Live the Gospel?

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Permalink Reply by Charles Burwell on September 7, 2013 at 8:58am

Carla

 

I must agree with LT when he said " I would tend to believe that most of those who use  term in this way are well meaning, but sometimes we make things more confusing". I am reminded of a lay minster that worked at the same mission that I did in DC.   He was a wonderful man of God who I believe had a genuine concern for the men at the mission. However his counsel to the men seem to always be " Read the W ord of God and do it".

 

While that is good advice for those who are saved and desire to live to please God it has very little meaning to those who have no personal relationship withHim. It is vague almost to the point of being meaningless. I do not say that to belittle my dear brother because I know his heart was dedicated to the Lord  and to reaching those men. It's just that" the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit unless he has the Spirit within him". So it is merely in reference to this that I use the term concerning " having very little meaning".

 

Having said that, I must add that the life of obedience to the gospel is (in my opiniononly) a natural response the the acknowledgement of the working of God's grace in our lives .  I recently spoke at a midweek service of the church I attend on Micah 6:8  "You know ,O man , what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God".  The Lord had me to focus on the part about loving mercy. My point was that when we learn to understand and experience the mercy of God that the 'natural response' (again , in my opinion only) is to be more diligent(perhaps not the best word) to show mercy to others.

 

Especially in light of the fact that the Word tells us that ' if we don't show mercy we will not receive mercy'.  Itake from that that God feels that if we don't show mercy then we do not truly understand the mercy that He has shown towards us. But when we begin to understand and appeciate the mercy of God then we will love mercy and deisre to show mercy to others.

 

I know it has taken me awhile to get to my point (as is normal for me) but I will conclude with this; I agree with your statement  " I personally don't think that we can literally 'live the gospel'. We proclaim the gospel, and then we live in such a way(as New Creations)  that our lives 'line up with' what we have proclaimed."

 

I simply add that when we learn to 'love the gospel' (as with mercy) we will respond to the gospel and live our lives in appreciation of the One who gave His life to deliver and provide the 'good news' to us.

 

God bless

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 9, 2013 at 10:20am

Excellent point Charles...

 

I read (elsewhere) that Mercy is more than the withholding of punishment of God, but it is God's loving kindness extended towards us.

 

Applying that in our lives perhaps looks something like loving our neighbour as ourselves and overlooking an offense... 

 

Here's a dictionary definition of Mercy :

noun, plural mer·cies for 4, 5.

1.

compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.

the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.

the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.

an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.

something that gives evidence of divine favor; blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

Synonyms (same as) 1. forgiveness, indulgence, clemency, leniency, lenity, tenderness, mildness.

 

Antonyms (opposite of) 1. cruelty.

when we live this way it can certainly cause people to ask 'why'.

I watched a movie last night called 'Red Tails'... There was a scene in which fighter pilots were striking against their enemy yelling 'no mercy'...  They were set out to kill..  That's certainly the opposite of what God has done for us and how He wants us to behave towards others.

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Colby on September 10, 2013 at 1:27pm

        I concur with Carla's concluding thought in her original post.  I would add that  Paul said it best in Philippians 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  If you will allow me the liberty to paraphrase, "I live for Christ."

        I haven't heard the catchy slogan, "live the Gospel," uttered by others.  Absent information to the contrary, I have no reason to doubt that those saying it are "well-intentioned," as noted by LT and others responding to this post. Perhaps you can post a link(s) to web pages where it is referenced and I and others can respond accordingly.  A cautionary note: It's a slogan that is open to interpretation as I will go on to explain.

        Consulting the Scriptures, we find that the resurrected Jesus, shortly before his ascension to heaven, told his disciples: "Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15).  There are seemingly countless New Testament verses where this command is repeated; where we are implored to "preach," "share," and "proclaim" the gospel, which is the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I couldn't find any verses containing the phrase "live the gospel," although Galatians 2:14 comes close: "When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel ..."

        Likewise, throughout God's word, we are counseled repeatedly that we have been "crucified with Christ," "live in Christ," "Christ lives in us," etc.

        In Galatians 1:6, Paul writes:  "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel." Note the emphasis here being on "living in the grace of Christ." 

        Rather than speculate or get hung-up on pithy slogans or catchphrases, which are open to interpretation, ambiguous, and can have many meanings (including those that are unbiblical), it is better to come to a clear and correct biblical understanding about what what we mean by the "gospel."  That's where the rubber meets the road, as the saying goes.  The Bible clearly states there is one--and only one--gospel that saves. 

        The gospel is best summed up (in my view) in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, specifically the opening lines of Chapter 15.

• Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel  I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel  you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain (v.1).

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 10, 2013 at 1:55pm

Great input Colby.

 

This is an expert from a book of one of today's famous preachers.  This specific example doesn't actually say 'live the gospel', but it is insinuating it IMO:

***beginning of quote***

 

I heard a story about a man who went to Russia with good intentions

of telling people about the love of Jesus Christ. During

his visit, many people were starving. When he found a line of

people waiting hopefully to get bread for the day, he approached

them with gospel tracts in hand and began to walk the line telling

them that Jesus loves them and handing each of them a

tract with the salvation message on it. To be sure, he was trying

to help, but one woman looked into his eyes and said bitterly,

“Your words are nice, but they don’t fill my empty stomach.”

I have learned that some people are hurting too badly to

hear the good news that God loves them; they must experience

it and one of the best ways for that to happen is for us to

meet their practical needs, in addition to telling them they are

loved.

We must beware of thinking that words are enough. Jesus

certainly preached the good news, but He also went about doing

good and healing all who were oppressed (see Acts 10:38). Talking

is not expensive, nor does it require much effort, but real

love is costly. It cost God His only Son, and allowing real love to

flow through us will also cost us. Perhaps we will have to invest

some time, money, effort, or possessions— but it will cost!

***end of quote***

I believe it is well meaning.... but the line is being blurred.

This is the type of thing I am referring to.  I'll see if I can find another example from a different preacher.

 

The 'good news' goes far beyond the message 'God Loves you'. 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Colby on September 10, 2013 at 2:24pm

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in"  (Mt 25:35).

      Carla, excellent points.  Pious sounding platitudes and catchy phrases alone aren't enough. Far from it.  The "good news" and living for Christ entails much more: it requires a fusion of faith and action--a faith that is lived out.  As the apostle James correctly said, faith without works is dead. Talk is cheap.  I recall that our blessed Lord saw to it the necessity of feeding the hungry masses before he preached to them.  

        Jesus set himself as the example for us to follow in thought and deed.  Our actions speak volumes about us.  The Bible tells us that if we want to follow Jesus, we do so by imitating him. Here are some examples: "Whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Mt 10:38). "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also” (John 12:26). Jesus says: "For I have set you an example, that you also should do I as have done to you” (John 13:15). 

        We are blessed to be a blessing to others and all of creation. The Beatitudes at the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount share the demands of discipleship. The grace of the Beatitudes does come first, but the imperatives follow. They are calls to be salt and light, to love the Lord and our neighbors for God, to help those who are vulnerable, sick and hurting, or without food, clothing and shelter, in tangible ways--not for show. 

        The Gospel makes this clear to us: We cannot worship Jesus ascended into heaven, if we ignore those who suffer by our side.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 10, 2013 at 2:46pm

We're in agreement Colby.

 

We live the changed life...and proclaim the gospel.

 

I think it's also important to acknowledge that people go through different seasons in their lives, and sometimes they must be on the receiving end of the giving rather than being the giver.

and... just to be clear... We can all Proclaim the Gospel, because it really has nothing to do with feeding, clothing, serving others etc...

Additionally, I agree with this part of this quote I posted when it said "I do believe that a man of God—under trial and difficulty and affliction, bearing up, and patiently submitting with holy acquiescence, and still rejoicing in God—is a real preacher of the gospel, preaching with an eloquence which is mightier than words can ever be"

The part I disagree with is the line blurred when it says 'is a real preacher of the gospel...'

A life lived well shows the power of God at work in one's life, and that Jesus is indeed alive... but it in itself does not preach the gospel.

 

Blessings, Carla

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 10, 2013 at 2:22pm

Here's another quote with the phrase 'live the gospel'.

 

"If you cannot speak the gospel, live the gospel by your cheerfulness; for what is the gospel? Glad tidings of great joy; and you who believe it must show by its effect upon you that it is glad tidings of great joy to you. I do believe that a man of God—under trial and difficulty and affliction, bearing up, and patiently submitting with holy acquiescence, and still rejoicing in God—is a real preacher of the gospel, preaching with an eloquence which is mightier than words can ever be, and which will find its secret and silent way into the hearts of those who might have resisted other arguments. Oh, do, then, listen to the text, for it is a command from God, “Rejoice in the Lord alway!”

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Permalink Reply by Colby on September 11, 2013 at 11:22am

Carla,

Great discussion!  Inasmuch as "live the gospel" isn't a phrase I've used before, I'm not the best person to unpack its meaning, and I can see my thought process evolving as I ponder the question you posed: Can we "live the gospel?"

 

On closer reflection, the answer depends on how one defines and understands the gospel message. To those that say we can "live the gospel," I would pose this question.  What do you understand to be the gospel, and what do you mean by "live the gospel?"   I think we would get many answers.  A Google search using this phrase resulted in many "hits" with links to websites and the responses are all over the place.  Many articles and sermons with the phrase "live the gospel" are found on Mormon websites, for example. 

 

I don't like splitting hairs or parsing words, but if I have to land on one side or the other, I'm inclined to answer "no," concurring with your assessment.

• My thoughts...  I personally don't think we can literally 'live the gospel'.  We 'proclaim' the gospel, and then we live in such a way (as New Creations) that our lives 'line up with' what we have proclaimed. 
  
  

As I understand the gospel, it's all about what Jesus Christ has done: his perfect life, his dying on the cross for our sins, his resurrection, and the sure knowledge that he's coming again.  To unpack it a little more, the central message of the gospel is that we are enslaved to sin, but that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome sin and death, be reconciled with God, and have eternal life.  The Apostle Paul provides a clear and succinct declaration of what constitutes the gospel in First Corinthians Chapter 15.  The verses you quoted in your original post amplify this message.  Paul's understanding of the gospel is simple and easy to unpack.

Given that the gospel is about what Christ has done for us, it's not something we can live.  We are exhorted to preach, proclaim and share the gospel with the world: the good news of Jesus Christ.  salvation. Again, I would go back to Paul's definitive declaration in 1Cor15.

Some and perhaps many "live the gospel" proponents may understand the gospel message in a much broader sense.  That is to say, the totality of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the four New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John referred to as the gospels.  However, that being so, I can't help but wonder if they are conflating the gospel message itself with the entailments or consequences of embracing the gospel.

Searching through the text, I find in God's Word that we are called to "preach," "proclaim," and "share" the gospel--the good news of Jesus Christ--but nowhere do I find the phrase "live the gospel."  A few verses come close to this sentiment, and the "live the gospel" advocates may be hanging their hats on them as prooftexts, but I'm for keeping the message about the gospel clear, pure, simple and straightforward in alignment with the Apostle Paul.

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Permalink Reply by Carla on September 12, 2013 at 6:54am

Colby.. Amen and Amen.  I agree with all that you have said... and, I just want to highlight this that you have said:

 

"As I understand the gospel, it's all about what Jesus Christ has done: his perfect life, his dying on the cross for our sins, his resurrection, and the sure knowledge that he's coming again.  To unpack it a little more, the central message of the gospel is that we are enslaved to sin, but that by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome sin and death, be reconciled with God, and have eternal life."

 

and add this for all readers who do not yet believe:

 

"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

 

Blessings, Carla

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