RD May 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm The Gospel as Faith Working Through Love ???
Correct.
The Gospel is God’s (covenantal) love for his people;
That is only part of the truth. The Gospel is also Jesus’ example to His people that they should follow in His steps: 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The Gospel is also God calling to His people: Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
And the Gospel also shows the example of many who responded to God’s call: Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
And this is not all that the Gospel is, but only a short summary.
it is not man’s love for his neighbor
Yes, it is: Matthew 22:37-40 King James Version (KJV) 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love of God and love of neighbor is the complete Gospel. There is nothing else.
though that should flow on and follow as indeed should man’s love for God We should surely not confuse cause and effect
We haven’t.
If we do, the outside world might well have a very big picture of the church but a very small picture of God – which I take it is not what we want
God is love and love makes the world go round. If the world has a small picture of God, it is the world which will suffer for it. But we are not of the world: John 15:18-20 King James Version (KJV) 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Acts 2:47
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Matthew 22:37-40
King James Version (KJV)
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 15:18-20
King James Version (KJV)
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.