The gospel and obedience to the word of God

Last Sunday, we looked at this verse: ^{16} yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal 2.16).

The basis of our standing before God is not by anything we do but by faith in Jesus Christ. For Christ’s death for our sins has removed the enmity between God and ourselves, and his righteousness, imputed (declared) to us, means that we are God’s children, and heirs of eternal life. Paul goes on to say that the way we enter and maintain this relationship with God is by faith – that is faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

This is the gospel. However, as important as these central truths are, there is more to say. We need, for instance to understand that with faith goes repentance. And further, genuine faith leads to obedience - obedience to God which means obedience to his word.

Obedience to the Lord, while not the ground of our justification, is the proper response to the love of God in Christ. In many matters, the word of God is very clear; in others, it is not. Where the word of God is silent, so must we be. But, where it is clear, we must be clear.

The Bible is very clear that sexual relations, gifts from God, are intended for a man and a woman in marriage. The Episcopal Church has upheld this for most of its history – until the last 10 years or so. For a number of reasons, our denomination, contrary to biblical teaching, has now altered this teaching.

We now learn that Bishop Lattime will ordain a non-celibate homosexual woman to the diaconate this Saturday. We have let him know that we believe this to be contrary to God’s revealed will further splintering an already divided denomination. We urge him to follow the word of God and encourage all people, and especially ordained men and women, to live godly lives, and to repent of their sinful behavior - as we all must do.

We read this in Titus 1.9: He (the presbyter/bishop) must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”