Sharper Iron From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Tim Koch, pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 12:9-21. Christians have been brought into new life in Christ Jesus completely by God’s grace. Now St. Paul illustrates what that life looks like. The commands that the Apostle recites are not prerequisites for entrance into God’s kingdom; rather, they are based upon the mercies of God that have already brought sinners into His kingdom. Jesus gives the concrete picture for each of the statements made. Christian love is characterized by familial love that purposefully seeks to put the neighbor first. Christian love is grounded in the confident expectation of what God has promised in Christ. This allows the Christian to respond to evil and persecution without vengeance. The Lord remains judge and avenger. Instead of returning evil for evil and therefore allowing evil only to grow, the Christian responds with that which is truly good. As Jesus overcame evil on the cross through His forgiveness, so the