Is the Gospel Something You Believe or is it Something You Do?

In the last week, I saw a prominent member of a leading Reformed seminary tweet something to effect that the gospel is something that you believe and not something that you do. The tweet also referenced Michael Horton from The White Horse Inn who is also a loud proponent of the “believe not do” position.

So, which is it? Is the gospel something you believe? Is it something you do? Which is it? I submit to you that the question is a false conundrum. It’s both!

What is at the root of the question is blatant antinomianism. Plain and simple. To be fair, the folks that want to separate “believing” and “doing” are zealous to preserve “sola fide” (by faith alone). In other words, we believe that justification is on the basis of Christ’s merit and nothing else. Is that the sole consideration though? Where this goes off the rails is failing to speak to sanctification as well. Does God’s law-word play a part in my sanctification?

I saw someone reply to the tweet citing 2 Thes 1:8 (italics added for emphasis):

when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

2 Thes 1:8 – ESV

I admit that this text also immediately popped into my head when I read the tweet. It’s not really a text that speaks to antinomianism though. Paul is simply saying here that those who reject the gospel are not obeying the gospel. God commands that all repent and believe. If you reject God’s demand, you’re not obeying the gospel.

So, that text aside, does the Bible speak to the antinomian issue? It surely does.

6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:6 – ESV

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked

1 John 2:3-6 – ESV

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

1 John 2:9 – ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15 – ESV

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

1 John 2:19 – ESV

29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1 John 2:29 – ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning

1 John 3:2-8 – ESV

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:9-10 – ESV

I’m going to stop citing texts from 1 John. There are more texts from 1 John that could be considered. 1 John is really, really tough on the antinomian “believe not do” crowd.

So, let’s be cautious about making broad statements about the gospel itself when we are thinking of justification instead. This is not a small issue. The American church has been totally weaned off of the Old Testament – God’s law-word – and craves the “believe not do” mindset. This further bolsters their opinion that they can do anything they want – including not even read their Bible. If that’s your mindset, re-read the 1 John citations above and tremble at the prospect of the final judgment.