  report? (Rom. 10 16.)
• Notice that obey and belief are equivalent
  terms and concepts.

2
"Obey the Gospel"

• But they have not all obeyed the gospel. All
  the Jews have not, all the Gentiles have not far
  the greater part of both remain in unbelief and
  disobedience. Observe, The gospel is given us not
  only to be known and believed, but to be obeyed.
  It is not a system of notions, but a rule of
  practice (Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary on
  the Bible).

3
"Obey the Gospel"

• The opposite of obey.
• 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
  know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our
  Lord Jesus Christ 9 Who shall be punished with
  everlasting destruction from the presence of the
  Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thes.
  1).

4
"Obey the Gospel"

• The opposite of obey.
• 17 For the time is come that judgment must
  begin at the house of God and if it first begin
  at us, what shall the end be of them that obey
  not the gospel of God? (I Pet. 4.)

5
"Obey the Gospel"

• The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
  word which meant 'the story concerning God.' In
  the New Testament the Greek word euaggelion,
  means 'good news.' It proclaims tidings of
  deliverance. The word sometimes stands for the
  record of the life of our Lord (Mark 1 11),
  embracing all His teachings, as in Acts 20 24)
  (International Bible Encyclopedia). (It must be
  remembered that Paul "taught the commandments of
  the Lord," hence, the epistles also constitute,
  in a comprehensive sense, the gospel, dm.)

6
"Obey the Gospel"

• Some view the "good news of the Kingdom" as only
  consisting of the death, burial, resurrection,
  and ascension of the Lord. Indeed, such do
  constitute the "facts" of the gospel, but when
  fully viewed, there is much more involved in the
  gospel (I Cor. 15 1ff.). For instance, there
  are resident in the gospel promises to be
  obtained and commands to be obeyed (Acts 2 38,
  39, I Jn. 5 3).
• Another matter that is reflective of the
  functionality of the gospel is the fact of the
  design of the gospel to produce and regulate
  conduct.

7
"Obey the Gospel"

• "11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
  withstood him to the face, because he was to be
  blamed. 12 For before that certain came from
  James, he did eat with the Gentiles but when
  they were come, he withdrew and separated
  himself, fearing them which were of the
  circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled
  likewise with him insomuch that Barnabas also
  was carried away with their dissimulation.
• 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
  according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto
  Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew,
  livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as
  do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to
  live as do the Jews?" (Gal. 2).

8
"Obey the Gospel"
The gospel and the family

• The gospel teaches husbands to love their wives,
  leave all others, be the head, and render "due
  benevolence" (Eph. 5 25, 28, 29 31 23 I Cor.
  7 2-4). Wives are to love their husbands,
  submit to headship, and render their due (Tit. 2
  4 Eph. 5 22-24 I Cor. 7 3, 4). Children are
  also addressed and told to obey their parents in
  the Lord (Eph. 6 1). Hence, the gospel
  regulates and controls the family unity and
  renders it a smoothly functioning relationship
  that is characterized by order and harmony.

9
"Obey the Gospel"

• The gospel regulates public worship in that it
  teaches orderly and structured worship, modest
  dress, and intelligible teaching performed by
  qualified males (I Cor. 14 33, 40 I Tim. 2
  8-12). The gospel even addresses such detail as
  vocal music, the type and how it is to be
  rendered (Eph. 5 19, Col. 3 16).

The gospel and public worship
10
"Obey the Gospel"

• Contrary to popular opinion, the gospel is
  aggressive and militant in its essential nature
  (Jude 3, Phili. 1 7, 17). The gospel, though,
  regulates and controls this aggression. For
  instance, there is to be no biting and devouring
  (Gal. 5 15). Issues rather than personalities
  are to be the focus (cp. Acts 15).

The gospel and controversy
11
"Obey the Gospel"
Behavior at work

• While Paul enunciated teaching specifically
  pertaining to the servant/master relationship,
  the teaching in general is applicable to the
  secular job situation. Consider the teaching of
  the gospel
• "22 Servants, obey in all things your masters
  according to the flesh not with eyeservice, as
  menpleasers but in singleness of heart, fearing
  God 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,
  as to the Lord, and not unto men 24 Knowing
  that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
  the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ"
  (Col. 3).

12
"Obey the Gospel"
Way we act toward others

• The gospel teaches a certain decorum on the part
  of Christians towards other Christians. There is
  to be lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and
  forbearing one another in love (Eph. 4 2).
  Reciprocal forgiveness is plainly required (Eph.
  4 32). Jesus' "Golden Rule" sums it up thus
  "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that
  men should do to you, do ye even so to them"
  (Matt. 7 12).

13
"Obey the Gospel"

• The core design of the gospel is indicative of
  the fact that it is of the nature to control
  behavior. Yes, it contains and declares the fact
  of Jesus' death and offers promises to be
  received, but it also enjoins numerous matters of
  responsibility. The same gospel that tells us of
  Jesus and his Kingdom also informs us how to live
  and "walk uprightly according to the truth of
  the gospel" (Gal. 2 14).

14
"Obey the Gospel"

• What does obey mean?
• To listen, attend, and so, to submit (W.E.
  Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament
  Words).

15
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey God Acts 5 29

16
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey Jesus Heb. 5 8, 9.

17
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey elders Heb. 13 17.

18
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey parents Eph. 6 1.

19
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey magistrates Tit. 3 1.

20
"Obey the Gospel"

• Those whom we are to obey (to listen, attend,
  and so, to submit)
• Obey the gospel Rom. 10 16.

21
"Obey the Gospel"

• Equivalent terms
• Obey not the truth Rom. 2 8 Gal. 5 7.
• Obey not the word 2 Thes. 3 14, I Pet. 3 1.
• Obedient to the faith Acts 6 7.

22
"Obey the Gospel"

• Obey from the heart that form of doctrine
• 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the
  servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the
  heart that form of doctrine which was delivered
  you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became
  the servants of righteousness (Rom. 6, see vs.
  1, 2, 3, 4.

23
"Obey the Gospel"

• Have you obeyed or believed the gospel and been
  set free of the bondage of sin?