GRAVE TO GOSPEL
GRAVE TO GOSPEL narrates the continuous story of Christ from Genesis to Revelation. Every action we take is driven by this life-giving message, reminding us that faith in Christ goes beyond mere knowledge, rituals, numbers, or programs. Expanding upon this foundational principle involves sharing and deepening our experience of Christ’s love through the Gospel, making each new endeavor a powerful echo of the Good News. Without the gospel, ministry loses its pulse; with it, every heartbeat carries the life of Christ into the world.
Let's move His gospel forward with every beat, because Christianity is not about Christians, it’s about Christ.
GRAVE TO GOSPEL
Open Your Bibles to Romans 12 9-21
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21
In this week's episode, we ask the punchy question: What is our duty?
In our natural state, our "love" is often selfish or conditional. But for the believer who has been transformed by the renewal of their mind, love becomes a supernatural fruit of the Spirit. It is the "Duty of Gratitude"—a life that hates what God hates and clings to what He calls good.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Genuine Love vs. Worldly Affection: Why a Reformed understanding of the heart’s corruption means we must constantly pray for "genuine" love that isn't just a performance, but a sincere reflection of Christ’s love for us.
- The Third Use of the Law: How we view these commands not as a way to earn favor, but as our "reasonable service" and the logical outworking of the grace we have already received.
- Fervency in Spirit: What it means to be "on fire" for the Lord without falling into the trap of self-reliance. We discuss how the Sovereign King provides the very zeal He commands.
- Overcoming Evil with Good: A deep dive into the end of the chapter. How do we respond to enemies? We explore the doctrine of God’s Vengeance—realizing that because God is the perfectly Just Judge, we are free to be perfectly merciful.
When our lives are "from Him, through Him, and to Him," our duty becomes our delight. We no longer seek to avenge ourselves because we trust in the perfect providence and justice of our Sovereign God.
Grace and Peace