“Marks of the True Christian!” Part 2

Introduction

AS STATED LAST WEEK, the LIST of behaviors in (Romans 12:9-21) are NOT things that a person DOES in order to BE or BECOME a Christian! ; but rather, they are the “Marks of the True Christian!”

“What are the Marks of the True Christian?”

In (Romans 12:9-21) there are THREE: A Transformed MIND - (12:9-13); A Transformed HEART - (12:14-16); and a Transformed WILL - (12:17-21)!

(READ TEXT - PRAY)

Romans 12:9–21 CSB

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

REVIEW:

A Christian will have EVIDENCE of…

I. A Transformed MIND! - (12:9–13)

A. Practices SINCERE LOVE and GOODNESS! - (v.9)

B. Practices BROTHERLY LOVE and HONOR! - (v.10)

C. Practices DILIGENT ZEAL and SERVICE! - (v.11)

LESSON:

D. Practices JOYFUL ENDURANCE and PRAYER! - (v.12)

“Rejoice in hope…”

Our “hope” is the confident expectation of the Lord’s return and the glory to follow!

It has been described in previous verses in Romans:

Romans 5:2 CSB

2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 8:23–25 CSB

23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

That HOPE is connected with JOY should not surprise us in the least!

Proverbs 10:28 CSB

28 The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 16:9–11 CSB

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. 10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. 11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Romans 15:13 CSB

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

SO, while we WAIT for our adoption, redemption, and the glory of God, we are to…

“…be patient in affliction”

From τῇ θλίψει ὑπομένοντες - Lit. - ‘in the affliction enduring’

When life ‘squeezes you’ you, you ‘bear up!’

2 Thessalonians 1:4 CSB

4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.

Psalm 37:7 CSB

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.

In the midst of our “affliction” we are NOT to be agitated or complaining!

Philippians 2:14 CSB

14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,

“When I verbalize my difficulties—when I ‘get it off my chest’, it helps me COPE!”

NO IT DOES NOT!

“Have you ever met someone who is constantly agitated, who grumbles and complains about all the pressures (the θλίψει) in their life?”

Does all the grumbling, complaining, does that agitation demonstrate FAITH, or FEAR!

Being “…patient in affliction” REVEALS FAITH!

Psalm 40:1 CSB

1 I waited patiently for the Lord, and he turned to me and heard my cry for help.

You are “…patient in affliction” because you know God will show up!

“…be persistent in prayer.”

WHICH is the PRACTICAL STEP of both rejoicing in hope and being patient in affliction!

Psalm 55:16 CSB

16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.

Jeremiah 29:12–13 CSB

12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

AS I WAS STUDYING for this very point, this song by Matthew West came on my playlist:

“Don't Stop Praying” by Matthew West

Verse 1

What's your impossible, Your I need a miracle

What's got you barely hanging by a single thread

What looks so hopeless now, What weighs down your heart with doubt

You beg for a breakthrough, But no sign of breakthrough yet

Pre-Chorus

When you've cried and you've cried,’ Til your tears run dry

The answer won't come and you don't know why

And you wonder if you can bow your head

Even one more time (Oh do it one more time)

Chorus

Don't stop praying. Don't stop calling on Jesus' name

Keep on pounding on heaven's door. Let your knees wear out the floor

Don't stop believing,’ Cause mountains move with just a little faith

And your Father's heard. Every single word you're saying

So don't stop praying

Verse 2

He is close to brokenhearted

Saves those who are crushed in spirit

The Alpha and Omega knows how your story ends

Bridge

Don't stop praying for the prodigal

Don't stop praying for the miracle

Hallelujah hallelujah and amen

Don't stop praying that addictions end

Don't stop praying for deliverance

Hallelujah hallelujah and amen

Don't stop praying for the sickness healed

Don't stop praying for His power revealed

Hallelujah hallelujah and amen

Don't stop praying for the kingdom come

Don't stop praying that his will be done

Hallelujah hallelujah and amen

CCLI Song # 7230630 Jeff Pardo | Matthew West© BrentHood Music; Meaux Mercy; My Story Your Glory MusicFor use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved.

“Well Pastor, what are you trying to say?”

I’m not TRYING to say anything: I’m SAYING, “DON’T STOP PRAYING!”

1 John 5:14–15 CSB

14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

It is the mark of a true Christian to believe that God HEARS and ANSWERS our prayers!

E. Practices active ASSISTANCE and HOSPITALITY! - (v.13)

“Share with the saints in their needs...”

NOTICE that the emphasis of sharing is “…with the saints in their needs.”

I frequently tell folks who call asking for help, “Look, the church is not an ATM machine! And in fact, if you aren’t working, or trying to, we are under no obligation to give you money.”

2 Thessalonians 3:11–12 CSB

11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.

AS A CHURCH, we try to follow the guide: “A hand UP; not a hand-OUT!”

BENEVOLENCE was the PRACTICE of the Church from the VERY START!

Acts 2:45 CSB

45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Acts 4:35 CSB

35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need.

It’s important to NOTE that the “…sharing with the saints in their needs” is NOT ADDRESSED to the Church corporately, but to each one of us individually!

Psalm 41:1 CSB

1 Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.

When God asks you, “What did you do for the needs of the saints?” To say, “I think my pastor, or Allen took care of that,” would be inadequate!

“…pursue hospitality”

From φιλοξενίαν - a compound word meaning, ‘a lover of strangers/foreigners/aliens’

John Stott: “If generosity is shown to the needy, hospitality is shown to visitors. Philadelphia (love of sisters and brothers) has to be balanced by philoxenia (love of strangers). Both are indispensable expressions of love.”

Stott continues… “Hospitality was especially important in those days, since inns were few and far between, and those that existed were often unsafe or unsavoury places. It was essential, therefore, for Christian people to open their homes to travellers, and in particular for local church leaders to do so. In fact, Paul did not urge the Romans to ‘practise’ hospitality, but rather to ‘pursue’ it. Origen commented: ‘We are not just to receive the stranger when he comes to us, but actually to enquire after, and look carefully for, strangers, to pursue them and search them out everywhere, lest perchance somewhere they may sit in the streets or lie without a roof over their heads.’”

I like the KJV - “…given to hospitality”

Which is WHY Scripture is clear about THREE THINGS:

1. The REASON for hospitality! - (Hebrews 13:2)

Hebrews 13:2 CSB

2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

And if that’s not REASON enough…JESUS SAID,

Matthew 25:35 CSB

35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in;

Matthew 25:40 CSB

40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

JESUS says, “When you’re hospitable to a STRANGER, you are hospitable TO ME!”

2. The MANNER of hospitality! - (1 Peter 4:9)

1 Peter 4:9 CSB

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

“OH MAN! I thought they would NEVER LEAVE!”

3. The EXAMPLE of hospitality! - (1 Timothy 3:2)

1 Timothy 3:2 CSB

2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Elders (Pastors) are to set the EXAMPLE when it comes to hospitality!

CONCLUSION to Part 2

THIRTEEN MARKS of a TRANSFORMED MIND in just FIVE VERSES!

SEVENTEEN more to go in Romans 12!

Which we will continue NEXT WEEK as we look at a TRANSFORMED HEART (vv14-16), and a TRANSFORMED WILL (vv.17-21)!