Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)
What is Suber Road about? Our goal is to apply the Gospel to everyday life. As members of the body of Christ, we seek to put into practice at least three truths about the Gospel: the Incarnation, the Cross, and the Resurrection.
1. Incarnation
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself…. (Philippians 2:6-8)
“[Jesus] was led by His love for others into the world, to forget Himself in the needs of others, to sacrifice self once for all upon the altar of sympathy. Self-sacrifice brought Christ into the world. And self-sacrifice will lead us, His followers, not away from but into the midst of men. Wherever men suffer, there will we be to comfort. Wherever men strive, there we will be to help. Wherever men fail, there will we be to uplift. Wherever men succeed, there will we be to rejoice. Self-sacrifice means not indifference to our times and our fellows: it means absorption in them. It means forgetfulness of self in others. It means entering into every man's hopes and fears, longings and despairs…. It means not that we should live one life, but a thousand lives, - binding ourselves to a thousand souls by the filaments of so loving a sympathy that their lives become ours.” (B. B. Warfield)
Through the incarnation Jesus set aside His rights and comfort to break in our lost and dying world. He wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced. In addition to proclaiming the Gospel, He loved the unlovely, fed the hungry, healed the sick, and ministered to the poor. Most of us enjoy comfortable lifestyles. We have nice neighborhoods, good friends, and Western freedoms. Community involvement, mercy ministries, and service consume time and money. The easiest thing to do is nothing. However, the Gospel teaches us that, just as Christ set aside His rights to break into my world, I now seek to do the same for others. To model the principle of the incarnation, members of Suber Road are encouraged to reach out to their neighbors, share the good news of the Gospel, get involved in the community, and extend a hand of friendship to the hurting and lonely. As Christ broke into both the joys and sorrows of this world, it is our privilege to do the same here in Greenville County.
2. Cross
… became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8)
“Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling” (from “Rock of Ages,” by Augustus M. Toplady)
Self-righteousness is the default of the human heart. It permeated both conservative (Pharisees) and liberal (Sadducees) circles in Bible times. And still today, apart from Christ, every person is seeking to justify himself in the sight of God, whether through moral performance or feelings of superiority. Christianity teaches the opposite. At the cross Jesus paid for our sins. He was punished with the penalty that we deserved. Members of Suber Road live a cross-centered life under the sky of grace. Our good deeds and virtues are no longer ways of manipulating God to do our will or attempts to bribe Him to let us into heaven. Love and virtue now flow out of a heart of thanksgiving for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Moreover, our good works cannot be done with a proud or haughty spirit since we have been saved by grace.
3. Resurrection
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
“What reason have they for saying that we cannot rise from the dead? What is more difficult, to be born or to rise again; that what has never been should be, or that what has been should be again? Is it more difficult to come into existence than to return to it?” (Blaise Pascal)
“Be thou comforted, little dog, Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail.” (Martin Luther)
For the Christian, every word, thought, action, and deed must be informed by this glorious truth: Jesus rose from the dead and will one day make all things new (Revelation 21:5)! There are many ways members of Suber Road strive to put the truth of the resurrection into action. First, we must put off the old and put on the new. Some may suggest that since we are saved by grace we now have incentive to sin (Romans 6:1). May it never be! Resurrection life flows through our soul; righteousness is the only proper response to grace (Romans 6:4). Second, we consider it a privilege to share the message of hope with the lost and dying world. In the midst of suffering and despair, Jesus is the answer. Third, we seek to reflect the new creation in all we say and do. Someday Jesus will come back and renew the fallen creation. In our daily work, relationships, choices of entertainment, and service to others, we seek to reflect this future glory in all we do. Finally, the Scriptures encourage us to meet on the first day of the week to celebrate the Resurrection of the Son of God. We, therefore, place a premium on Sunday worship.