Genuine Love Part 3

Imagine living in a world where the very concepts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were foreign, where the notion of individual rights being protected by law was unheard of.

In our modern Western society, we often take these basic rights for granted.

We expect them to be safeguarded and feel a deep sense of injustice when they are violated.

We are bewildered and enraged when our rights are trampled, and nothing is done to rectify it.

However, we must remember that the existence of these rights is largely due to the Christian worldview that once deeply influenced Western culture.

This worldview is the bedrock upon which much of our enduring freedom rests.

But let’s not forget that such rights were unimaginable in the first century.

Christianity emerged in a world dominated by totalitarian regimes.

For the first three centuries, Christians had no legal protection or legitimacy.

Declaring "Jesus is Lord" instead of adhering to pagan religions was a perilous decision, often costing believers their lives.

But This was the norm, the very environment in which the New Testament was penned.

The Apostle Peter's words resonate profoundly with the early church’s experience:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Persecution was expected; it was a reality that defined their existence.

As we delve into Romans 12:14-15 today, let's consider how these early Christians navigated such trials and what their experiences teach us about living out real faith and real love in a world that can often seem hostile or indifferent to the values we hold dear.

Transition:

God has provided us with powerful examples of Romans 12 both throughout history and in our present time.

One such example is the story of Graham Staines and his family.

In January 1999, Graham and his two young sons, Phillip (age 10) and Timothy (age 6), were tragically martyred in Monoharpur, Orissa, India.

They were attacked by a mob of radical Hindus, trapped inside their vehicle, and burned alive.

Graham had dedicated 34 years of his life to serving the people of India in the name of Jesus, working as the director of the Leprosy Mission in Baripada, Orissa.

Despite this horrific event, the response of his widow, Gladys, and their daughter, Esther, was truly remarkable and a testament to their faith in Christ.

Just days after the tragedy, Gladys made a public statement in which she said,

"I have only one message for the people of India. I’m not bitter. Neither am I angry. But I have one great desire: that each citizen of this country should establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave his life for their sins . . . let us burn hatred and spread the flame of Christ’s love."

Rather than returning to Australia, Gladys chose to remain in India, believing that God had called them there.

She said, “My husband and our children have sacrificed their lives for this nation; India is my home. I hope to be here and continue to serve the needy.”

Her daughter, Esther, who was just thirteen at the time, also showed incredible strength and faith. When asked how she felt about her father’s death, she replied, “I praise the Lord that Christ found my father worthy to die for him.”

RCS, don’t we desire to embody this same spirit and raise our young people with such a passion for our great sovereign God of mercy and justice?

Let us strive to live out Romans 12:14-15 with the same dedication and faithfulness as the Staines family.

You see this kind of genuine love is radical too this world.

But the truth is: this is the ordinary way of life for the christian.

There is a new way for christians.

In the 1st century, christians were often referred to people of the way.

Jesus is the way, and those who follow him, follow in his way.

And this way of christian living was absolutely transformative for communities and cities throughout history. (Clearly Still today!)

Why?

Because the gospel was not only being preached, the it was being lived and seen.

The gospel displayed is often the means through which the gospel preached is recieved.

One of the most radical ways God advanced and is advancing his gospel in the world is through what Paul teaches in the subsequent verses.

How do christians respond to adversity?

How does genuine christian love respond to adversity?

We’ve seen Christian love in covenant community last week but now we turn to see genuine love in adversity. Specially with those outside the faith here in verse 14.

Sermon Title - Genuine Love Part 3: Love in Adversity

How does christian love interact or engage with a world that is hostile to Christ and his followers?

It blesses and does not curse.

What does that mean exactly “To bless or curse” someone?

Does is mean curse words? Our Language? No.

This is speaking about calling down blessings and curses down on someone.

As humans we have no authority or power to call down blessings or curses on anyone.

Why?

Because we are not creators we are creations!

Last time I checked we haven’t created a world of our own.

All authority and power is held by God and God alone to bring about ultimate Good and to bring about ultimate judgement.

Jesus says:

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Romans 13:1 KJV

Romans 11:36 ESV

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 12:14-15 is a powerful reminder that only God holds the ultimate authority to give blessings and curses.

But here’s the point:

When Paul tells us to "bless and do not curse," he's showing us our true role as conduits of God's grace, not as judges.

This message echoes the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5:44, where He tells us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Here, Jesus emphasizes that wrath and vengeance are God's responsibility, not ours.

By focusing on blessing others, Paul is urging us to reflect God's character of mercy and grace. (Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,”)

We're called to be a light in the world, demonstrating God's love and leaving the dispensing of justice to God, who is perfectly righteous and just.

Our commitment to our neighbor is to bless them, and to trust God to handle the rest.

Furthermore, Deuteronomy 32:35 states, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"

reiterating that vengeance and judgment are divine prerogatives.

In other words, God's authority to call down blessings and curses is rooted in His sovereignty and perfect justice.

James 4:12 says,

James 4:12 ESV

There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

This verse reinforces the idea that only God has the rightful position to bless or curse, as He is the ultimate Judge.

Romans 12:19 echoes this sentiment, reminding christians,

Romans 12:19 ESV

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

The point here is this; the scriptural mandate to bless and not curse in Romans 12:14-16 reflects a broader biblical principle: God alone holds the authority over blessings and curses, ensuring that justice and mercy are perfectly administered according to His divine will.

Verse 14 is a command in response to being persecuted for being a christ follower: It’s exhorting us to call on God and his power NOT to reign down curses on our enemies but to ask God almighty, our Father, to rain down Good/blessings on them.

Why?

One: Because That is God’s prerogative alone. (Perfect judgement and mercy)

TWO: Because It is our priestly duty in Christ to bless those who persecute us.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:10 ESV

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

So now as people who have received mercy, we extend the mercy of God through prayer on behalf of those who persecute us.

The apostle Paul is pulling this teaching from Christ.

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

But I say to you, Love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:27–28 (ESV)

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, DO GOOD to those who hate you,

BLLESS those who curse you, PRAY for those who abuse you.

Now, please understand this:

If you are being physically harmed or even emotionally and mentally abused, our duty as Christians is to refer to civil authorities. We must trust the authorities God has put in place to execute His righteousness and justice.

Meanwhile as christians, Christ call us to press into our priestly office, and pray.

Notice how radical this behavior is.

It does not just say: Don’t retaliate.

You might use your willpower to do that.

You might have all kinds of hateful and resentful and vengeful and prudential motives for not striking back.

But the point is not only behavior here.

The point is your heart, and you can see it in the words, “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.”

This is a partial quotation of Jesus’ words in Luke 6:28 that we just read.

The word “pray” in Luke 6:28 shows that behavior is not the only issue.

Piper says: “Prayer is the expression to God of what you long for.” -John Piper

So blessing someone is not just the way you treat him.

It includes the longings that you have for someone.

And Jesus says they are to be longings for good, not longings for a curse.

That’s what “bless” means. Bless them and pray for them.

The question is: How are we to pray? Pray for what?

Their good—now and forever.

Let me show you…

1 Timothy 2:1–5 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

So we pray for our communities, our cities, and our federal and local government.

1. We pray that they would peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified lives.

2. At the heart of our prayers of blessing is that those who are lost among us and often times in opposition to us (to Christ!) , our prayer is that they would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth!

Our fervent intercessory prayer on behalf of our community is that they would know that there is only one true God, and that there is only one mediator between God and men, and it's the God-Man Christ Jesus!

That Jesus alone is “ just and the justifier of the one who has faith in [Him and his gospel].” Romans 3:26

That is our prayer.

Genuine love prays for God to reach down into the hearts of wicked men, and save them.

And friends, God not only has the authority to do that, but he has the power to pull off the answer to that prayer!

There are countless stories of God doing this.

Let me share with you a special account of God’s authority and power in answering prayer.

Story of Polycarp:

In the early days of the Christian church, during the reign of the Roman Empire, persecution against Christians was rampant.

One notable example of blessing a persecutor comes from the story of Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna.

When Polycarp, at 86 years old, was arrested and brought before the Roman authorities, he stood firm in his faith.

During his trial, the proconsul urged him to renounce Christ and swear allegiance to Caesar, but Polycarp calmly replied, "For eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?"

As the soldiers prepared to burn him at the stake, Polycarp prayed aloud, asking God to bless his persecutors and forgive them.

Polycarp's unwavering faith and genuine love moved many, including one of the Roman soldiers assigned to execute him.

This soldier, witnessing Polycarp’s unwavering faith and love even in the face of death, later sought out Christians to learn more about their faith.

Through the influence of Polycarp’s blessing and prayer, this soldier came to faith in Christ.

This story beautifully illustrates the power of Romans 12:14.

Polycarp's act of blessing his persecutors not only exemplified Christ's love but also led to the salvation of one of his enemies.

Let us be encouraged this morning to bless those who oppose us, trusting that God can use our acts of genuine love to make the gospel visible and compelling.

Gospel invitation:

If you find yourself struggling with feelings of bitterness and a desire for revenge:

dive deeper into your relationship with Christ. Strive to know and love Him as He truly is.

The foundation of radical, Christ-like love is dying to yourself (Pride (self) will keep you from blessing!) and finding an unshakable joy in the person, the works, and the promises of Christ.

The only person in the way of blessing your enemy is you.

God opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble today.

He gives you Grace to bless and not curse.

Think about it: How can a person who is true recipient of God’s grace and mercy call down curses on someone?

Only a true recipient of grace and mercy can cry out to God in the midst of persecution “bless my enemies, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

But on the other side of the coin here in verse 14, Paul shows us that Genuine love refrains from asking Good to curse our enemies.

What would have happened of Polycarp prayed to curse his enemies?

It could have possibly prevented the romans solider from being saved!

So Paul literally says here “Stop cursing your enemies!”

How in the world can we pull that off?

Because in our flesh, it seems so natural to ask God to curse our enemies.

How can we orient and align our hearts to God’s word here?

We need to look into the mirror of the gospel everyday to change our hearts in this.

We need to be reminded that Christ on the cross did not ask the father to curse us but to bless us and forgive us.

The father on the cross did not pour out his wrath on us, but on Son, so that through love, he might give us life and mercy.

We need to be reminded that instead of God cursing us to hell because of our rebellion against him, He blessed us in the beloved by sending his own son to be a curse for us

We will only bless our enemies when we realize that Christ became a curse for those whom we are cursing.

We will only bless our enemies when we realize that we were once God’s enemies.

Maybe you have forgotten the gospel, beloved.

Romans 5:6 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Maybe you have forgotten that you were an enemy of God at one time.

Maybe you have forgotten that you were dead in your sin.

Maybe you have forgotten the words of Ephesians 2:1-3 that tell us that at one time you were pawns of satan doing his bidding in this world and God stepped in being rich in mercy and showed you grace.

Conclude point two:

Only by looking into to the mirror of the gospel everyday can we, by the Spirits help, be a compassionate, gracious, humble, and a merciful people.

And here is the reality of our hearts when we refuse to bless others and curse them: What we are communicating to God is that we are more rightousness and wiser than God.

Do you realize how foolish that is.

I can diagnose that for you today. It’s Pride.

There is only two things keeping you from blessing today, beloved:

Pride and unforgiveness?

Questions:

Don’t leave here without dealing with your pride. Repent of it. Crush it! Leave it at the foot of the cross.

If you don’t destroy your pride today it will destroy you, your witness, and everyone around you.

Do you realize you and your destructive pride are the only ones in the way of blessing others?

Today we will have communion together:

The Lord’s table is an invitation to crush our pride and humbly embrace the mercy and grace of our Savior that was made possible by the blood of Christ.

It’s an invitation to forgive and be forgiven.

Come today and forgive those you have cursed.

Forgive those who have hurt you.

Forgiveness is not forgetting, but it is what you do with what you remember. Take it to Christ.

Christ died so that you might be freed from self, bitterness, anger, and un-forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Transition:

Here is the thing: As long as we are here on this earth, we will face adversity in this world, but what verse 15 points to us is that we will also face adversity within us.

Romans 12:15 ESV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

How does this verse point that we are at war with indwelling sin?

I will answer my own question with a question to reveal the answer:

Which one command is harder to obey here in verse 15:

To rejoice with those who rejoice?

Or to Weep with those who weep?

The answer is (drum roll please): The harder command to obey is to rejoice with those who are rejoicing!

This reveals our inner adversity! Our inner battle with indwelling sin.

Our battle with the adversary within-PRIDE and ENVY!

Pride and Envy are best friends.

But Paul says,

1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)

love does not envy or boast;

A counter fit love is envious and boastful.

To counter this evil within us, Christ is constantly at work to humble us.

Because Genuine love is paved through humility.

Humility strengthens our ability to sympathize and empathize with others.

God ushers in events in our lives that help us to decrease so that not only Christ might increase but that others might too increase in our lives.

In other words, God keeps people in your lives that are hard to love not so that you would run away from them but so that you would learn to draw near to them.

So that you would learn genuine Jesus love- He loved the unlovable.

Jesus sympathized with his enemies.

He had compassion for those who persecuted him.

Jesus did not love from a distance, but through humility came to earth and stepped into our brokenness to be with us and experience all that we experience yet without sin.

Jesus embodied Romans 12:15.

This is genuine love, RCS family.

Is that how you love your enemy or the hard to love spouse, co-worker, or friend?

Does your love flee when it’s hurt or does it draw near?

We are never more like Christ, then when we embrace Romans 12:15.

God brings people into our lives to bring us low so that we might be able to truly step into the joy and sadness of others humanity.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Romans 12:15 is about stepping into the humanity of others.

Christians can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep at the most human level.

We are image bearers! We share solidarity with believers and unbelievers in this way.

As image bears we can relate to each other.

Unbelievers and believers alike face the same human struggles of fear, sadness, joy, hardship, and the list goes on.

We can rejoice with our lost friends when they get a promotion, graduate from school, have a baby, or purchase a home.

We can come alongside our lost neighbors and cry with them when a family member dies, when someone loses their possession, or when a marriage falls apart, to name a few.

Genuine love steps into the humanity of others and sympathizes!

But we can only do this in the face of the gospel!

Christian love is the most unbiased thing possible.

Both our knowledge of our sin and our knowledge of our acceptance destroy prejudice and pride of race, class and vocation.

The gospel enables us sincerely and lovingly to share in others’ highs and lows.

On the one hand, only if Christ is our main joy will we be able to rejoice and mourn with others.

For example,

if you are single and wish to be married, how can you rejoice with your friend who is getting married?

It will be hard in any case, but if marriage is an “idol”—if your marriageability is your “righteousness”—then it will be impossible to rejoice.

Unless Christ is your righteousness and peace, it will be hard to enter into the griefs of others.

One reason why you may not be able to mourn is that you may have trouble sympathizing with a person you despise or feel superior to.

The gospel tells us that we are in no way superior—it brings us down to a right appraisal of ourselves.

And the gospel tells us that God loved us when we were his enemy (5:8)—when we grasp that, we find ourselves loving those you would have despised.

Or, you may not be able to mourn because you must convince yourself that life is good, so you only belittle someone else’s pain.

(Often, this is why people try to put a bright gloss on a dark situation.)

If you are not finding your satisfaction and confidence for the future (and your death) in Christ, you will look to the circumstances of life for comfort, and thus you need to deny how hard this life is.

But whatever the case may be, we can only carry out v15 by looking into the face of the gospel!

We must look to Christ this morning.

Christ is the only one who can truly sympathize with us in our pain and agony.

Who can truly rejoice with us in our moments of success and victory.

Hebrews 4:14–15 (ESV)

We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, …

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

I might not be able to know what you are going through today, but I do know the one who does.

Jesus not only sympathizes with us but He empathizes with us.

The difference between sympathy and empathy is action!

Empathy is therefore greater than sympathy because it moves beyond feeling to action.

It is a choice to share in the pain of another, and that choice always comes at a cost.

You see friends, Christ is the epitome of true empathy.

Apart from Christ, we are not only in a pit of sin and brokenness, but also powerless to get out on our own.

The sin and darkness we're born into separates us from God and all that would heal and fulfill us.

But Jesus doesn't just look down from heaven and say, "Good luck figuring it out!"

Instead, He became human and experienced every type of pain, test, and sorrow we do.

He came into our pit of suffering.

Have you been lonely? So has Jesus.

Betrayed or abandoned? He knows that too.

Tempted relentlessly? Jesus experienced it.

There's no pain or sorrow He can't comfort because He knows exactly how it feels.

We have an empathetic Savior.

Christ’s empathy not only comforts us but also goes beyond human empathy.

Though He joins us in our pit, He doesn’t leave us there.

His empathy bridges the gap between fallen man and our heavenly Father.

Jesus fully understands our feelings because He chose to be fully human.

Yet, as fully God, He remains sinless and holy.

Through the Cross, Christ descended into the depths of hell itself so we who follow Him never have to.

This is why the writer of Hebrews says,

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Encouragement to Unbelievers:

My unbelieving friend, not only does Christ understands you and what you are going through this morning, but He has the power to help you today in your weakness. To get you out of the pit once and for all.

He has a way of escape through the cross.

If this is you, there is gracious invitation from Christ to draw near to the throne of grace to receive God’s mercy in salvation.

Exhortation to Christians:

Christians, We must follow Christ’s example.

We must be willing to enter into others’ suffering as He did for us.

That takes looking into the gospel.

Crushing idols.

Forsaking your own righteousness.

In humility embracing your own weakness so that Christ’s power and love can work in and through you to enter into others joy and pain.

This is Paul’s point here in verse vv14-15.

Humble yourself.

Don’t take the easy road in cursing people.

Remember your a conduit of God’s grace and mercy.

Bless your enemies. Rejoice with them. Weep with them.

If we can do that, then Sanford will truly know that we are disciples of Christ. The result of this kind of love is of biblical proportions!

It transforms hearts, restores broken relationships, and builds a community that mirrors the very love of Jesus.

So- Let us go forth, blessing those who persecute us, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep.

In doing so, we become a living testimony of Christ’s love, shining His light brightly in Sanford. Amen.

PRAY

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