Have you ever pounded fufu? Do you even know what that means? I asked that very question to a group of Christians in Ghana, West Africa some years ago. Everyone in the room knew exactly what I was talking about, because pounding fufu is something that everyone in Ghana has done or witnessed. If you don’t know what it means to pound fufu, then it is certain that you’ve never done it.
Have you obeyed the gospel? Do you know what it means to obey the gospel? If you don’t, then it’s almost certain that you haven’t. But, unlike pounding fufu, obeying the gospel has eternal ramifications, for Paul warned that Jesus will “in flaming fire take vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thes 1:7-9).
You see, it is imperative that you not only know what it means to obey the gospel, but that you make sure that you do it! To this point, Peter wrote, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet 4:16).
Clearly, one must obey the gospel to be saved. Yet most do not think of the gospel beyond the facts of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (cf 1 Cor 15:1-4). But these are simply facts. One cannot obey facts. Therefore, there must be some command(s) given in association with these facts.
In Mark 16:15-16, Jesus commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” In Romans 10:13, Paul declared that those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, yet he lamented in verse 16, “But they have not all obeyed the gospel.” So, calling on the name of the Lord and obeying the gospel appear to be one and the same.
In Acts 2:21, Peter declared that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and in verse 38 commanded repentance and baptism in the name of Christ in order to receive remission of sins.
Paul explained how he called on the name of the Lord in Acts 22:16. Look it up. Ask yourself if you have obeyed the gospel as he did. If not, obey it!
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