Miles McKee Ministries
PO Box 541, Kingston Springs, TN 37082
The Gospel and the True Apostle
PART 2
“Do not suppose that men like the gospel any better now than they did then. There is an idea that you are growing better; but the heart within is still the same. The human heart of today dissected, would be just like the human heart a thousand years ago; the gall of bitterness within that bosom of yours, is just as bitter as the gall of bitterness of Simon of old. We have in our hearts the same inherent opposition to the truth of God; and hence we find men, just as in the past, who scorn the gospel.”
CHS: Christ Crucified
The Gospel and New Covenant Lifestyle
For Paul, the Gospel was no mere entry-
“Only let your manner of life be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Phil. 1:27)
There is a newness of life, a Gospel lifestyle which comes as a result of justification and regeneration. This is not, as some would have us believe, a lifestyle unrelated to the Gospel. It is, rather, something which actually gets its authority and vitality from the Gospel. This is a major reason why one who claims to be an apostle must be a minister of the Gospel.
Let’s consider how Paul uses the Gospel to teach believers how to live. Paul tells the Romans,
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4).
Paul is saying, look what happened in the Gospel, you were buried and raised with Christ, now walk in the newness of life which is yours. Much of today’s preaching tries to get us to walk in newness of life but since it is devoid of the Gospel it can not produce the desired results. Churches, therefore, whose purpose is to teach how to live the Christian life are doomed to fail in their mission unless Christ is returned to center stage. It is the Gospel of Christ which gives the power to live the Christian life.
Living Without Offense
When Paul wanted to teach the saints how to live a lifestyle, which would not offend others in the church, he brings them again to the Gospel saying,
“But if your brother is grieved with your meat, you are not walking charitably. Destroy not him with your meat, for whom Christ died. (Rom. 14:15).
Paul, does not say, “Guys, you know it’s not the right thing to offend your brother with what you are eating. You are destroying him. Cut it out!” What he does, however, is bring them to the Gospel. He tells them, Christ died for your brothers so don’t destroy them. He unleashes the power of God unto salvation on the people he wants to change.
Not Pleasing Ourselves
When he wants them to learn not to please themselves he writes,
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me” (Rom 15:1-3)
Paul didn’t teach ethics and lifestyle apart from the Gospel. When he wanted his people to behave in a certain manner he doesn’t merely issue edicts and pronouncements, he brings them back to the Gospel. He brings them back to the Christ event! For Paul, there was no question in his thinking that changed lives came by the power of God unto salvation-
Receiving One Another
When Paul wanted the church to receive one another he tells them,
“Receive one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Rom 15:7).
Paul here reminds his readers that as Christ receives us we should receive each other. But how did Christ receive us? He received us on terms of pure Gospel grace. It was grace alone and not our righteousness that motivated Him. He didn’t wait for us to straighten up, rather He went ahead and did something about our sin and then received us to the glory of God. And that is how we are to receive each other. He does not order the Christians at Rome by saying,
"We need to receive one another for you know that is the right thing and you need to do the right thing now you are saved.”
No! He once more brings the Romans, and us, back to the Gospel to empower us to live the Gospel life style. That's New Testament ministry! Preaching the Gospel and instructing believers how to live are not two separate unrelated things. Believers, however, will not be empowered to live as Christians if there is no Gospel ministered to them for the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation.
Unrepentant Church Members
When Paul wanted the Corinthians to deal with an unrepentant fornicator in their midst he again brings them to the Gospel saying,
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Cor 5:7).
Paul here calls before them the imagery of the Passover. On the day before this great memorial, the Day of Preparation, the Hebrews cleansed their homes of every trace of leaven in preparation for Passover and the 6-
Walking in Love
When Paul calls the church to walk in love one towards another he calls them back to the Gospel saying,
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” Eph 5:2
Once more Paul’s appeal is to the Gospel. As an apostle, he knows of no better message to produce a New Covenant lifestyle.
Husbands and Wives
When Paul taught husbands to love their wives he does so in a Gospel context saying,
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” Eph 5:25
A husband who is constantly being bathed in the love of Christ as seen and presented in the Gospel is going to find the source of life to continually love his wife.
Selfless Living
When he wants the Philippians to have a selfless life by laying down their rights and becoming servants he again musters the Gospel to empower them by saying,
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:5-11)
Had Paul been one of our modern day apostles, he might well have told them they needed to be humble and selfless because that is what God expected of them. But Paul, knowing what authentic apostolic ministry was all about, makes his appeal for a selfless life by pointing us to the Gospel. If there is no Gospel there is no power for change in the heart of the believer. But says one, what about the Holy Spirit? Surely a change in our lives comes by the Holy Spirit. True, but the Holy Spirit will work powerfully and effectively in a Gospel setting. As Christ is magnified, He powerfully goes to work to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Forgiveness
Have you ever heard a sermon on forgiveness? I wish I had a dollar for every sermon I’ve heard on that subject. I’ve been told I won’t get my prayers answered if I hold un-
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Col 3:13
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Col 3:13
Once more, to empower them to live the Gospel lifestyle he brings them back to the Gospel. Paul is pointing out, God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us. Did God forgive us just because He was kind? Did He forgive us because His wrath against sin had mellowed? No, God has forgiven us for Christ’s sake, because of the cross and all that was accomplished there. We therefore are to forgive in just the same way. True apostolic ministry does not exist without the Gospel!
These are but a few instances showing how the Gospel was preached in expectation of an ethical response. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Rom 1:16). To not have the Gospel as the center of apostolic ministry is to have no power and no apostolic ministry! To reject the Gospel of Christ as the center of church life and ministry is to come short of the basic New Testament standard!
Part 1
Part 3
For Ministers of the Gospel Only