Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

We live in a world right now where hatred and division are growing—it sure seems so at least. Well, the Bible has very clear things to say about this.

First, each of us, regardless of our background, regardless of how people identify us or how we identify ourselves, are made in the image of God. Every person has been called to the high calling of bearing the divine likeness. Therefore, because we’ve been stamped with this image, we must treat all people with dignity and respect.

Now, this doesn’t mean that everything anyone who is made in God’s image says or believes is equally right or true. But it does mean that we, especially as Christians, have a responsibility to treat others in a manner that is honoring to their being made in image of Almighty God. Indeed, it was Jesus who said how you treat those you disagree with, even those that are your enemies, is one of the clearest marks of whether you truly know God (Matthew 5:4-48).

Secondly, the Bible tells us that anyone we interact with, no matter how wrong we may feel they are, indeed, no matter how wrong they might be, have the possibility of being redeemed by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why do we know this? Because we are not saved by our works, but by His grace. Redemption doesn’t come to those that are good, or those that we like, or to those that we agree with; but it comes the same way that it came to us. By grace! Not of our own doing! Anyone who will call on the name of the Lord will be saved! Becoming a Christian is a grace-miracle that defies our intuitive assessment and expectation.

And that is something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

~ Acts 9:1-16 (ESV)