Romans: Rooted in Jesus - Virtuous Christ

Raritan, NJ, a town built by Italian mason workers working at the Duke Estate, is home to Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant John Basilone. John was a gunnery sergeant known for heroic actions in WWII. He was deployed to the Guadalcanal for operation Watchtower. During the battle, he and his team operated large .30 caliber water cooled machine guns, the M1917 Browning, weighing about 30lbs each without ammo. At one point, he ran through enemy lines carrying over 90lbs of weaponry and ammo to supply his team and hold back the attack of 3,000 enemy soldiers. After the battle, over 1,000 enemy combatants were killed. When he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1943 for his actions in battle, he said, “Only part of this medal belongs to me. Pieces of it belong to the boys who are still on Guadalcanal.”

Being in a battle like the Guadalcanal leaves no room for complacency. A soldier must operate with full situational awareness, considering:  supplies, position of the enemy, and every factor that affects the battle. In addition, if you and your team are to survive the battle, you must operate as a band of brothers with good communication and a strong commitment to each other.

In our text, the Apostle Paul is calling the church to battle the culture and their own flesh, and together live a virtuous life. He says, Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. But that virtuous life is not something we do alone or in our own power. Paul urges situational awareness and a strong community in union with Christ. Join us as we worship our Hero and seek unity in Christ.