The gospel does not come simply in words. Consider the following.
“For our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord" (1 Thess. 1:5,6).
1 Peter 3:1: “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.â€
Titus 2:9-10: “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."
"I would suggest that our actions, insofar as they are the fruit of applying the gospel’s truth to the various facets of our lives, serve to testify to and commend that truth. In other words, while they may not communicate the full gospel explicitly, they will in various ways provide (by God’s grace) evidence that the gospel is true, powerful, and desirable. This, it would seem to me, is integral to the task of communicating the gospel. So while preaching the gospel will at some point always involve more than living in a manner consistent with it, it should never involve less." http://www.everysquareinch.net/2009/05/c...words.html
The gospel does not come simply in words. Consider the following.
“For our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord" (1 Thess. 1:5,6).
1 Peter 3:1: “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.â€
Titus 2:9-10: “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive."
"I would suggest that our actions, insofar as they are the fruit of applying the gospel’s truth to the various facets of our lives, serve to testify to and commend that truth. In other words, while they may not communicate the full gospel explicitly, they will in various ways provide (by God’s grace) evidence that the gospel is true, powerful, and desirable. This, it would seem to me, is integral to the task of communicating the gospel. So while preaching the gospel will at some point always involve more than living in a manner consistent with it, it should never involve less." http://www.everysquareinch.net/2009/05/c...words.html
Some times you explain the Gospel, a person rejects it, and then you live a life consistent with the message you told them and they are convinced of the Gospel's truth because you have given evidence of God's grace working in your life.
Sometimes a person sees your life, how you have shown them God's love, how you've shown others the love of God, or any other thing that may attract them to God through your life. They see evidence of the Spirit in your life and are curious and ask you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. Then, you explain the Gospel to them. You explain to them why you have been changed.
However, the evidence of your life alone is not going to save anyone. Just noticing your good life isn't what saves them. It may be what convinces or draws them of the truth of the Gospel, but in the end, you still have to explain to the person who notices your life the Gospel. Either way, and it may seem like I'm splitting hairs but I think this is important, our lives lived to the Glory of God do not preach the Gospel. They give evidence to the Gospel yes. They may draw people to the Gospel, yes. They may convince somebody of the Gospel's value or worth, yes. But ultimately, they are not the Gospel and you can't "preach the gospel" with your life. Your life is a major way to get to share the Gospel with someone. But ultimately the Gospel has to be explain and shared with a person.
The Gospel is an idea. That idea can only be explained through language. I think you are correct in stating that how we live our lives, how we glorify God by holy living, will attract people to God through seeing how the Gospel has changed our lives. The Gospel has to be explained.
My objection is to the phrase, "preach the gospel with your life". You preach the Gospel with words and your life gives evidence of the the Gospel's veracity and attracts people to it.
Hope that helps,
Matt
PS> @Anthony - I love you too brother! We may not agree very much about many things, but hey, iron sharpens iron. :friends: