Category: Featured & Foundational

Featured & Foundational, Featured Article

God Is Love: The Everlasting Compassion of Our Father

Rooted & Raised

In a world full of brokenness, confusion, and unanswered questions, one truth remains unshaken: God is love. This declaration is not a passing sentiment or poetic phrase—it is the very nature of the One who created us. Scripture reveals this truth plainly, consistently, and powerfully from Genesis to Revelation. Yet, some theological perspectives have raised the question: Does God only love those who are already His?

Let us answer that not with human reasoning, but with the full counsel of God’s Word.

“The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
— 1 John 4:8

The statement “God is love” does not mean that God merely shows love, but that love is the essence of His being. He cannot be anything other than who He is. His justice, His mercy, His holiness—all flow out of His perfect love. This love is not conditional upon our worthiness or position. It is who He has always been, even when we were still far off.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
— Romans 5:8

God’s love is not triggered by our faith—it is revealed in His initiative. He sent His Son to die while we were still sinners. That means God’s love was extended to us even when we were lost, rebellious, and unbelieving. It is because of that love that we even had the opportunity to repent and believe.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16

The word “world” speaks of humanity as a whole—fallen, undeserving, and estranged. And yet, God so loved this world that He gave what was most precious to Him. This was not selective love for a few, but a sacrificial love offered to all. The passage does not say God loved “the righteous,” or “the believing,” but the world.

“When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it…”
— Luke 19:41

Jesus, the visible image of the invisible God, wept over those who rejected Him. He lamented their unwillingness to receive the peace He came to bring. Does God grieve over those He does not love? No. His tears were the overflow of divine compassion, even for the lost.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
— Matthew 5:44–45

Jesus commands us to love our enemies because our Father in heaven does. He pours out kindness on both the righteous and the unrighteous. He is not distant or detached from the hurting, the stubborn, or the rebellious—He is actively showing them patience, kindness, and love, even as they resist Him.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise… but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9

If God did not love those outside of Christ, there would be no reason for Him to be patient. But His patience flows from His loving desire that all would come to repentance. He tarries, not out of indifference, but out of longing.

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine… and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”
— Luke 15:4

The parable of the lost sheep paints a vivid picture of a Shepherd who seeks—not because the sheep earned it, but because they are His and He loves them. God does not wait for the lost to find Him. He seeks, rescues, and rejoices over the one who is found.

It is because God loved us in our sin that we now walk in grace. It is because He extended mercy to us when we were blind that we now see. And it is because His love is faithful and true that we can proclaim His name to every tribe, tongue, and nation—offering the same love to all, without partiality.

“We love, because He first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19

The love of God is not only something we receive—it is something we are called to reflect. The more we understand that God loved us while we were enemies, the more we are compelled to love others in the same way. This is not a suggestion. It is the way of the Kingdom.

When Jesus said to love our enemies, He wasn’t offering a lofty idea for a peaceful society. He was describing the culture of Heaven. To love our enemies is to act like our Father. It is to see people not as threats or failures, but as souls for whom Christ died.

On the cross, in agony, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He loved not only His disciples, but those who mocked Him, beat Him, and drove nails through His hands. He did not wait for their repentance—He extended love while they were still enemies.

Stephen, the first martyr, followed the same example. As he was being stoned, he cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60). Paul later wrote, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14). This was not mere moral advice. It was the manifestation of a heart transformed by God’s love.

The early Church understood this well. From the time of Pentecost to the rise of imperial Christianity, they lived under persecution. Yet they were known—even by their enemies—as a people marked by love. Tertullian recorded that outsiders marveled, saying, “See how they love one another!” They prayed for their captors, forgave their executioners, and blessed their persecutors. Their love, even for enemies, testified to the power of the Gospel and turned the world upside down.

The Church today must recover this radical, Spirit-filled love. Not a love that approves of sin, but a love that lays down its life in truth, compassion, and mercy—even for those who hate us. To love as He loves is not weakness. It is warfare against the spirit of darkness. It is how the Kingdom advances—not by sword, but by sacrifice.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
— 1 John 4:11

Let us be known—not for our arguments, strategies, or strength—but for our love. Not a love defined by the world, but by the cross. A love that prays for enemies, endures persecution, and reflects the character of our Father. The kind of love that can only be born of the Spirit.

This is the love that overcomes the world.

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Featured Article

When the Fire Refines: A Testimony of Christ in the Midst of Trial

Rooted & Raised

“That the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Peter 1:7, NASB1995

I didn’t plan for this season. I didn’t ask for the quiet ache that lingers in the heart when you’re thousands of miles away from a dying loved one. I didn’t ask for the weight of rising expenses, broken appliances, and unchanging income. I didn’t ask for the tears shed in silence after a long workday, or the sense of frustration when physical weariness overwhelms my efforts to steward my body and life well.

But I know this much: God wastes nothing.

Each of these trials—some quiet, some crushing—have become invitations. Invitations not to despair, but to deeper trust. Not to self-reliance, but to surrender. Not to perfection, but to the presence of Christ.

Sometimes I respond with faith. Other times, I forget to bring my cares to Him at all. And yet, He remains faithful.

I’m learning—not always gracefully, not always quickly—that the Christian life is not about ease, but refinement. That following Christ doesn’t remove trials—it reveals their purpose. He uses them to peel away false security, shallow obedience, and performance-driven faith. He uses them to form in me the heart of a true disciple.

And though I’ve failed many times to change habits or respond rightly, He continues to draw me into His Word. There, through the Spirit’s gentle conviction, I see where I’m being shaped—not just in theology, but in character, trust, and eternal hope.

Like those early believers in the Ante-Nicene Church, who loved not their lives even unto death, I am learning that faithfulness doesn’t require applause or ease—it requires endurance. And endurance doesn’t come from strength—it comes from Christ.

So this is not a story of how I overcame. This is the story of how Christ is sustaining me, in the middle of what still feels unfinished. I don’t know how every prayer will be answered, or how every need will be met. But I know who holds the answer. And I know He is good.

If you’re walking through something similar, take heart. We are not alone. Not even in the fire. And the same Jesus who walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego still walks with us today.

Lord, in every unknown, every burden, and every trial—teach me to cling to You. Not for relief alone, but for transformation. Let my life testify to Your faithfulness, even when the way is hard. Make me a living sacrifice that reflects the beauty of Christ. Amen.

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Editor's Picks, Kingdom Discipleship, Kingdom Living

Why Look Back to Move Forward?

Rooted & Raised

The Ante-Nicene Christians—those who lived between AD 33 and 325—weren’t superhuman saints. They were men and women like us. What made them distinct wasn’t special status or superior knowledge, but their radical faith, sacrificial love, and unwavering loyalty to the teachings of Christ. These were the disciples of the disciples, and their witness shook empires.

Who Were the Ante-Nicene Christians?

The term Ante-Nicene refers to the Christians who lived before the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Their faith flourished not in freedom or comfort but in the midst of intense persecution. They didn’t rely on seminaries or institutionalized church systems. They followed the written Word of God, the oral teaching passed down from the Apostles, and the living guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27).

They were:

  • Disciples of disciples — directly trained by those who had been taught by the Apostles.
  • Anchored in Scripture — believing it to be complete and sufficient. They sought the Holy Spirit for understanding, not evolving human traditions.
  • Fluent in context — They lived in the same Greco-Roman world, understood the Koine Greek language, and read Scripture without needing to “bridge” historical gaps.
  • Unified and scattered — They met in homes, not cathedrals, yet they were deeply united in faith across continents because they trusted the Word and the Spirit—not centralized authority or councils.

By the early 4th century, Christianity had spread through nearly every province of the Roman Empire—and beyond. Eusebius, the early church historian, recorded that the message of Christ had reached “all the nations” even before Constantine’s reign (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 3.1).

What Were They Known For?

Perhaps the most compelling testimony doesn’t come from Christians themselves, but from their Roman persecutors.

Tertullian, writing around AD 197, defended Christians against Roman accusations in his work Apologeticus. In chapter 39, he says:

“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. ‘See,’ they say, ‘how they love one another!’”

This wasn’t Tertullian boasting—it was his account of what the pagans were saying about Christians. Their persecutors were bewildered. These people didn’t just love their friends—they loved their enemies. They didn’t cling to life—they gave it away. They took in orphans, buried the poor, and rescued unwanted infants from death (Justin Martyr, First Apology, 67; Aristides, Apology).

Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, a later critic of Christianity, begrudgingly admitted in the 4th century:

“It is disgraceful that the impious Galileans support not only their own poor but ours as well; all men see that our people lack aid from us.”
— Letter to Arsacius, c. AD 362

Even when slandered or martyred, the early Church was unmistakably marked by this Kingdom love—poured out from a heart changed by the Spirit.

What Set Them Apart?

These early believers didn’t call themselves “theologians.” They didn’t take titles. They didn’t isolate into monasteries or create layers of leadership. Their lives were marked by humility, holiness, and servanthood.

They saw themselves as:

  • Slaves of Christ (Romans 6:22),
  • Aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11),
  • Ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this earth (2 Corinthians 5:20).

They refused to kill, even in war or self-defense. They refused to worship Caesar or offer a pinch of incense, even if it cost them their life. Why? Because they believed what Jesus said in Matthew 5–7 was not just a poetic sermon—but the Constitution of Heaven.

Why This Matters Today

Today, the modern Church—especially in the West—has lost much of its saltiness. The world often can’t tell the difference between a false Christian and a real one. Even faithful churches struggle to impact the world the way the early church did. Why?

Because we’ve traded in Kingdom living for cultural acceptance. We’ve treated the Sermon on the Mount like a suggestion instead of the standard.

But if we are truly Christ’s—if we are His slaves and sons—we must return to that radical, holy, love-filled walk that marked the early believers. Not with pride in them, but with worship toward the same God who empowered them to persevere.

“They overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”
— Revelation 12:11 (NASB 1995)

I don’t glorify these early Christians—God already has. He called them “those of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). They didn’t just die for Jesus—they lived completely for Him.

What’s Ahead

In the coming weeks, I’ll explore their writings, their testimonies, and most importantly, the Scriptures that shaped them. We’ll test everything—past and present—by the Word of God, seeking the interpretation of the Holy Spirit, not men.

Let’s walk this journey together, rooted in Scripture and raised in Christ.

📚 Sources & References

·  Scripture:

  • John 14:26
  • 1 John 2:27
  • Jude 3
  • Hebrews 11:38–40
  • Revelation 12:11
  • Romans 6:22
  • 1 Peter 2:11
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20
  • Matthew 5–7

·  Historical & Early Church Writings:

  • Tertullian, Apology, ch. 39 (c. AD 197)
  • Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 3.1
  • Justin Martyr, First Apology, ch. 67
  • Aristides, Apology
  • Emperor Julian, Letter to Arsacius (c. AD 362)
  • Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity, HarperOne, 1996
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Featured & Foundational, Featured Article

Rooted, Raised… and Ready to Die for Christ

Rooted & Raised

This blog began with a simple but serious question:
What does it mean to truly follow Jesus—according to His Word, not the traditions of men?

My journey started with prayer, conviction, and the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus’ Kingdom Constitution in Matthew 5–7. These weren’t suggestions. They were commands—radical, countercultural, Spirit-empowered commands. And I realized I wasn’t living them.

When I looked around modern Christianity, I saw a reflection of myself: well-meaning, but comfortable, distracted, and far from the sacrificial love and obedience Jesus described. We were not the kind of people our enemies could point to and say, “Look how they love one another.” We were not ready to lose our lives for Christ—or even our comforts. But in going back through church history, I found a people who were. The Ante-Nicene Christians—those who lived from AD 33 to 325—were no strangers to trials. And though they had faults, their lives were radically different from ours. They faced betrayal, injustice, persecution, poverty, and death… and still lived boldly, faithfully, and visibly for Christ. Their doctrine was Scripture. Their teacher was the Holy Spirit. Their gatherings were house to house, and their love for one another—legendary. Even their enemies took notice.

“See how they love one another… and how they are ready to die for each other.”
— Tertullian, Apology 39.7 (quoting pagan observers)

That kind of Christianity is not extinct. It’s just been buried. Buried under comfort. Under compromise. Under culture. And I knew I had to dig it up again—for myself, my family, and anyone else who would listen.

This Is My “Why”

I’m not looking to go backward for nostalgia. I’m looking to move forward in truth. I need the fellowship of believers who are willing to lose everything to follow Jesus. I need iron to sharpen iron.

Because what Jesus said still stands:

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
— Luke 14:27 (NASB 1995)

These are not words to decorate a coffee cup. They’re words that pierce, and they should. They call us to surrender family, land, comfort, and even our lives for Christ and His Kingdom.

My Hope for You

This journey isn’t for the casual Christian. It’s for the remnant. Those who want to walk the narrow path. Those who don’t want to just read about faith—they want to live it, even when it costs.

I won’t pretend it’s easy. But in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the armor of God in place, and eyes fixed on Christ, I press on—whether to persecution or glory, so long as He is with me. Because I only have one life to live—and I want to get it right.

If this resonates with you, welcome. Let’s walk this road together—rooted in Scripture, raised in Christ.

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