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Bulletin articles
What Should We Do with the Gospel?
Paul included four prayers in his letters to the Thessalonians, two to the Colossians, two to the Ephesians, and one to the Philippians, found in 1:3-11, in which is taught several things Christians should do with the gospel.
Fellowship in it (verse 5). The gospel/good news is summed up in the one-sentence sermon Paul preached to the Philippian jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30). Those who truly believe the gospel will spread it, personally and by financially supporting gospel preaching (4:15-16).
Defend it (verse 7). Christians speak up when their faith is challenged. We don’t expect people to believe our religious claims just because we say so, thus, we are prepared to show them so. We will not be silent before the fake news the world tells about Jesus Christ.
Further it (verse 12). Apostleship brought Paul a lot of trouble (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), yet, his trouble served to advance the gospel. The word translated furtherance or progress was used to describe the army corps of engineers, who went before the army to cut a path through undergrowth or forest in order that the army might continue its march. This thought of using trouble to further the gospel connects with verse 6: God will complete the good work God has begun; the evil of bad men and the weakness of good men will not keep Him from finishing what He has started in us.
Live it (verse 27). Conduct translates the Greek word for politics, and it involves the idea of how citizens — in this case, of heaven — ought to live. Only is an important modifier: this one thing and this only! Nothing must distract Christians from Christ-like living.
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