Making The Gospel Attractive To The World Series

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God saved us - it was not the other way around. It was not anything we did to deserve it. God didn’t look around and find the coolest people to chose for His team like on the school playground. If that were the case you and I would be the leftovers! No - it was because of His MERCY. The term mercy is eleos - and it doesn’t come from pity - "oh those poor humans" - it comes from compassion and love. "God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever might believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16

So we have been washed - reborn, renewed, justified - made heirs and given hope. And it was all free (for us), though it cost God everything.

So who are we to go around with our chests puffed out with holier than thou pride and think that we can simply disconnect ourselves from being a part of this world simply because we have hope for the next?

Paul says - "no" and in fact urges us to in humble obedience show the mercy of the Lord by how we act in love, compassion and kindness - yes, mercy, to those around us who DON’T know Him.

8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

To "devote" means to "make something your primary concern." What is that thing that we are to be careful to observe? To do good. And what is it to do good? It’s what he said in the beginning of the chapter - namely:

Be a good citizen - obey the laws and respect those in government

Be a good citizen - by doing things that will benefit the community as a whole - not just the church. By being a considerate, compassionate, and peaceable member of society. By paying your taxes when owed and generally supporting government as long as it does not go against Scripture.

What is the end game here? To acquaint ourselves in such a way in our world that people will be attracted to the gospel instead of repelled by it’s followers! Paul says that doing this will be excellent and profitable - which means they look good and do good (literally in the Greek: beautiful and advantageous).

So what often happens? We do the opposite. And we act the opposite way in the church. Instead of loving others - and doing good for others than aren’t even in the Lord - we fight each other:

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

The false teaching that existed in Crete was probably similar to that in Ephesus - where Timothy was. It involved reinterpreting the Old Testament, making up legends, and genealogies of angels whom they said people should worship.

But no matter the type of controversy - if it just arguing for arguings sake then here’s the danger - it uses up valuable oxygen that could be used to teach the truths of the Word of God.