Let Love Be Real (Part 2)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We will not understand these verse, or the verse from last week, until we get the magnitude of what Paul says here.

Romans 3:21–25 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:21 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

“While we were powerless...”

180+ mph winds destroyed everything.

The death toll continues to rise as hundreds of people remain unaccounted for.

There is a realization of just how powerless human beings are when something like this happens.

We cannot stop a hurricane and we cannot stop the storm of God’s wrath that is fixed on us outside of faith in Christ.

“At the right time…Christ died for the ungodly.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us...”

“While we were still sinners...”

“Christ died for us.”

By the mercies of God, not by our effort, not by our religious deeds, not by being a good neighbor, a hard worker, a devoted parent, or a caring person.

Our only response is SACRIFICE.

Giving ourselves fully and completely to the Lord as our most appropriate act of worship.

Last week we talked about the indicators of genuine love from verse 9-13

Today we continue with 14-21.

Genuine Love PRODUCES TRANSFORMATION

What Paul commands in vs 14 is outside of any natural impulse any of us would have.

To bless means to seek the good of someone.

Paul is telling us to seek the good of those who hurt us.

This is a command that is DISTINCTLY Christian.

But this is a command

It is only by faith in Jesus that we can bless those that persecute us.

most human being would respond to love with love, goodness with goodness.

But responding with love to someone who is persecuting your is uniquely Christian.

Matthew 5:44 ESV

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

1 Peter 3:9 ESV

9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

The very posture of this verse goes against the grain of our culture.

It is easier today that ever before to speak out against our enemies through social media and our connectedness we can defend ourselves, slander someone without actually saying their name.

We can argue without ever speaking an audible word.

But the posture of this passage speaks to a much higher call and a much more glorious purpose.

You don’t seek to bless those who hurt you without a radical reorientation of the Spirit of God.

You don’t give up the opportunity for vindication without a transformative experience with the redeeming work of Jesus and the Spirit of God bearing fruit in your life.

The love of Christ we have experienced WILL BE transformational.

Romans 9:1–2 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

Romans 9:1–3 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

It is only a redeemed heart that would ever be willing to forfeit their own salvation to ensure his people would be saved.

Genuine Love PROMOTES HARMONY.

The word harmony here is literally translated “minding the same thing toward one another.”

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul is calling them to be united in mind with one another, to live in harmony.

Harmony is when everything is functioning together is a smooth and unified manner.

Think of a car engine running perfectly, the valves opening, the spark plugs firing, the air coming in and exhaust going out. That is harmony.

We often think that Harmony requires complete agreement, but that is not true.

Harmony comes from what we have in common:

We are all saved by the grace of God by faith in Christ.

We all have the Spirit of God if we have trusted in Christ.

We all have the Word of God as our guide in all things.

The only way we maintain harmony is when we do not let PRIDE rule in our hearts.

Pride sows the seeds of discord within the church.

The tendency to think of oneself as worthy of preferential treatment robs from the transformative power of the Gospel in our lives.

(Never be haughty) If the Gospel’s declaration that you are not worthy of salvation, but Christ died while you were yet a sinner doesn’t humble you, then unity and harmony are not possible.

(never be wise in your own sight) If we rely on personal preferences, traditions, what we are most comfortable with, rather than being guided by the world of God, we will not have harmony.

Genuine Love PURSUES PEACE.

Paul says to not pay back evil with more evil.

Little is gained in returning evil for evil.

He is not talking about justice, but seeking to avenge yourself when you have been hurt or sinned against.

We feel the need to strike back if we have been struck and often act out or our emotion and our desire to save face in the eyes of others.

But Paul says our response should rather be to seek peace “so far as it depends on us.”

The pursuit of peace is driven by the humility that we don’t have to win.

It comes from finding our identity not in what other people think of us, but what God thinks of us in Christ.

It comes from the willingness to pay a price in order for peace to be attained.

Pursuing peace will cost us, but the reward is far greater.

Pursuing peace leads us to avoid the damage of disharmony.

The way we pursue peace is found in the next verse.

Romans 12:19 ESV

19 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.”

rom 12 19

Let the vengeance and justice of God be the source of your motivation for pursuing peace.

All injustice, all sin, all pain will be paid for in full, either in Christ’s saving work on the cross, or in punishment from the Lord.

We can rest, knowing that justice will be served.

Genuine Love PERSISTS in FORGIVENESS.

There is true rest in genuine love because you no longer have to carry around the pain and anger of being hurt or sinned against.

But harmony absolutely re

Though it is not explicitly mentioned in this passage, forgiveness is how we can accomplish what Paul commands in verses 19-20.

How else are we ever going to be able to “Feed our enemies” or “give them something to eat.”

Only when we can forgive in reflection of how we have been forgiven are we able to do that.

I think about the story of Joseph in Genesis.

sold into slavery by his brothers out of jealousy.

Then tossed into prison after being falsely accused of rape

He finally makes it to the second in command in Egypt, and God brings his brothers to him.

He has every right based on our standards to kick them out and let them starve, or even to send them to jail like he ended up in.

But Joseph forgave his brothers, proclaiming “What you meant for evil, God used for good.”

Joseph was able to forgive when he saw the bigger picture of God’s grace and love.

Genuine Love PROCLAIMS CHRIST.

Both in our words and our deeds.

Paul is saying “Serve the needs of those who persecute you in order that the love of Christ may be exemplified in you.”

1 Peter 2:9–12 ESV

9 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. 10 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. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

1 peter 2 9

Peter is speaking to a people who are being harassed, beat up, ostracized, imprisoned, and even killed for their faith in Christ.

And rather than saying, “Keep quiet; stay away from those that might hurt you.” or “Don’t let them beat you up, get your bat, get your gun and defend yourself.”

No, like Paul, Peter says

Know who you are in Christ- you are not defined by the world’s standard, but by God’s standards.

Also, proclaim with our mouths the excellencies of the one who called us out of darkness and brought us into marvelous life.

Speak the name of Jesus not as a good teacher and a friend, but as a righteous and holy savior who has set you free by His mercy and Grace.

Be good to those who persecute you- be honorable, abstain from the passions of the flesh.

Be different, not for different sake, but because Jesus has transformed you.

Let your conduct be driven by the Spirit of God not the passions of the flesh.

Romans 8:5–6 ESV

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

rom 8 5-

Galatians 5:22–25 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

gal 5 22-2

The Spirit in us allows us to be walking, talking billboards to the Glory of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 cor 5

This is the mission of your life.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That is the mercy that transforms.

Be transformed by receiving this mercy today.

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