1
The Gospel and Behavior

• The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
  word which meant 'the story concerning God.' In
  the New Testament the Greek word euaggelion,
  means 'good news.' It proclaims tidings of
  deliverance. The word sometimes stands for the
  record of the life of our Lord (Mark 1 11),
  embracing all His teachings, as in Acts 20 24)
  (International Bible Encyclopedia). (It must be
  remembered that Paul "taught the commandments of
  the Lord," hence, the epistles also constitute,
  in a comprehensive sense, the gospel, dm.)

2
The Gospel and Behavior

• Some view the "good news of the Kingdom" as only
  consisting of the death, burial, resurrection,
  and ascension of the Lord. Indeed, such do
  constitute the "facts" of the gospel, but when
  fully viewed, there is much more involved in the
  gospel (I Cor. 15 1ff.). For instance, there
  are resident in the gospel promises to be
  obtained and commands to be obeyed (Acts 2 38,
  39, I Jn. 5 3).
• Another matter that is reflective of the
  functionality of the gospel is the fact of the
  design of the gospel to produce and regulate
  conduct.

3
The Gospel and Behavior

• The doctrine of salvation by faith only has
  invaded just about every religion to some extent
  and it suppresses the utility of Jesus' gospel.
  Salvation by faith only is of man, men who often
  look for a "comforting gospel" that demands
  absolutely nothing of man (cp. Jas. 2 14-26).

4
The Gospel and Behavior

• "We take the position that a Christian's sins do
  not damn his soul! The way a Christian lives,
  what he says, his character, his conduct, or his
  attitude toward other people have nothing
  whatever to do with the salvation of his
  soul.All the prayers a man may pray, all the
  Bibles he may read, all the churches he may
  belong to, all the services he may attend, all
  the ordinances he may observe,all the benevolent
  acts he may perform will not make his soul one
  whit safer and all the sins he may commit from
  idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any
  more danger.The way a man lives has nothing
  whatever to do with the salvation of his soul."
  -Sam Morris, Pastor of the First Baptist Church,
  Stamford, Texas (A Discussion Which Involves A
  Subject Pertinent To All Men, pgs. 1,2.)

5
The Gospel and Behavior

• "11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
  withstood him to the face, because he was to be
  blamed. 12 For before that certain came from
  James, he did eat with the Gentiles but when
  they were come, he withdrew and separated
  himself, fearing them which were of the
  circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled
  likewise with him insomuch that Barnabas also
  was carried away with their dissimulation.
• 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
  according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto
  Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew,
  livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as
  do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to
  live as do the Jews?" (Gal. 2).

6
The Gospel and Behavior

• There are a number of very interesting truths
  seen in Galatians 2 11-14. The fact that Paul
  publicly rebuked Peter is of importance for
  several reasons. First, such shows that Peter
  was not viewed as "a Pope" and that Peter was not
  sinless. The text also reveals the sinfulness of
  racism. In addition, the text shows what
  standard was used to determine right and wrong
  conduct. Such is seen in the language, "But when
  I saw that they walked not uprightly according to
  the truth of the gospel."

7
The Gospel and Behavior
The gospel and the family

• The gospel teaches husbands to love their wives,
  leave all others, be the head, and render "due
  benevolence" (Eph. 5 25, 28, 29 31 23 I Cor.
  7 2-4). Wives are to love their husbands,
  submit to headship, and render their due (Tit. 2
  4 Eph. 5 22-24 I Cor. 7 3, 4). Children are
  also addressed and told to obey their parents in
  the Lord (Eph. 6 1). Hence, the gospel
  regulates and controls the family unity and
  renders it a smoothly functioning relationship
  that is characterized by order and harmony.

8
The Gospel and Behavior

• The gospel regulates public worship in that it
  teaches orderly and structured worship, modest
  dress, and intelligible teaching performed by
  qualified males (I Cor. 14 33, 40 I Tim. 2
  8-12). The gospel even addresses such detail as
  vocal music, the type and how it is to be
  rendered (Eph. 5 19, Col. 3 16).

The gospel and public worship
9
The Gospel and Behavior

• Contrary to popular opinion, the gospel is
  aggressive and militant in its essential nature
  (Jude 3, Phili. 1 7, 17). The gospel, though,
  regulates and controls this aggression. For
  instance, there is to be no biting and devouring
  (Gal. 5 15). Issues rather than personalities
  are to be the focus (cp. Acts 15).

The gospel and controversy
10
The Gospel and Behavior
Behavior at work

• While Paul enunciated teaching specifically
  pertaining to the servant/master relationship,
  the teaching in general is applicable to the
  secular job situation. Consider the teaching of
  the gospel
• "22 Servants, obey in all things your masters
  according to the flesh not with eyeservice, as
  menpleasers but in singleness of heart, fearing
  God 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily,
  as to the Lord, and not unto men 24 Knowing
  that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
  the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ"
  (Col. 3).

11
The Gospel and Behavior
Behavior in persecution

• In view of the nature of the gospel, persecution
  is inevitable. In fact, we are expressly taught
  that all "who live godly in Christ Jesus shall
  suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3 12). The gospel
  forbids suffering as a "murderer, "thief,"
  "evildoer" or as a "busybody" (I Pet. 4 12-15).
  However, suffering as a Christian is part of it
  and should not result in shame (I Pet. 4 16, cp.
  Acts 5 40-42).

12
The Gospel and Behavior
Way we act toward others

• The gospel teaches a certain decorum on the part
  of Christians towards other Christians. There is
  to be lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and
  forbearing one another in love (Eph. 4 2).
  Reciprocal forgiveness is plainly required (Eph.
  4 32). Jesus' "Golden Rule" sums it up thus
  "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that
  men should do to you, do ye even so to them"
  (Matt. 7 12).

13
The Gospel and Behavior
Conclusion

• The core design of the gospel is indicative of
  the fact that it is of the nature to control
  behavior. Yes, it contains and declares the fact
  of Jesus' death and offers promises to be
  received, but it also enjoins numerous matters of
  responsibility. The same gospel that tells us of
  Jesus and his Kingdom also informs us how to live
  and "walk uprightly according to the truth of
  the gospel" (Gal. 2 14).