The Solution to Wordly Problems: Sincere Love of Christ

Pre-Intro

I would like to thank Manny and Mike for taking the time to speak to us today. (sum up previous messages)

Manny - Hope in Christ, assurance in justification

Mike -

I want to conclude today with some very clear directions we are given by Paul.

These traits are not only evidence of our walk with Christ, but they also serve as areas in which we can ask God to strengthen us.

Romans 12:9-21

This is a large section for a short message, so if I go fast, I apologize.

Intro

Jesus explains that the two most important commandments are to love God totally and completely and to love our neighbor, just as Christ loves us.

Tall order for us.

Think about that teacher that gave you a bad grade on a paper.

That co-worker who slacks off while you do the majority of the work.

(Talk about neighbor who used to fling cigarette butts in our yard.)

So how can we love our neighbors just as Christ does? Paul is about to tell us.

***Pray***

Body

First we must understand that Biblical love is action, not emotion.

Romans 5:8 - How did Christ show his love for us? By dying.

Romans 12:9a: Let love be without hypocrisy.

So when Paul talks about love without hypocrisy, he is setting the stage of what sincere, Biblical love looks like in practice.

In other words, what follows after this statement are actions we can and should take to show love.

v9b: Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

The NIV Application Comentary written by Douglas Moo puts it this way: “Christian love is more than a feeling; it leads to a violent hatred of evil and a tenacious attachment to what is good.”

v10a: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;

The Greek word for brotherly love is Philadelphia and shares the same phil-root with the Greek word for “be devoted” which was typically used to refer to a loving family relationship.

So love between fellow believers needs to be like the love we have for our families.

v 10b: give preference to one another in honor;

When you give preference to someone, you are putting them before yourself.

v11: not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

In the Greek, another word for diligence can be eagerness and for fervent, excited or zealous.

Paul is saying that we should serve the Lord with eagerness and excitement/zealousness in the spirit.

We should be cautious here tho. Zeal can sometimes get the better of us.

As a new Christian I could sometimes get an attitude with people if they disagreed with my thinking on a spiritual topic. I’ve even had to go back and apologize a few times for my words.

So we need to ensure that our passion is always serving the Lord, not our own desire to be right.

v12: rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Here Paul gives us the recipe for success in our everyday battles with the world that is against us: have joy, endure, and pray.

v13: contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Paul ends this section by returning back to how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now Paul shifts gears a bit by echoing much of the teachings of Jesus.

v14-16: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

The NIV actually says in verse 16 to live in harmony with one another. That I think covers the essence of what Paul is trying to say here.

Paul also takes the time to warn us against pride. Pride is one of those things that can destroy a believing community.

v17: Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

Just as in v14, we are to pay back evil with good.

But its more than that, we are to do what is right in the eyes of everyone, even non-believers.

Paul does however give a caveat to this idea

v18:  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

we should seek peace with non-believers, as long as it does not cause us to violate God’s laws.

v19:  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:35 here to remind us all what the Lord has said regarding vengeance.

v20:  “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Here Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21-22. Our responding to our enemies with kindness will hopefully cause them to have a change of heart and seek repentance from the Lord.

v21:  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The final statement of Paul here to wrap up this entire section.

We as believers are beset on all sides with evil. Only the grace of God and the love of Christ can overcome that evil.

Closing

Paul is calling us to action. Biblical love is action. It is a choice we make every day.

Paul gives us some practical instructions on how to show love to our family, non-christians, and to our enemies.

If we all took the time to apply love in these areas, many of the issues we face would be overcome.