Truth 3 (Obeying the gospel)

1. I have read of more than one person who told their dogs to stay and the dogs obeyed.

2. One of these accounts involves a man who took his dog into a forest.

3. The man went a ways away to cut some wood and soon a fire started; the man had to flee for his life.

4. The owner could not get back to his dog and he didn’t see the dog exist the forest.

5. The man’s dog died in the forest fire because it had been commanded to stay and it obeyed.

6. We have just heard the first 8 verses read from Rom. 2.

7. We begin with the thought at the end of verse 8.

8. Paul spoke of Jews who did not “obey the truth.”

9. In our last study for the word “truth” we looked at this subject negatively.

10. We studied what it means to be disobedient to the truth.

11. Today we look at this subject from the different and positive perspective.

12. What does it mean to “obey the truth”?

13. Preachers in the church have spoken about obeying the truth for years and years.

14. Obeying the truth is an expression sometimes used by our Bible class teachers.

15. Do we know what is being said when these words are spoken, or is it just an expression we hear?

IN ORDER TO REALLY STUDY THIS EXPRESSION WE NEED TO START WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE 4^TH CHAPTER OF DEUTERONOMY.

a) In the opening verses of this chapter God was very direct with His people.

b) God told the Hebrews to listen carefully to His word (verse 1).

c) Deut. 4:2 condemns any additions or subtractions to the instructions God gave.

d) God reminded Israel of how disobedience at a prior time had led to punishment (verse 3).

e) Faithfulness was rewarded (verse 4).

2) By the time we get to verse 25, we have a prediction; God warned of a coming apostasy.

3) After this period arrived and things became bad, there would be repentance (verse 29).

4) This turning to God is further described in verse 30 – READ.

a) Israel would “turn to God.”

b) If we know how the Bible is divided, we know that we do not live under the Old Testament.

c) The Old Testament was for the Jews and we live under the New Testament.

d) Old Testament Jews were told to “turn to God” but we speak of “obeying the gospel.”

e) There is a New Testament reference which says “obey the gospel” but we will get to that later.

f) For now, notice that the two expressions, though from different covenants, are very similar.

g) Obeying the gospel is turning to God; i.e. - being obedient; conforming to God’s will.

5) Another Old Testament reference (Ps. 18:44) actually uses the word “obey.”

6) As Isaiah opened his book (Isa. 1:19), he also spoke of the need to be obedient.

7) Jews were familiar with the Old Testament, so obeying the gospel would not have surprised them.

8) They understood the information about obedience, but needed to be informed as to what the gospel was.

WITH THIS BRIEF INTRODUCTION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT I WANT TO TURN TO SEVEAL VERSES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT; THE FIRST ONE COMES FROM ACTS 6.

a) Each of these passages serves as an explanation for “obeying the gospel.”

b) Acts 6 tells us of the apostles getting out of the food distribution business.

c) Seven new men were selected to help feed those who needed nourishment.

d) People who needed help were receiving it and the church continued to grow – verse 7 – READ.

e) If we did not list the Old Testament references, we may want to start a list now.

f) There is something called “faith.”

g) In this passage “faith” is more than faith; a definite article is used (“the” faith).

h) A specific kind of faith is under consideration. Compare this with our expression.

i) “Obey the gospel,” “obedient to the faith.” These two expressions sound pretty similar.

j) “The faith” lines right up with the word “gospel.”

k) Let’s turn from the book of Acts and go to the next book (Romans).

l) As Paul wrote to Christians in Rome he made a reference to “all the nations.”

2) The thought under consideration applied to all people in his day and time.

3) Today, the information is still relevant.

a) Verse 5 of Rom. 1 – READ.

b) Just as in the case of Acts 6, “obedience” is linked with faith.

c) The gospel (or faith) is something people learn and then obey.

d) This is God’s will, but not everyone obeys the gospel or the faith.

e) We already had Rom. 2:8 read before our lesson.

f) Paul was aware of those who would not “obey” and he said this brought divine wrath.

g) In view of the passages that have been introduced we can draw this conclusion:

h) Whatever this obedience is, it is essential. If people do not comply, they will be condemned.

4) From wherever you are I now want to head over to Rom. 6:17.

a) Romans 6:17 says there are two choices regarding obedience: there is good and there is evil.

b) We can either obey sin or we can turn to the Savior.

c) Here is what we find in verse 17 – READ.

d) There is “obedience” to a “form of teaching.”

5) In each of the passages we have cited the word obedience comes through time and time again.

6) Our second word, however, varies between “faith/the faith, gospel, and now “form of teaching.”

7) By lining up several verses we are starting to see a trend.

8) There is information (instructions) that must be obeyed.

9) This information is known as “the faith, the gospel, or the teaching.”

10) Next on our list of verses is Heb. 5:9.

a) In this chapter the Lord is portrayed as a high priest.

b) Jesus had to learn some things about obedience (verse 8).

c) We will not study the 8^th verse, but I will say this.

d) Jesus learned about obedience and He had to be obedient.

e) Yet, there are many today—often religious people—who think it is not necessary.

f) Such an attitude in some respects elevates a person about the Messiah.

g) Why did Jesus need to obey but we can be excused from doing what He had to do?

11) Not being obedient in life and religion will lead to failure – verse 9 – READ.

12) Here is another example of obedience, but we do not have the words used previously.

13) We do not find obey “the gospel, obey the faith, or obey the form of teaching.”

14) Rather in the verse before us, it is obey “Him.”

15) Take the subject (Jesus—“Him) and mentally insert it into the passages already given.

16) We obey “the gospel” that belongs to Him (Christ).

17) We obey “the faith” delivered by Christ (and, of course, His apostles).

18) We respond to the “form of teaching” which has come from the Lord.

19) We will return to the book of Hebrews but we need to take a detour to 1 Pet. 1:22.

a) Peter wrote to people who were “redeemed” (verse 18); they had been saved.

b) The price for our forgiveness is the blood of Christ (verse 19).

c) An explanation of how the process works is in verse 22 – READ.

d) We cannot get away from the word “obedience”; it is every text we have read.

e) Here the obedience is associated with “the truth.”

20) What is the gospel, the faith, and the form of teaching? It is the truth.

21) What is the truth? Jn. 17:17 says, quote.

22) Obeying the gospel is being obedient to God’s word.

23) A lot of people obey “church teaching,” and they are so faithful in keeping their church’s laws.

a) People to not eat certain foods, go certain places, or engage in certain acts because the church says so.

b) Others base their lives on what a preacher says.

c) Still others obey the instructions from the government, parents, etc.

d) For our obedience to count for anything in the eyes of God, we must obey the Scriptures/truth.

24) If this is not done, there is only one choice: punishment.

25) We have already seen this expressed in Rom. 2:8.

26) Let’s now introduce a supplemental text, 2 Thess. 1.

a) Christians at Thessalonica were “afflicted.”

b) They were troubled about certain matters so Paul wrote to them and offered some assistance.

c) He informed them about the second and final coming of Christ.

d) I will read verses 8-9 – READ.

e) Earlier I said a text would be introduced which speaks of “obeying the gospel.”

f) Here it is; we do use this expression because it is a tradition or we like it. It is Bible terminology.

g) Obeying the gospel means understanding and doing what is found in the New Testament.

h) We find out the steps to become a Christian, we do them, and then we live as a Christian.

27) If we do not take the initial steps, or we do and then later turn back, punishment is the result.

28) Gal. 5:7 puts a question to Christians from long ago.

29) Paul told these brethren that they had been “running well” (they had been faithful).

30) Then he asked what “hindered them” in “obeying the truth.”

31) By using this expression we find two points:

32) Obeying the gospel is parallel to obeying the truth.

33) Secondly, a person may initially obey but that obedience may not contineue.

34) God requires regularity with obedience. We can “run well” for a time but then get off track.

35) We need to start right and continue in the right way.

36) Obeying the gospel is an absolute must.

37) Peter said (1 Pet. 1:2) that “obedience” leads to being cleansed from sin by Christ’s blood.

a) A lot of people want that cleansing.

b) Very few are told how to get it.

c) In the word God has given us, book after book says “be obedient.”

d) By obedient we mean take the steps that are given; follow the complete plan.

38) We are about to sing an invitation song – TRUST AND OBEY.

39) Listen to some of the words:

a) “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word.”

b) “While we do His good will He abides with us still.”

c) “Trust and obey for there is no other way.”

d) “In fellowship sweet we shall sit at his feet if we trust and obey.”

40) Have we obeyed the gospel to become a Christian?

41) Are we as a child of God continuing to be obedient to the truth?