How Do I Obey the Gospel
Part 2
In Part 1, we defined what the Gospel actually is according to the Scriptures. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1. The Death – Romans 6:1-3, Galatians 2:20;
2. The Burial – Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:9-12;
3. The Resurrection – Romans 6:5-6, 16-18, Colossians 2:13
Now we will continue to look at Biblical examples of how individuals obeyed this Gospel message. In Acts Chapter 2, we read about the very first time that this Gospel message of Jesus Christ was preached and what the believers did in response to the Truth of that message.
Acts 2 is not the only example that we have of the Gospel being believed and obeyed. Let’s look at some other examples of responses to the Gospel message being obeyed.
In Acts 8:1, 5-8, 12-18, we read about how the Samaritans believed and obeyed the Gospel message. It is important to note that the Samaritans were a racially mixed group of people with Jewish and Gentile ancestry.
In Acts 10:1-2,22,39-48, we read about the Gentiles believing and obeying the Gospel message. In Acts 11:12-18, we read Peter’s account of his visit to the Gentiles.
In Acts 19:1-6, we read about Paul’s encounter with some disciples of John the Baptist. Paul realized that they were sincere believers, but he knew that they needed to be rebaptized in the Name of the one who died for them.
We read how he did just that; he rebaptized them in the Name of Jesus also fulfilling the command given in Matthew 28:19. These disciples of John the Baptist obeyed the Gospel.
In Acts 22:4, 7-16, we read about the conversion of Paul and how his life and message changed. Here we read how Paul obeyed the Gospel. After
fulfilling Acts 2:38, Paul states his new belief system in Acts 24:14.
Paul was an individual who was well versed in the Scriptures. He knew of only one Lord and that was the one found in Deuteronomy 6:4. After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, he realized that they were one and the same.
In John 3:1-7, Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born again of water and of the Spirit. In being born again of water and of the Spirit, a man would be fulfilling the Gospel:
• the death (repentance)
• the Burial (Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ),
• the Resurrection (Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit).
We become a new creature in Christ after we are baptized in water (born of the water) and receive the Holy Spirit (born of the Spirit). We become born again as the Bible truly teaches us to be as the following Scriptures declare: Galatians 3:27, 6:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:21-24, Colossians 3:9-10, Romans 8:11,14, Acts 5:32
In Genesis 17:9-14, the act of circumcision was commanded to Abraham as a sign of the covenant between him and God. God lets us know in Deuteronomy 30:6 that the act of circumcision would not always be a physical circumcision of the flesh but would one day be a circumcision of the heart.
This is confirmed by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 11:19-20, 36:26, and by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:33. This is fulfilled in us today when we are baptized into Christ. Colossians 2:11-13 This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how we obey it today as a part of the New Testament salvation.
We are born living a life that is walking away from God as sinners. When we hear the Gospel message preached and believe what we hear so much that we begin to cry out to the Lord, “What shall we do?” Then, in obedience to His Word, not the word of some man, we repent (die to the self-will of our flesh) and feel true remorse for the sins that we have committed. As a result, we turn 180 degrees around and begin to walk in God’s direction acknowledging our sins and not wanting to do them anymore.
We gladly receive His Word and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins (forgiveness of our sins) fulfilling Acts 2:38.
In this act of baptism, we find the cross of Christ where His precious blood was shed, and it is here that it is applied to the soul. Romans 6:3
Being baptised in water in the name of Jesus Christ is also how we are buried with Christ. Romans 6:4
Then, we are raised to walk in newness of life, resurrected, raised up with Him, put Him on, being filled with His Spirit as in Acts 2:4. This is how we obey the Gospel.
Conclusion
We must turn a few more Scriptures in closing realizing that we must give an account to Jesus Himself for anyone that we may mislead. Let’s read Galatians 1:6-10. Do not allow yourself to be deceived by the doctrine of some man but rather search the Scriptures and let them be your guide working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12-13
We must follow the leading of the Spirit of God and continue in His Word. Romans 8:13-14, John 8:31 Be encouraged today because Jesus prayed for you before you were ever born because He loved you that much. John 17:20
