Grace and mercy in operation (1)
Please read Romans 12 v 1-16, reading v 14-16 a second time, and then pray: Almighty God, may your precious Word grant light to my understanding and peace and grace to my heart; may compassion and mercy mark all my actions, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
It has been a true joy to be challenged and inspired by the apostle Paul’s message in his great epistle to the Romans. I have stressed many times that chapter 12 is focused entirely upon the practical side of Christian living and serving. How do we practice the Christian faith? How do we show the world we are indeed children of God? We live out Romans Chapter 12. And this is a chapter that Paul intends to be filled to overflowing with teaching about the mercy of God. We started on our journey through Romans 12 with this bold introduction:
“Therefore, I urge you brothers (and sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”
We are called to live out the Christian life, a Jesus-way-of life, in response to the amazing grace and mercy of God. That mercy is especially revealed and evident through all that Jesus has done for us through his life, death, and resurrection. Christian living is essentially a grateful response to God’s great mercy and grace.
We are saved by grace (Romans 3:23, 5: 1-2) and we must now live by grace and with grace. This “living by and with grace” leads to a life that is characterised and filled with mercy toward others – even persecutors and tormentors. God, through his grace, enables us to live in a different way – very different to the way of the world.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (12:2)
Our minds are renewed and continue to be renewed by the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the grace of God. Now we can proceed to see how this amazing grace (loving inner power and presence) of God works within us and through us in three specific ways. We will see that these 3 ways of living and acting are at the heart of the teaching and life of Jesus Christ. This is “Kingdom of God” living. This is grace-filled discipleship. This is mercy in action. Here we go! Romans 12: 14-16. I think you will find that this teaching “does not conform to the pattern” and ways of our fallen world.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.”
“Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
We begin this week with Paul’s words concerning the blessing of those who seek to do us harm through their persecuting ways and attitudes. And the first thing we notice is that these instructions from Paul are taken directly from the teaching of Jesus. Paul is sharing what Jesus shared with his disciples as he spoke about his kingdom. Matthew 5: 43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you; love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” And from Luke 6: 28; “bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
When someone attacks, persecutes, or mistreats you, you instinctively want to attack back. We are tempted to respond with negative reactive actions. We are tempted to curse them. But Jesus turns everything on its head. He calls for the blessing of the enemies of his people. Blessing not cursing. He calls his people to pray for those who attack them verbally or physically. Part of your prayer life as a follower of Jesus is to be focused on praying for people who you perceive or know to be enemies, people who are against you and wish you harm. You pray for friends and many neighbours – and that is good; but Christ and his apostle (Paul) also call you to bless your enemies in prayer, the people you struggle to love or respect. The temptation to curse them is strong, but you are called, even commanded, to bless them. (Read Matthew 5: 43-47)
Now this is hard. Let us be frank and admit the enormity of the challenge. Some would say this is impossible. Some would say that this is ridiculous. Jesus reveals that this is the way of his kingdom which has now come on the earth. Paul would say that this is part of not conforming to the general pattern of this world, but rather part of our being transformed by the grace of God into the likeness of Jesus. (12:2) But how do we love our enemies, and bless those who wish to do us harm through prayer?
We can only do this with the amazing, transforming, melting grace and mercy of God working wonders in our hearts. God’s powerful and transforming grace, coming to us through his Word and Spirit can enable and strengthen us to pray blessing for those who wish us harm. The grace that was powerful enough to save us and transfer us into Christ’s kingdom, now operates and works in us to fill our hearts with mercy for others, even enemies. We offer mercy to others not cursing.
We see this in the life of Jesus, and we are called to conform to his pattern not the world’s pattern. On the cross, Jesus forgave those who nailed him to it. (Luke 23:34) On the cross Jesus reacted with mercy to those who were full of cursing at the base of his cross (Matthew 27:39). One of the thieves crucified next to Jesus was told by the Saviour that there was a place for him in paradise. (Luke 23:43) These words ring through all eternity: Father, forgive them because they do not know what they do. When the brothers James and John wanted to curse and call down fire from heaven in response to the unwelcoming and scornful Samaritan people, Jesus strongly rebuked them. (Luke 9: 52-55) Pray for those who oppose you. No cursing!
But that was Jesus – and he was the Son of God. He had such great power and grace, but we are different. We are much weaker. We cannot release such forgiveness like he did. We cannot show such mercy to enemies like he did – or can we? Is it possible to put into practice this kingdom teaching?
Let me move on to the story of the first Christian martyr – Stephen. Stephen explodes on to the scene in the days of the early Church after the resurrection of Jesus, and the coming down of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. His story is therefore shared with us in the book of Acts. Stephen was not an apostle, but he was given leadership responsibilities in the early days of the Church in Jerusalem. (Acts 6:5) We are told this about Stephen in Acts 6 v 8-15. (Read)
The man who is full of God’s grace, and had a face like that of an angel speaks boldly to this stiff-necked group, but the story ends badly because they react with anger and violence to his words of truth, and they proceed to stone him to death. And who is there at the scene of Stephen’s stoning? Who oversees the death of this angelic Christian man? (Read Acts 7: 54 – 8:1)
The man who heard these words of forgiveness and grace from Stephen’s lips as he fell down dying was Saul of Tarsus who became an apostle. Paul became the largest contributor to the New Testament, including the writing of Romans. And when he gets on to the topic of how to live as a Christian in the world, he recalls the teaching of the Saviour, and probably has in the back of his mind, the gracious example of Stephen.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Stephen did not curse Saul. He prayed as the stones were hurled towards him from all angles. This is the grace of God at work. It enables people to put into practice the seemingly hard teaching of Jesus; but this is the only teaching that can truly change the world. Persecutors can often become saints as Paul did, through prayer and the miracle of the grace of God.
Why is it the case that when the world hears a dramatic story of human forgiveness and mercy – the story always surrounds an individual who is a Christian? A Christian who has forgiven someone who has done them or their family great harm. It is always a Christian. Forgiveness and mercy go hand in hand with a commitment and love for Christ. Jesus said, ‘freely you have received – freely give.’ Just as you have received mercy – so you must give it – even to enemies. At one time – you were my enemy, you were God’s enemy, but you were shown mercy and grace. Go and do likewise.
Many of you will recall the moving testimony of a man by the name of Gordon Wilson. His now famous story is related to the horrific IRA bombing in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on Remembrance Day, November 8th, 1987. The IRA detonated an 18kg bomb at a remembrance gathering that day. Eleven people were killed including Gordon’s daughter, Marie Wilson. Gordon was trapped in the rubble, with his daughter dying next to him. He remembered her last words; “Daddy, I love you very much.” When being interviewed later after he recovered from his injuries, Gordon Wilson said: “I prayed for the bombers last night that God would forgive them.” In another interview, he expanded on his feelings: “I bear no ill will to anybody, nor does my wife; sincerely. I hope I get the grace to continue to do so.”
Hold on to that for a moment. I hope I get the grace to continue to do so. What on earth is going on here? Shouldn’t he be cursing the bombers? Gordon Wilson sought grace instead. He knew he needed it. And such forgiveness could only come from one Source and Spring. Jesus. Christ living in the martyr Stephen. Christ living in Gordon Wilson. Christ living in his dear wife!
Our reaction may still be one of doubt. “If it happened to me, I do not think I could forgive, I would not be able to pray for blessing upon the murderers.” You are right. You could not do it in your own strength. Neither could I. But if Christ lives in us by His grace, we may be amazed at what we might be able to do. Paul once wrote: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4: 13) This includes being merciful to enemies. Jesus who lives in us by His grace and Spirit, is the Jesus who spoke about mercy being at the centre of his Kingdom ethics. It can take a lot of time for a Christian to forgive, but the grace of Christ through his Word and Spirit can and do produce miracles of grace, forgiveness, and mercy.
Sometimes, it does not take a long time.
Early in September this year, Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a University Campus while debating with students. The world was shocked. The world was changed and challenged. A young man with a very young family was shot in cold blood in front of thousands of students. He was a Christian and his family also love and follow Jesus. I thought in the back of my mind that at some point in the future – perhaps months or years down the line, Erika Kirk, Charlie’s beautiful wife might share how she had come to a point of being able to forgive the murderer. We did not have to wait that long. Incredibly, just over a week later, at a packed sports stadium, with millions and millions around the world watching on, this brave woman said these words. And as she spoke about her dear husband’s murderer, you could hear a pin drop, and you could feel the power of the grace of God:
That man, that young man; I forgive him. I forgive him because it is what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.
The answer is not to hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.
Erika Kirk lifted these words from the bible she loves, and she was given the strength and grace to say them in front of a massive crowd.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and not curse.
Do you believe in the power of the prayer of blessing? I heard a story last week from the evangelist Jonathan Conrathe. Jonathan is the founder and director of a mission organisation called Mission24. Many years ago, he was invited to a Church for a week-long mission. On arrival, and after praying, he decided that he should visit some of the residents living nearby, and invite them to come along to the mission.
He was invited into one house and had been having a good conversation with a woman, when the man of the house came down the stairs to see what was happening. When he found out who Jonathan was, and why he was in their home, he promptly kicked Jonathan out of his house in a most abrupt manner, but not before Jonathan has managed to pray these words. God bless you sir. The mission week was successful and Jonathan came back to the Church several months later for a follow up visit and preach. When he got on to the stage, he thought he recognised a man on the stage but could not quite place him. Later Jonathan spoke with the man and said; “Haven’t I met you before?” The man said that he was the person who had kicked Jonathan out of his house months earlier.
So why was he in Church, and on the stage, now playing in the worship band? The man said that after he had asked Jonathan to leave, they noticed that Jonathan had remained outside their house for several minutes, and they had heard him praying for their blessing, their wellbeing, and their prosperity. They were so taken by this, that they decided to go to the Church down the road where the mission had been held and they promptly became Christians. The rest is history.
The power of praying and releasing blessing! The moving of the grace of God in human hearts. The softening of hard hearts by grace. Our prayers of blessing have power. Do you believe this?
Much more could be said about this topic, there are so many astonishing and miraculous stories of forgiveness, grace, blessing and hope – and they all come from the Christian stable. When will the world turn to Christ? When will the world turn to the Master? When will the world turn to its Creator?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and lived among us.” (John 1:1, 14)
God came among us; he became a man. He showed us how to live, how to love and what a life of mercy and grace looked like. He was crucified by the world he came to serve, but even from the cross, some of his dying words proclaimed forgiveness. We learn from a tortured and crucified Saviour that God wants to forgive. God wants to be merciful. God was merciful to the hostile persecutor Saul, who went on to write Romans with all its amazing revelation about the mercy and grace of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The power of the gospel is second to none. Men and women around the world are beginning to cotton on to this. Jesus has the answer to hate. Jesus can solve the problems which divide us so bitterly. Jesus can give us redeeming grace. No-one else can. Last week I attended a training conference about evangelism. My ministerial colleague and friend Chris Kemshell spoke about how recently 4 families had walked into one of his churches just a few ago – his Church in Haverhill. When Chris enquired as to why they were so eager to come into his Church and join it, there response was that they had been moved the by the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk and all that had transpired since. The death of Charles Kirk had changed and deeply moved their hearts.
Next time we will go on to see how grace enables us to live harmoniously, weeping with those who weep, rejoicing with those who rejoice. And we will see how the grace of the Servant King enables and inspires us to embrace Christians of the lowest social status.
Read Romans 12: 14-16 once more.
Amen
(Revd Peter J Clarkson 19.10.25)