Where Gratitude Graces The Gospel

WHERE GRATITUDE GRACEs The GOSPEL—Romans 1:15-24

Attention:

Per ‘The 1621 Thanksgiving’ @ mayflowerhistory.com

Written by Edward Winslow dated:Dec. 12, 1621 & first published 1622.

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours ; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, & amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained & feasted, & they went out & killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation & bestowed on our Governour, & upon the Captaine & others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie.”

Need:

There is still the undercurrent of the average American who deeply appreciates their family & God’s provision for them. These realize that they have been abundantly blessed by the Lord their God.

Even those without Christ may recognize ‘a higher power’ as it were. This leads to sentimentality during Christian holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas , & Easter.

Thanksgiving holiday may not seem like much to some but for those of Christ, it is an opportunity to reflect on God’s love for them & offer many heartfelt thanks for all they have.

For the Christians in Rome, Paul delineated the relationship of gratitude to the Gospel.

Gratitude must grace the Gospel of Christ.

Where does Gratitude grace the Gospel of Christ?

1—Gratitude graces the Gospel in our...

SHAMELESS TRUST(:15-16)

Explanation: (:15-16)

:15—“So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”

:16—“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek.”

Paul is ready to preach the Gospel to those who are in Rome(:15). It is because he is unashamed of it.

A thankful person is unashamed of the God —& His plan of salvation—who has granted them certain victory over sin & the grave.

Argumentation:

Lk. 9:23-26—“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross daily, & follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, & is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me & My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, & in His Father’s, & of the holy angels.”

Illustration:

I have no qualms about driving into my driveway, opening the garage door, parking my car in the garage, opening the door & entering/Why?—I have a SHAMELESS TRUST that this particular property is my home! I would never do the same at anyone else’s house!/SHAMELESS TRUST

Family & friends at your Thanksgiving gathering/We accept them no matter what they wear/We are grateful they are there/SHAMELESS TRUST

My oldest daughter Catherine is very concerned with fashion/She tries to modernize me with ‘younger looking’ jeans/They came with the back belt loop turned 45˚/The front pockets came with the edges partially frayed/The legs are flared slightly/She didn’t want me to have washed-out colors/Yet she is unafraid to tell others that I’m her Daddy/SHAMELESS TRUST

Application:

?Do You Grace the Gospel of Christ in your SHAMELESS TRUST?

?Does Your Gratitude Grace the Gospel of Christ?

2—Gratitude graces the Gospel in our...

SHARING(:17)

Explanation: (:17)

:17—“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

In the very Gospel of Christ, “the righteousness of God” is manifested to all yet it is only revealed “from faith to faith.”

“From faith to faith”—This is a quote from Habakkuk 2:4.

Hab 2:4—“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”

This phrase is a description of the fact that the truth of the power of God in Christ(“righteousness of God”) moves & conquers by means of my personal faith to your personal faith, to another’s personal faith, etc.

God’s “righteousness” is revealed on at least 2 planes—

—1)Horizontal—in that faith can only be revealed to another upon their accepting that faith. It will never be revealed/shared in its fullness except thru another’s faith. And thus it continues, progresses & prospers.