The Christian Life of Love: Part 1

Recap and Direction

Turn with me to Romans 12:9...

We are busy working through a series that I’ve entitled “The Church United in a World Divided.”

As we live in this world, we are being continually bombarded with words and with actions by people that are fueling divides within society. In particular, there are significant racial divides that are being caused. There is a great stirring up of one group against another group. And the opinions as to what is really going on, and what’s driving these things, abounds. The opinions as to the best response etc. abound… even among churches.

So how do we approach this? With deep humility!! With a recognition that each one of us is fallible. Remembering that each one of us are sinners before a Holy God. Each one of us as church members has been redeemed by God’s gracious work - undeserved merit and favour. Every single one of us. And so we humble ourselves under His guiding and leading. And we listen very carefully and attentively to the Scriptures.

And as a church, we strive with all diligence to maintain our unity.

By way of introduction for this morning, I want to start by reminding us of the ground that we’ve covered thus far. Essentially, what I’ve sought to do is set some very basic biblical foundations for us as the church in terms of how we ought to be conducting ourselves, and how we should respond in light of what is happening around us in the world.

In the first sermon in the series, we considered the fact that divisions are out of place within the church of Christ. There ought not to be any divisions present within a church, and among churches that proclaim the foundational truths of the Gospel. We as a church should be united together, with our minds focused on that which Christ calls us to: the exaltation of His name. If we were to ever find divisions arising in our midst, quarrels and fights among us, anger and animosity, we need to recognise that we are drifting away from Christ.

There are ways to deal with genuine sinful conduct within the church body. Anything conflicts and animosity outside of sinful conduct, and dealt with other than the manner outlined by our LORD, is sinful - and all of us need to aware of that, and humble ourselves under Christ.

In the second sermon, we considered together that the world is under the power and influence of Satan. That is not to say that Christ is not over all, and that Christ doesn’t have all sovereign power in this world in which we live. He certainly does!!

It is also not to say that we must withdraw ourselves entirely from this world, thinking that the world is evil, we’re holy, so let’s separate ourselves. That’s not what this means.

But the reality is that Satan has been allowed, under the Sovereign and divine purposes of God, to exercise a good measure of power over the people in this world. The world, apart from Christ, lives in darkness and they do not have the understanding that comes from knowing God. God’s common grace to all people is still at work - for which we ought to be very grateful. But on a whole, the people in this world are blinded. As such, we need to be very careful about following the ways and practices of the world. We need to be careful to not follow the remedies that the world presents for the ills of society. Rather, we are to follow the remedies that are presented for us in the word of God.

Just in touching on this point further, I want to say here that the world is pushing a system called Critical Race Theory. It speaks in terms of the oppressor, and the oppressed. And everyone sits in one of these groups. Either you are an oppressor, or your are the oppressed. And in this system, the oppressor must divest himself / herself of their privilege, and give to the oppressed. And if you don’t agree with the system, then you are told that you are blind, or oppressive etc.

In the third sermon in our series, which we considered last week, we looked at the fact that the church is a unique people with a unique calling. Who we are in Christ gives us a profound new identity. We are not the same people that we used to be - those blinded and in darkness; those under the power of the evil one - but rather we are a new people. We have a profound identity. And this identity in Jesus Christ must drive our lifestyle. How we conduct ourselves in this world, how we act towards one another within the context of the local church, must be driven by a deep sense of our identity in Jesus Christ.

As we now continue, I want to start by looking at some practical aspects in this regard. How does this translate to our practical life in interacting with one another as the church, and how does this translate to our practical life as we live in the world.

Today and next week, I plan to focus our attention on our treatment of and conduct towards one another within the church. These will be particular sermons on directing us as the people of God to live our lives loving one another well.

What does that look like?

How do we go about doing this?

And there are two sermons in this regard. Today, I want to focus primarily on what could be termed those of lowly estate. How do we love those who are poor; those from difficult circumstances; those who are currently facing oppression; those who are suffering the effects of oppression, or disaster; widows and orphans that are struggling to get by; or even just those who struggle day to day, month to month. How does our love towards such people look.

And then next week, I want to focus primarily on what could be termed those who are of high stature (at least in societies terms) and those who have benefited from past oppression. Those who have much; those who are wealthy or well-off; those who have never truly experienced for themselves the struggles of poverty; or what it means to live in fear of a dominant group. That’s what we’ll consider next week.

And please - we all need to hear both sides of this. Don’t just listen to the sermon that’s easy on your ears, and ignore the sermon that makes you a little uncomfortable in your seat.

We are all in Christ. There is no condemnation for any of us in Christ. There is only a Biblical call for us to love our Lord, and to love our neighbour well. This is what we will seek to do.

And then, finally, the week after next, I hope Lord-willing to address the matter of how the church is to be involved in society and in the world in order to address, or influence, or at least have some kind of an impact on many of the injustices that the world faces, including all forms of racism and oppression.

So that is where things currently stand. It may change slightly, but that’s my plan.

As we begin then to consider the practical matters relating to the church, and how we as citizens of another kingdom are to conduct ourselves here in this world, I’d like to do so by guiding our attention to a passage in the book of Romans that deals some very practical exhortations that will help us frame our thinking.

Scripture Reading

Let’s read then together from Romans 12:9-21...

Romans 12:9–21 NIV84

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Introduction

This section from the book of Romans gives us a wonderful outline for how church members are to treat one another and conduct themselves as the church.

Essentially, what Paul is calling the Roman believers to do is to show love through their actions. In the way that they interact as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, they are to love one another deeply. And this is truly the life that we are called to live as the church today.

As I look at the church today, particularly in light of the racial tensions, but also in light of Covid-19 and all the complications surrounding it, and the varied opinions of people, I must say that I’m grieved. People from all sides can articulate their personal convictions and beliefs very well. They know how to present their arguments so as to win the day. They know what the solutions are to life’s problems.

What is very sad, is that there is so often a gross lack of love. There is a lack of charitableness. Winning the argument is the main goal, irrespective of the consequences.

But friends, Christ has called us to love.

Christ has called Christians to love one another as He has loved us, and gave himself up for us. The question we must ask is, are we loving well?

Francis Schaeffer once remarked: “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”

The church must love - this is our highest calling. This is the command of God to us.

In the context of racial tensions, in the context of a history of grave oppression in South Africa, how do we love well? How do we love those who’ve been affected by oppression, or racism, or any other kind of ill-treatment?

This question is not merely towards white or black… It goes beyond that to any ethnic divisions that may be found among the people in the world. In a country that is marked by Xenophobia, this applies more broadly than simply white / black relations. In a country where different ethnic groups very often don’t have the best of relations between them, this applies in a diverse range of situations.

As I begin, I want to say that there is a way that we can love well, and there is a way that we love very poorly. Particularly in light of racial oppression, and the history of South Africa, sometimes the thought from previously advantaged groups is that people should just get over past grievances, and get on with life. Is this a helpful response to those who struggle today?

Particularly in the church, we may here people say, why talk about these things, since we’re redeemed, forgiven. Why do you raise things from the past. While it is true that there is forgiveness in Christ, there is reconciliation in Christ; there ought to be no divisions; there should not be a sense of guilt placed upon certain people in the church, because of what Christ has done… we must ask the question, are we loving well

I think that kind of response doesn’t demonstrate the love of Christ.

Just by way of example, if a person in the church comes from a background and context of severe physical and emotional abuse, and they come into the church, and are loved, but something happens wherein they take offense at what someone says or does, and they respond angrily or with heated emotion… are we simply to tell that person to get over themselves; or to just forget what happened in the past? That’s history, don’t drag it into your present life. That wouldn’t be loving the person well.

It lacks empathy. It lacks understanding of the person.

It lacks the recognition of the fact that this brother or sister in the faith is truly struggling with matters, and needs the love of Christ to be shown.

Loving well, serving well, means understanding a person, and being sensitive towards them and their background.

Loving well, serving well, means not holding on to those words that are said in jest, but apologising for them when you use them.

Loving well, serving well, means not allowing the

We must take cognizance of the fact that generalizations are the order of the day here. I cannot address every instance and every particularity that we may be presented with, or even that may be applicable to us now. What Scripture gives us is God’s revelation in terms of loving one another, and some principles in terms of how that looks; examples from Scripture in terms of how that looks; commands etc, but it doesn’t deal with every particularity. We are called as Christians to study the Scriptures, to grow in our knowledge of Christ and His love, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. and we are then to allow the Spirit to guide us as a church in terms of how we may apply this to our lives.

As we come to this passage, note the words of Paul at the beginning of verse 9. He writes that “Love must be sincere.” This means that love must not be hypocritical. It should not be that we love others with our words, but not in action. Our love must be spoken through our actions towards others.

1 John 3:18 NIV84

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Going further then, let us consider 5 points in terms of how we may love the brother or sister in humble circumstances.

1. Loving well Means Hating what God Hates

In verse 9, Paul writes that we are to “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

As those who are in Christ, we must have a holy hatred towards all things that are opposed to God’s holy ways. And one of the great evils that has persisted through the ages, is oppression of the weak, in various forms.

We see clearly God’s hatred of this evil of oppression in the Scriptures…

Isaiah 10:1–3 NIV84

1 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. 3 What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?

God clearly speaks out against the unjust laws and oppressive treatment of other people. And He warns in that passage that He will bring disaster upon Israel for the way in which they were oppressing even their own people. Oppression is evil.

Ezekiel 22:6–7 NIV84

6 “ ‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. 7 In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the alien and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.

This abuse of power by those who are in authority

James condemns looking down on certain people because they come from humble positions within the context of the church.

James 2:3–6 NIV84

3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

Also in James, warning against failing to pay due...

James 5:1–6 NIV84

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

In God’s economy, all kinds of oppression, looking down on people, elevating oneself above other people, is an evil that we are to hate.

Now within most sound churches who know these truths well, and truly do want to honour God in their life and conduct. And so the key concern is not overt, outright racism. It’s not outright oppression of those who are poor.

Rather, the concern that is found in churches, is that there is somewhat of a lack of sensitivity in terms of what we say about others of different cultural groups. While we live with a deep understanding of God’s unmerited grace and mercy toward each and every one of us, there’s sometimes a sense from who struggle with prejudicial

There is a coldness or an ignorance of positions and usages of words that are offensive and demeaning to others.

Mocking of one group to another.

Making another racial group the brunt of a joke...

Laughing in a condescending way

This is not loving. This does not bring harmony in relationships, but rather divisions in relations.

We need to understand that if we are going to live together in harmony, and genuine understanding, then we need to hear one another. As James says, we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

2. Loving Well Means Honoring Others

Paul writes in verse 10: “Honour one another above yourselves.”

We cannot honour others when we live with an air of superiority. And very often, this is something that we do without even taking notice. We don’t see it in ourselves, but we treat other people, particularly those who are poor, or not as well off, we treat them as below us.

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV84

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

As we consider the poor around us, do we honour them above ourselves?

Do we honour others with different views and perspectives on life, above ourselves.

In all of the racial tensions, very often a pride can well up inside - sometimes and air of superiority.

Not to be found among us as brothers and sisters in the church.

Matthew 5:21–24 NIV84

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Much of the racial animosity in SA, and around the world, leads to a distrust of others.

As the church, our perspectives and responses to be different.

Do we honour others above ourselves?

My concern is that there is something of a condescending spirit towards others.

We so easily fall into this trap.

3. Loving Well Means Sharing with the Needy

Verse 13 reads...

“Share with God’s people who are in need.”

The Christian response to those who are needy among them, is to strive to meet those needs.

James 2:15–16 NIV84

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

James 1:27 NIV84

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The early church was a profound example of this, as God worked powerfully through His Holy Spirit...

Acts 4:32 NIV84

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

Acts 4:34–35 NIV84

34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Certainly that was a unique time in the life of the church. But that was the profound love that was prompted by the Holy Spirit. People had a deep love and care for one another, that was evidenced through sacrificial giving, particularly to those who had need.

This is demonstrated across different churches in different locations in 2 Corinthians, where the churches in Macedonia, although they were not well off, were nonetheless exeedingly generous towards those who were in great need.

2 Corinthians 8:1–4 NIV84

1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

The heart that is aflame for Christ is to be a generous heart, and one that deeply loves and cares for those who are needy. That is something that we as the church should long to see among ourselves, and also that which we as a church should long to demonstrate to other churches that are needy.

When the Apostle Paul was recognised as an Apostle, and was to go to the Gentiles in order to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, listen to what one of the key things was in terms of taking this Gospel out...

Galatians 2:9–10 NIV84

9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Their deep concern when taking the Gospel out was to remember the poor. And Paul’s heart was precisely that - to remember the poor. This was a deep passion for them. Caring for those who have little or nothing.

So we show genuine love when we fail to love with our actions in terms of serving the poor. Perhaps ministry among the poor is something that we should consider .

4. Loving Well Means Feeling the Hurts of Others

Paul writes in verse 15...

Romans 12:15 NIV84

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

The body of Christ is to feel with the rest of the members of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV84

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The question that we must ask ourselves, is if there are parts of this body that are suffering, do we see that and suffer with them?

This is not a matter of placing guilt on any person within the body. To say that there should be guilt upon a particular group within the church as a result of the history of oppression is wrong.

It’s simply to recognise the fact that there are those around us that are hurting and bruised. They know sufferings and pains that we cannot know and understand. Do we hurt alongside them? Have we heard them talk about some of their experiences, just so that we can appreciate their perspective.

This is about hearing one another, and truly seeking to understand a different perspective.

Do we have hearts that are filled with compassion?

Mark 1:40–41 NIV84

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Matthew 14:14 NIV84

14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Feeding of the 4000...

Matthew 15:32 NIV84

32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Mark 6:34 NIV84

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Jesus was a man that was filled with compassion…

Do we have this attitude towards our brothers and sisters...

We want to listen and hear, with great compassion, particularly those who are struggling.

5. Loving Well means Living with Humility

Of all the ways of loving well, none of them will be possible without humility. Humility is key to the Christian life. We cannot overcome any racial or other relational boundaries if there is no humility.

Paul writes in verse 16 of our passage...

Romans 12:16 NIV84

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

One of the ways to destroy relationships, to destroy the church as the people of God is through pride, or any lack of humility. And again, this humility must be evidenced among the people. It must be demonstrated through actions.

In this verse, Paul says that we are to be willing to associate with people of low position. This means that those who are of such a low position are to be regarded and cared for, and we are to fellowship with and interact with in the same manner as we do with those of greater means.

We need to be cautious that this does not become a condescending association, where we do this out of a sense of pride, and feeling sorry for another person. If that’s our attitude, it is sinful.

All people are made in the image of God. And these believers, even those that are of low position, are joint-heirs with Christ. They are just as much heirs as any other person in the church of Jesus Christ.

James 4:6 NIV84

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Application / Conclusion

EBC - a loving church.

Experienced..

So many expressed.

But let us keep striving to love better.

When something we say or do causes offense, let us be reconciled.

We must not write our brothers and sisters off, and tell them to stop being sensitive..

Learn to listen well.