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QUESTION 63:
In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 Peter 4:17, we read about "obeying the gospel." If the Gospel is how "Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again the third day," how then can we obey that? ANSWER:
We generally associate "obeying" with something we do. That the gospel is as stated that is clear in 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. The question seems to be, "how can the gospel be obeyed?" In the 1 Corinthians 15:3,45 quoted above the unsaved are in view. They are said to be so, because they "obeyed not the gospel." In other scriptures it is said that others are saved because they obeyed. In Hebrews 5:9, "...He became the Author of salvation to all that obey Him." The answer is found in the word "obey" The word in Greek means "to listen attentively, to hearken submissively." It is a word that is used more of hearing, than doing. A good example of this is in Matthew 7:24-27. The foolish man heard as well as the wise man, but he did not heed what he heard. It was "how they heard" that made the difference. The wise man heard and hearkened and built his house on a rock. The foolish man heard but had no intentions of doing what he was told.

There are many in our land that have heard the gospel, that have not hearkened or obeyed, otherwise they would be saved. They are like the foolish man, with no intentions of being submissively persuaded and acting on it. What the gospel is and what is required to be saved are not the same thing. The gospel is what Christ has done FOR US. He died for our sins, He lives for us. There is nothing we can do or add to it. What the gospel requires of us to be saved is "repentance" (Acts 17:30) "God commands all men everywhere to repent," and trusting in the Person of the gospel. (Acts 16:31)

What about you dear reader, "Have you obeyed the gospel?"

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen