Expedition 44 The Gospel part 4- Faith, Salvation, and Allegiance: Interview with Dr. Matthew Bates
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt interview Dr. Matthew Bates on Gospel Faith and Allegiance
Gospel
• We’ve often heard of the Romans Road, 4 spiritual laws, and justification by faith as the Gospel in the western church. Are these correct? What is problematic about letting the benefits of the gospel run the narrative?
• Many focus just on the cross alone when talking about the gospel, though this is very important, it is not the whole gospel. Could you describe the Biblical gospel to us as you describe in your book Gospel Allegiance and how the cross is just a part of the whole gospel?
• In your book you talk about the gospel as a royal announcement vs. persuasive rhetoric. Most modern Christians make the gospel a sales pitch, is this a correct way to present the gospel?
• What would ring in the original audience’s hears when they heard this king Jesus gospel in the first century (Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not)? What are the implications today?
• As we’ve talked about, most people see the gospel as salvation. How are the gospel and salvation linked if the gospel is primarily a royal announcement of Jesus as king?
Faith/Allegiance
• The gospel requires a response of faith. You write about the concept of faith as allegiance in both Gospel Allegiance and Salvation by Allegiance Alone. Could you explain this concept vs. the usual western view of simple belief?
• In your book you talk about how we get grace wrong in the west. You mention 6 dimensions of grace (Jon Barclay) could you talk about how these tie into the first century view of grace and allegiance.
• Many conflate faith and works (especially in Paul). Could you speak to how faith and works are not at odds in context?
• You state that you wrote Gospel Allegiance for the church. What are you hoping the results of this view of the gospel and faith will have on congregations and discipleship (You talk a lot about disciple making in chapter 7 of Gospel Allegiance)?