Last night, Phil Robertson closed out the 2026 Florida College Lectures with a powerful presentation affirming that the message of the Gospel is not just for those who’ve never obeyed it, but it’s for us.
For Christians. For the Church, for all disciples of Christ.
Phil’s key text was Romans 1:15, where Paul penned: “So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.”
The Romans to whom he was writing were already Christians. They had obeyed the gospel. So what was he going to preach? The letter provides some insight.
He reminded them that the One whom they believed, confessed, and were baptized into was Christ. Sixty-eight times, Paul speaks of Jesus being the Christ. As noted in an earlier lecture and post, the word “Christ” involved His Lordship. His Kingship. The One whom we owe allegiance. King Jesus rules over His Kingdom, of which we are His citizens. As such, we have responsibilities affecting our attitudes and actions.
In chapter 12 alone, Christ the King calls for us to…
- Be different from the world.
- Transformed
- Living as a Living sacrifice.
- Being humble instead of haughty
- Using our gifts to glorify Him
- Loving our brethren as we would love our own family
- Being generous
- Showing hospitality
- Feeling compassion for the hurting
- Rejoicing with others’ good fortune
- Overcoming evil with good
- Not retaliating against our enemies
Subsequent chapters reveal that the gospel message instructs us to obey governmental authorities; show love for our fellow man; respect the conscience of our brethren; seek peace and pursue it; and a myriad of other duties.
Phil further pointed to Paul’s letters in Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Ephesians that call upon those who’ve been “crucified with Christ” to eschew racism, nationalism, and selfishness. To rise above the immoral putridity of the world, to seek unity, to exemplify Christ in our homes, and to never forget His sacrifice and its relelvance to our lives as we weekly come to commuion.
Living for King Jesus changes our attitudes, mindsets, and views of others and ourselves. It calls for such particular applications as contentment that does not gripe, complain, or murmur about either the world in which we live or our lot in life.
The Gospel of Christ is seen in a church that honors Jesus as its head and its members who put off the old man and its sinful practices, “walk in love,” bear the burdens of others, and seek opportunities to do good.
As Phil wrote in the lecture book, “The gospel message is that of an ongoing commitment: repenting from sin, confronting evil, and gratefully honoring the cross by living it out. That’s why Christians need to continue to hear the gospel because we are often not living in its full implications.”
Furthermore, “To live a cross-shaped life means to embrace the pattern of the gospel: dying to self while living in the strength and love of Christ. In doing so, we reflect the glory of God’s victory over sin and death. Such a life pleases the Father; it conveys trust, obedience, and devotion. It links us to King Jesus, sharing His mission of sacrifice and fellowship.”
Phil’s message reminded me that I need to keep preaching the gospel to the church. But more importantly, I need to be living the gospel in my daily life. And so do you.
As Phil reminded us: “It’s one thing to read the gospel, but quite another to live it.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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