A Gospel Shaped Life For 2025

Renewed & Shaped By The Gospel

Text: Romans 12:9-16

Introduction

We see here how the gospel is to be worked out in the daily life of God’s people. These verses (for the most part) are not difficult to understand, but they are difficult to apply. This is why we need to let the gospel permeate every aspect of our daily lives, having our minds renewed by the Spirit. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 202.

A renewed mind leads to a new way of living; it involves attitudes and actions that are not conformed to this age. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 202.

We need to keep in mind that the culture Paul was surrounded by was a Roman hierarchical culture. The higher royal classes never stoop down to the level of the serving class. This gospel shaped life was 100% counter cultural! For us today, it is no different!

For the Christian, this world will never be a help to you when it comes to pursuing a transformed life through the gospel. Here is the king of life the world will shape you to be:

leading one to fake love (v. 9a)

to support and do that which is evil (v. 9b)

to show no affection (v. 10a)

not to honor others (v. 10b)

to be lazy (v. 11a) or to be cold and apathetic to the things of God (v. 11b);

to serve self, not the Lord (v. 11c)

to get mad in trials, to turn inward in self-pity, not to rejoice, not to pray (v. 12)

to be greedy and inhospitable (v. 13)

to want to retaliate when persecuted (v. 14)

to ignore the hurting and to get jealous when others succeed (v. 15)

to live in disharmony with other brothers and sisters, complaining, criticizing, gossiping, and creating division (v. 16a)

and to be arrogant toward others (v. 16b). Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 202–203.

This gospel shaped life cannot be lived by the privatized Christian. You must live in community. Paul did not have in mind a “social media” community! Paul was promoting a community that presents life-on-life conversations.

Quote: “Moreover, our culture is impatient. We want high-speed everything. How then can we be patient in tribulation? And how can we love one another as well as our enemies in this age of anger?” Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 203.

As we hover over these verses, remember this…first century Christians turned the world upside-down living out the kind of gospel-centered life Paul was presenting.

Paraphrased quote — “The kind of people who changed the world are the people the world could not change.”

My prayer for each of you is this, you will pray and ask God to make each of the instructions a reality in your life starting today and into the new year.

1) Love Without Hypocrisy (v9)

The context of Paul’s day regarding love was lacking in sincerity.

Life was structured around formal relationships that included the expectation to act in accordance with one’s role in society. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 203.

One’s heart often did not align with one’s actions (that is when you know you have a problem).

Love was often ritualized and not sincere from the heart.

Turn to: 1 John 3:11–18 “11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

2) Detest Evil & Cling To Good (v9)

We need to get back to the fact that LOVE hates certain things!!!

Counter to our culture, love will not allow evil to continue in the name of love.

“Abhor” = (BDAG) “a vehement dislike for something; hate strongly.”

“Cleave” = to cling on v. — to come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation.

Love knows the difference between right, wrong, good, and evil.

You and I must always love what God loves and hate what God hates.

3) Love Deeply (v10)

The key here is “brotherly love.”

The idea is that we are family.

The New Testament church provided a radically new kind of family.

It served as a great encouragement to those without families due to their new found faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus knew exactly the kind of abandonment his children of the first century (even in our own day in certain parts of the world) would face.

He was not going to leave them without a family to love and be loved by. A family to practice forgiveness, showing grace, mercy, and patience with.

4) Honor One Another (v10)

“Honor” = showing high respect

“Preferring” = Prioritizing someone over yourself

Again, this would be another radical command for their first century world.

Quote: (Peter Oakes, Reading Romans) “If, at church, I hold a door open for someone, it is not revolutionary, whoever it may be. In a first-century house church, if a slave held a door open for their master, no one would notice. If a master held a door open for a slave, this would be very radical.… Paul’s call implies giving each person honour individually.… In first-century terms this is outrageous.”

Philippians 2:3 “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

Pray and ask God to help you show honor to others this upcoming year.

5) Diligence, Fervency, And Service (v11)

This verse if filled with intensity!

There is no room in the Christian life for coldness and indifference.

“fervent” (zeal) = Lit. ‘boil, seethe’; fig. of emotions, anger, love, eagerness to do good or evil, to be stirred up emotionally, be enthusiastic/excited/on fire.

God knowing how our passions can cool, He exhorts us in love.

Wherever you have the most passionate activity is where you love is found.

Do you love comfort, pleasure, your work, your child’s desires too much?

Colossians 3:23 “23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

With all this in mind, this tells us a believer cannot be Spirit-filled while at the same time be dull and boring.

The Holy Spirit alters the way you live.

You dear Christian are called to serve the Lord while rejoicing with hope in your heart……….

6) Rejoice, Patience, And Persistence (v12)

Persecution was a real threat and the general way of life was very difficult.

They had nothing close to the provisions and healthcare you and I do.

Oppression was woven into the fabric of society.

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Tribulation and trials are a certainty for all believers in every century. How should face such trials?

“Rejoicing in hope”

1 Peter 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

This reality of hope sure does bring me joy!

“Maintain the habit of prayer”

Due to life being like an obstacle course, prayer is giving the steering wheel to God and therefore setting you up to not be surprised when life don’t go as planned.

Quote: (William Barclay) “No man should be surprised when life collapses if he insists on living it alone.”

Quote: (Robert Mounce) “If Satan can keep us out of touch with God, he will not have to worry about any trouble we might cause for his evil kingdom.”

Those two thing will maintain the undercurrent of joy you need going forward.

7) Generosity & Hospitality (v13)

A. Generosity

The need for help and poverty ranked at a high level in the first century church.

2 Corinthians 8:13–14 “13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:”

It is far easier to share with others when you know where all things come from and for what purpose.

Acts 4:32 “32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

In other words, “What I have is the same as you having it.”

B. Hospitality

Our God is both gracious and hospitable.

He welcomes all weak and weary sinners.

Matthew 11:28 “28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Revelation 21:3 “3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Wherever you find a Christian, you should find hospitality.

A Christian should be pursuing hospitality.

Use your home to be a blessing to those in your church family and those in your life.

Hebrews 13:2 “2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

8) Bless Those You’d Rather Curse (v14)

Did not Jesus invoke the greatest blessing on those who persecuted Him, those who doubted Him, those who abandoned Him?

Speaks of your attitude and actions towards those who are your enemies.

Matthew 5:44 “44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

Example: Steven is a wonderful example of this — Acts 7:60 “60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

Genuine love will always desire the best for others regardless of who they are.

God is saying, “Ask me to bless them.”

9) Rejoice Together & Weep Together (v15)

God’s desire is for us all to be the kind of family where joy and pain is shared.

Quote: (Robert Mounce) “The Christian experience is not one person against the world but one great family living out together the mandate to care for one another.”

This should not be limited to funerals and weddings.

A. Rejoice

Envy, jealousy, and competition with make rejoicing difficult.

We need the gospel in order to rejoice with other in their success.

The prodigal son’s brother is a great example of failure to rejoice with others.

B. Weep

Context: This would have been a radical idea in a hierarchical Roman culture: the elite weeping with the poor migrant worker. But that is what brothers and sisters in Christ do—regardless of background or class. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 206.

Showing up is most of the job.

Just be present.

What did Jesus do when after meeting Mary following the death of her brother? — John 11:35 “35 Jesus wept.”

10) Harmony And Humility

A. Harmony

Context: This too was radical in Paul’s context. The homeless, the migrant worker, the cabinetmaker, the household servants, the elite, and the Jew and Gentile are called to live in harmony (Oakes, Reading Romans, 96). This was a powerful witness of the kingdom of God in the empire of Rome! It is a unity that reflects the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Romans, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 206.

Quote: (Tony Merida) “To live in harmony means working through conflict, misunderstanding, miscommunication, and wounds. Through those awkward conversations, gracious interactions, and repentance, reconciliation and harmony are experienced. Harmony takes hard work, humble work, and heart work.”

B. Humility

A Christian should never say, “That kind of work is beneath me” or “Associating with them is beneath me.”

Gospel transformation in your life will lead you to associate with all kind of people.

Start taking an interest in ordinary people.

Don’t be the person that says, “I’m going to go to greater lengths to associate with those who are a higher class, have a higher education, or who make more money.”

You can’t ride the coat-tail of “I had a humble raising, therefore I am a humble person.”

Humility is a gospel-shaped love in action.

Conclusion

How many of you want to be more like your Savior in 2025? I would encourage you to flood this altar pleading with God to materialize this portrait of service and love in your daily life.

Proverbs 3:5–8 “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.”