Starting the first Sunday in January 2010 we are launching a new series called “Faith for real life”. This is a look at the whole book of Romans. Did you know that Romans contains the clearest explanation of the purpose and meaning of the new covenant in the whole Bible. The new covenant is the key to spiritual living. As Christians we are in a new covenant that Christ formed on our behalf as both the high priest of this new covenant and as the sacrifice lamb of the covenant. Intense study of Romans triggered the great revelation in Martin Luther’s heart that God used to bring the gospel into focus in Germany 500 years ago and throughout the world. That reformation was really a resurrection of the ancient truths of the original message of Paul to the Church in Rome. And so we will go to the ancient truths of the original message of Paul to the Church in Rome and we will apply it to our lives today.
To my horror a pastor recently told me that he was not interested in the gospel. He claimed to be interested in revival. It is our contention that the gospel is the most important message ever given to mankind. We aim to make it the centerpiece of all we do at this Vineyard Church. And it’s our belief that any experience people claim to have with God should ultimately be tested against the glorious truths of the gospel as contained in Romans. This does not negate any pursuit of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring among God’s people today. Instead it gives us the framework for receiving outpourings of the Spirit. It gives us the ability to move with direction and purpose when we are energized. If we have the gospel without the Holy Spirit, we are called to wait until we receive power. If we are focused on receiving power from God and leave the gospel aside as a ‘basic’ thing, then we have forgotten why God’s Spirit comes to us with power. If we forget to love one another and God with our whole hearts, and only have the Gospel or our ‘experiences with the Holy Spirit’ in meetings, we forget why all of this has come in the first place. God is restoring relationship between us and Him. So we intend to study and meditate on the pure gospel as taught in Romans, continually cry out for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us by faith, and grow in love for God and one another so that we have a faith that works as God intended for real life. Not revival apart from the gospel. Not the gospel apart from the Holy Spirit. Not the Holy Spirit and the gospel apart from loving relationships. No we want it all…gospel, revival and love.
So as we dig into Romans it’s our intent to cast aside divisiveness, embrace the pure gospel, invoke the presence of the Kingdom of God among us now and in the future, cry out for the Holy Spirit to come daily on us with power, and to grow in love for God and one another as His people. In this context we invite you to come and join us for our fresh look at Romans. It’s our prayer that this look will give you ‘faith for real life’ in Christ and His kingdom. GOSPEL! REVIVAL! LOVE!
