Living Out the Gospel: Blessing Persecutors
Summary
In Romans 12:14-15, Paul instructs us to bless those who persecute us and to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. This passage is a call to live out the doctrines of salvation in our daily lives, emphasizing the importance of practical Christian living. The first 11 chapters of Romans lay out the essential doctrines of salvation, and from chapter 12 onwards, Paul shifts to applying these doctrines to our lives. The glory of God and the credibility of the gospel are at stake in how we live. If we claim to believe in the doctrines of justification, sanctification, and glorification but live contrary to them, we bring disrepute to the gospel.
Our lives should reflect the transformative power of the gospel, serving as a form of evangelism. The early church spread the gospel not just through preaching but through the lives of ordinary Christians. A theoretical Christianity is useless; it must be lived out. The Christian life is not just a collection of moral maxims but a life that can only be lived by those who are born again. We are called to bless those who persecute us, which means to pray for them and desire their good. This is not a natural reaction but one that requires a renewed mind and a heart transformed by the gospel.
To bless those who persecute us, we must remember how God treated us when we were His enemies. We were saved by grace, not because of anything good in us. This perspective helps us see our persecutors as victims of spiritual blindness, deserving of our compassion and prayers. Our reaction to persecution should be positive, not just refraining from retaliation but actively seeking the good of those who harm us. This is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit and a deep understanding of the gospel.
Key Takeaways:
1. Practical Christianity: The doctrines of salvation must be lived out in our daily lives. The credibility of the gospel is at stake in how we live, as people are more concerned with our actions than our words. Our lives should reflect the transformative power of the gospel, serving as a form of evangelism. [03:39]
2. Blessing Persecutors: We are called to bless those who persecute us, which means to pray for them and desire their good. This is not a natural reaction but one that requires a renewed mind and a heart transformed by the gospel. [21:47]
3. God's Grace: To bless those who persecute us, we must remember how God treated us when we were His enemies. We were saved by grace, not because of anything good in us. This perspective helps us see our persecutors as victims of spiritual blindness, deserving of our compassion and prayers. [30:35]
4. Positive Reaction: Our reaction to persecution should be positive, not just refraining from retaliation but actively seeking the good of those who harm us. This is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit and a deep understanding of the gospel. [26:06]
5. Christian Distinction: The Christian life is not just a collection of moral maxims but a life that can only be lived by those who are born again. We must differentiate between the sin and the sinner, understanding that our persecutors are spiritually blind and in need of salvation. [36:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Romans 12:14-15
- [00:32] - Context of the Epistle
- [01:12] - Importance of Context in Scripture
- [02:15] - Transition to Practical Application
- [03:22] - The Glory of God in Our Lives
- [04:09] - The Importance of Actions Over Words
- [05:12] - Obedience and Blessings
- [06:21] - Evangelism Through Living
- [07:37] - The Danger of Theoretical Christianity
- [08:22] - Principles of Christian Conduct
- [09:39] - Christian in the Church and Community
- [11:21] - Reaction to Others
- [12:53] - The Realism of Scripture
- [14:16] - Persecution as a Christian Reality
- [16:01] - The Uniqueness of Christian Conduct
- [18:27] - Understanding Persecution
- [21:47] - Blessing Those Who Persecute
- [26:06] - Positive Reaction to Persecution
- [30:35] - Remembering God's Grace
- [36:03] - Differentiating Sin and Sinner
- [40:00] - Praying for Persecutors
- [44:42] - Christ's Example of Forgiveness
- [47:23] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:14-15
2. Matthew 5:43-44
3. Luke 23:34
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions does Paul give in Romans 12:14-15 regarding how we should treat those who persecute us? [00:12]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the doctrines of salvation and practical Christian living? [03:22]
3. According to the sermon, what role did the lives of ordinary Christians play in the spread of the gospel in the early church? [06:36]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the natural human reaction to persecution, and how does it contrast with the Christian response? [22:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the importance of living out the doctrines of salvation in our daily lives, and what impact does this have on the credibility of the gospel? [03:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our understanding of God's grace should influence our reaction to those who persecute us? [30:35]
3. How does the sermon differentiate between the sin and the sinner, and why is this distinction important for Christians when responding to persecution? [36:03]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling Christians to bless those who persecute them? [27:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt persecuted or mistreated. How did you respond, and how might you apply the teachings from Romans 12:14-15 to a similar situation in the future? [21:47]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of practical Christianity. What are some specific ways you can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in your daily life? [06:21]
3. Consider someone in your life who may be difficult to love or pray for. How can you begin to see them as a victim of spiritual blindness, deserving of compassion and prayer? [30:35]
4. The sermon suggests that our reaction to persecution should be positive and proactive. What are some practical steps you can take to actively seek the good of those who have wronged you? [26:06]
5. How can you remind yourself of God's grace in your life when you are tempted to react negatively to others? What practices or habits can help reinforce this perspective? [33:26]
6. The sermon highlights the importance of differentiating between sin and the sinner. How can this understanding change the way you interact with those who oppose or misunderstand your faith? [36:03]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to live out the doctrines of salvation. What changes can you make to align your actions more closely with your beliefs? [03:39]
Devotional
Day 1: Living Out the Gospel's Transformative Power
The Christian life is a call to live out the doctrines of salvation in our daily actions. Romans 12:14-15 emphasizes the importance of practical Christian living, where our lives should reflect the transformative power of the gospel. The credibility of the gospel is at stake in how we live, as people are more concerned with our actions than our words. Our lives should serve as a form of evangelism, demonstrating the change that the gospel brings. The early church spread the gospel not just through preaching but through the lives of ordinary Christians. A theoretical Christianity is useless; it must be lived out. [03:39]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in your life?
Day 2: Blessing Those Who Persecute Us
We are called to bless those who persecute us, which means to pray for them and desire their good. This is not a natural reaction but one that requires a renewed mind and a heart transformed by the gospel. To bless those who persecute us, we must remember how God treated us when we were His enemies. We were saved by grace, not because of anything good in us. This perspective helps us see our persecutors as victims of spiritual blindness, deserving of our compassion and prayers. [21:47]
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:44-45a, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to bless? How can you begin to pray for their well-being today?
Day 3: Remembering God's Grace
To bless those who persecute us, we must remember how God treated us when we were His enemies. We were saved by grace, not because of anything good in us. This perspective helps us see our persecutors as victims of spiritual blindness, deserving of our compassion and prayers. Our reaction to persecution should be positive, not just refraining from retaliation but actively seeking the good of those who harm us. This is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit and a deep understanding of the gospel. [30:35]
"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (Romans 5:10, ESV)
Reflection: How does remembering God's grace towards you change your perspective on those who oppose you?
Day 4: Positive Reaction to Persecution
Our reaction to persecution should be positive, not just refraining from retaliation but actively seeking the good of those who harm us. This is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit and a deep understanding of the gospel. The Christian life is not just a collection of moral maxims but a life that can only be lived by those who are born again. We must differentiate between the sin and the sinner, understanding that our persecutors are spiritually blind and in need of salvation. [26:06]
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can respond positively to someone who has wronged you recently?
Day 5: Distinguishing Sin from the Sinner
The Christian life is not just a collection of moral maxims but a life that can only be lived by those who are born again. We must differentiate between the sin and the sinner, understanding that our persecutors are spiritually blind and in need of salvation. This understanding allows us to extend grace and compassion, recognizing that they are in need of the same salvation we have received. [36:03]
"And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments." (Luke 23:34, ESV)
Reflection: How can you practice distinguishing between sin and the sinner in your interactions with others today?
Quotes
If we say that we are people who believe what we've got in the first 11 chapters and then live in a manner that is opposed to their teaching we bring that very doctrine that we claim to glory in into disrepute. The glory of God and of the great salvation is in a sense in our hands. [00:03:37]
If we talk learnedly about justification, sanctification, and glorification but still live like everybody else, well, you can see the inevitable reaction in the lives of men and women in their whole reaction to the gospel. But not only that, these things are so interrelated and intertwined. [00:04:29]
God has always granted his greatest blessings to those who have been obedient to his Commandments, to his instructions, the instructions of the Gospel as well as the law in the Old Testament. So if we really are concerned about our own happiness and our own enjoyment of the blessings of Salvation, this is the high road. [00:05:30]
That's how the gospel spread in the early Church in the early centuries. It was Christian people manifesting the Christian Life in their daily life and occupations. It was that that conquered the ancient world. Often they were not allowed to preach and especially in great meetings. [00:06:33]
A mere theoretical Christianity is useless. It's generally useless to the person himself. It is certainly quite useless as regards those that are outside. And indeed, I go further, a theoretical Christianity is a contradiction in terms, for the whole object of Salvation is to do something to us. [00:07:29]
No man can possibly live in the way that we are instructed to live here unless he is born again, unless he's got the life of God in his soul, unless he is the possessor of a new nature. There is no greater heresy, and it's been very common in this Century, than the heresy of thinking that you can get Christian conduct. [00:09:49]
Christian people are persecuted in some shape or form. Why? Simply because they're Christians. The world doesn't realize it, but it's paying a great tribute to us. The world can give you proof that you are a Christian in a true sense by persecuting you. It only persecutes the true Christian. [00:18:30]
The literal meaning of the word translated bless is speak them good, speak them good. It really comes to this: pray for them, speak them good even to God. Ask God to deal with them and to be merciful to them, do them good in the highest way that you know of, which is to pray for. [00:21:47]
Our attitude to persecution must be positive. Now, it's a very difficult thing, this. There is nothing that is more trying to us, perhaps, than the endurance of persecution. But it tests our profession, it tests the reality of our Christianity in a most thorough manner. [00:26:06]
You must start by reminding yourself of God's real reaction to you. You see, you are now in the position of other people and how you react to them. Right, start by reminding yourself of how God reacted to you and what God has done to you. You're a Christian now, all right, but remember what you once were. [00:30:35]
As a Christian and in this Christian way of thinking, you look at the persecutor and you draw the vital distinction between the sin of which he is guilty and The Sinner who is guilty of it. Now, there is nothing to be said for the sin. The sin is wrong. It is always wrong to persecute. [00:36:03]
You will see them as the victim of the devil and as people who are going to hell, and you'll be sorry for them. And you don't even stop at that. You see, the next step is you will desire their salvation. You'll say, what a tragedy they are still as I once was. Thank God I've been delivered. [00:40:00]
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