Being Christian
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Romans 12:3-21.
We are going to start with a test this morning to see how good of a christian you really are!
We are going to start easy and then get a bit harder:
How many books of the bible are there?
Who was the first woman created?
Can you list the 10 commandments?
What were the names of the 12 disciples?
Let’s see if you listened a few weeks ago…who was the man who wrestled with God?
This one is for the smartest person in the room…whoever gets this right…gets to preach today…..sorry, that’s the prize! Nah…what were the names of the 5000 people that Jesus fed?
Okay, so none of us are at that level and the bible doesn’t record them!
That’s a fun exercise to get us thinking today. We are going to take a bit of a test, but more of a heart test than a head test.
The last couple weeks, Pastor Bob and I have been talking about walking according to the HS and what that looks like in our lives.
This morning, we are going to look at some of the works of the Holy Spirit and how we can pray for the HS to work in certain areas of our hearts.
We are going to go verse by verse this morning and see how we measure up.
I think that sometimes we can get caught up in this idea that we are “just the way we are.” And, if God wanted to change us, He would!
But as I was reading this passage this week, that’s not really the approach of scripture. There are lots of commands in the scripture, and it seems like we have some work to do!
So, let’s look at some things:
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
The word genuine in the greek refers to the opposite of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is actually a term use in acting or theatre. It is when an actor/actress is wearing a mask, concealing their true identity
What Paul is possibly getting at here is that love should be consistent. Is should not look one way in a moment and then the opposite in different moment.
Love should be consistently who we are under a mask!
Love should come as an outflow of our heart! From our core being, not something that is fake in a moment.
Secondly in verse 9, abhor what is evil and holding to what is good!
Abhor means to
Lexham Theological Wordbook ἀποστυγέω
ἀποστυγέω (apostygeō). vb. abhor. To strongly dislike something with the result of distancing oneself from the thing disliked.
The command here is to stay away from the things that are evil.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Greek word used here for “knew” doesn’t simply mean knowledge of - it is the same word used to describe Joseph not consummating his marriage with Mary in:
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
This isn’t just a knowledge of…it is a deep intimate knowledge
So, Jesus intellectually knew about sin, but He did not have a deep intimate connection with it!
This is the relationship that we should have with evil. Distancing ourselves from it!
And, clinging, as some translations say, to what is good!
One way to do this is in verse 10:
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Again we see the command to love - but this time, the greek word changes for Agape to Phileo
So, maybe Paul means to love one another like you do a friend - in fact, to the extreme outdoing one another in showing honor!
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
This is the attitude we should have to honor others!
In fact, out do them! Going above and beyond!
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Slothful literally means to be lazy or not doing something - zeal meaning to do it quickly or with eagerness
be fervent in spirit or in the spirit
This things that we should be doing should not be neglected, but done quickly with eagerness and passionately…what is it?
Serving the Lord!
We should have a passion for serving the Lord!
The direct context, as we read earlier is that as the Church, we are one body….serving the Lord and the gifts that He has given each of us!
We are going to wrap up with verse 12 this morning and finish the rest up next week
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Find joy in the hope that we have - why, because tribulations will come! Tribulations means trouble or afflictions or things that cause pressure
Jesus speaks to these troubles in
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Same word for trouble
So, we will experience them, but Jesus has overcome them!
I want to be real with you this morning, because I want you to understand that I get it! Things are tough! This world can beat you up!
Since Julia has been sick and hasn’t been able to work, her food costs are outrageous, things have been hard!
Two nights ago, Friday night our dishwasher decided to go out! It is not the end of the world, by any means
But, when already in a situation where things are hard and exhausting, with a family of 5 including 2 teenagers, it’s frustrating!
Talking to Julia she says, “I don’t even know whether to laugh or cry at this point”
How many of you have been there? It’s not comical but a challenge!
The thing that Jesus reminded me of the other day is simple. I’ve shared it before, but comes from the Book Organic Outreach by Kevin Harney - is what do we have that others don’t?
We have Jesus - and we have each other!
And the promise of Jesus is that He has overcome the world!
The words of Paul - rejoice in the hope that we have!
Because the presence of Christ is more valuable than anything else!
Maybe this is why he says:
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Because drawing near to Jesus and remember the joy that we have in the hope we have is what we need!
As we wrap up, the worship team can head up
How did you do on your test this morning?
How do you love? Is it genuine?
How are you staying away from evil and clinging to what is good?
How are you at loving each other and honoring each other?
Are you passionately serving the Lord?
How are you handling struggles?
If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus, you have the power of the HS inside of you to transform your heart and mind!
Gospel
