Loved this quote I read on Justin Taylor's blog today:
@J.D. Greear: Saying “Preach the gospel; if necessary use words” is like saying “Tell me your phone number; if necessary use digits.”
The gospel is a message. If you take out the words, you have no gospel!
I totally agree, and in case anyone thinks this is saying holiness is not necessary to the Christian life, it's not. It's just affirming that the gospel IS the 'word' and has to be preached. It should go without saying that preaching the gospel has a much greater effect if the one preaching lives a holy and sacrificial life.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Interesting Quote on the Gospel
This blog had an interesting take on the quote: 'Preach the gospel; if necessary use words.'
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8 comments:
I absolutely agree with you that preaching the gospel has a greater effect if the one preaching lives a holy and sacrificial life. Paul says in Titus 2 that in everything we are to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. I take that to mean that our actions/conduct make the truth of the gospel look attractive and compelling.
My only point in posting this quote was to communicate that since the gospel is the announcement of how in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, God has made it possible for sinners to be reconciled to Him by faith alone, we have to speak the words of that message in order to see people be saved.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to all who believe (Romans 1:16). But no one will be saved by believing that I live righteously and care for the weak and needy. At some point, no matter how good my life looks, I have to open my mouth to tell them about Christ, if anyone is to be saved.
Thanks for pointing people to my blog,
Larry
Hi Larry,
I totally agree with you and hope that the way I worded my post didn't give the impression that I don't.
My blog was set up so I could record my studies of 'Roman Catholicism vs. Scripture/protestantism' historically and doctrinally. I am on the sola scriptura side of the argument, not the Roman Catholic side. However, several Roman Catholic people read here and I was forestalling the possible but unfounded criticism that protestants think good works and holiness are not a part of our Christian life.
We were having a discussion on a catholic blog about merit and salvation which is linked in a post below this one on Jan. 11th. I don't know if I did a very good job of trying to argue the scriptural side, but it might help you see what I believe.
There, Larry, I've edited my post to make it more clear, I hope :). Now watch someone else get offended ;)
Thanks Jennie. You didn't have to change the post; I don't think the initial post that you wrote gave the impression that you disagreed.
I just wanted to make sure I was clear that I do believe the quality of our lives are very important. One of your readers came over to my blog and left a comment that gave the impression that I had not been clear enough about that.
Larry
"The gospel is a message. If you take out the words, you have no gospel!"
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The gospel is a way of life - the abundant life promised to us by Christ. Words are needed to articulate and express what the gospel is all about, and I totally agree with that; however, one cannot articulate about something they are not living, otherwise, it is only a fairytale.
No, you misunderstand the rhetoric: if one's live is so brimming with the gospel that they are so clearly living it, speaking about it would be the easiest thing in the world, very much second nature.
I think, then, for example, how Boaz models God's providence beautifully.
In other words, the good news can be modeled. A phrase I hear often in Bible studies is "What does such-n-such look like? What does forgiveness look like? What does love look like?"
All those cliches come to mind: "Talk is cheap; actions speak louder than words."
All those things are true about living out the gospel, yet the gospel is the 'Word' of God and must be spoken out specifically so people know WHAT the good news is about Jesus Christ. He is the only way and it has to be made clear. The Holy Spirit works through His word to bring people to repentance, as well as using the lives of His people as a witness. It must be both.
Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
14 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? 15 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!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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