Vibrant Christian Relationships, part 2
The Glory of the Gospel: Studies in the Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Open: Janet was a victim of marital infidelity and lived through the betrayal and the marriage of her ex-husband to the mistress. Years later, she ministered to the 2nd wife when her ex-husband was dying.
Open: Janet was a victim of marital infidelity and lived through the betrayal and the marriage of her ex-husband to the mistress. Years later, she ministered to the 2nd wife when her ex-husband was dying.
Transition: Expressing genuine love is not always easy, but it is possible due to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are IN Christ have this ability and it is to flow out of us. Paul continues to share aspects of how individual Christians are to live towards those outside and within the faith Community.
Transition: Expressing genuine love is not always easy, but it is possible due to the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are IN Christ have this ability and it is to flow out of us. Paul continues to share aspects of how individual Christians are to live towards those outside and within the faith Community.
Genuine Christian love is seen in how we respond to persecution from outsiders (Rom 12:14)
Genuine Christian love is seen in how we respond to persecution from outsiders (Rom 12:14)
Explanation: Remember that Paul is issuing commands under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not merely giving suggestions. He is telling believers the expected response under persecution is to bless, not curse or complain. The word persecution means that the offense is due to the individual’s faith - not just random acts of meanness. So Paul is saying that when an outsider performs some type of offense against a believer in the area of his or her faith, the response is to bless - not curse.
Illustrate: Getting cut off in traffic is NOT persecution; being ridiculed by a co-worker for your belief in the Bible is persecution
Argument: Paul is calling on believers to take a positive action towards the persecutor, not just to ignore the offense. We are called to bless those who persecute and “To ‘bless’ one’s persecutors, therefore, is to call on God to bestow his favor upon them” (Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, p. 780.)
Application: A very good way to apply this truth is to simply follow the teaching of Jesus as found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus told us to: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)
Genuine Christian love is seen in how we respond to the circumstances of other believers (Rom 12:15-16)
Genuine Christian love is seen in how we respond to the circumstances of other believers (Rom 12:15-16)
Explanation: In these next 2 verses Paul shifts back to how believers are to deal with other believers in the faith community. Verses 15 & 16 do not address persecution, but rather deals with how we are to respond to our brothers and sisters depending upon their circumstances. He tells them to “rejoice with them that rejoice and to weep with those who weep.” This is the language of empathy and understanding.
Example: What is your reaction when a brother or sister gets a new vehicle? or one that’s much nicer than yours? Or if a Christian co-worker gets promoted over you?
Argument: One of the fastest ways to disrupt unity in the body of Christ is to be jealous of another believer. Believers are to guard against the old nature that gets upset over the fortunes of others. We may think we are above such thoughts, but we must remain on guard - as Jeremiah stated, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)
Instead of thinking, “well, they must not tithe to afford that” or to think, “he must be compromising in some way as to gain favor from the boss,” let us celebrate the blessings of others.
Even more telling is how we respond to the misfortune of other believers. We may not speak it, but we can be guilty of thinking some unconfessed sin in the other’s life is responsible for the adversity. This is the same response Job received from his three “friends.” Instead of consoling him in his misfortune, they accused him of sin!
Application: God calls us to minister one to another and to love each other. We live in the midst of a fallen world and believers can find themselves in some very unfortunate circumstances. When that happens, the body is to comfort, serve, and encourage - not condemn
Genuine Christian love gives place to God’s judgment (Rom 12:17-21)
Genuine Christian love gives place to God’s judgment (Rom 12:17-21)
Explanation: The apostle switches back to how believers are to respond to the evil brought against them by the world outside the community of faith. He starts off with a direct statement that prohibits believers from responding in kind. This teaching flows from the teaching of Jesus when He instructs His followers to turn the other cheek (Matt 5:39ff). The actions against believers in these verses are not connected to persecution for the faith; evil and wicked people are just plain mean and nasty for any reason or for no reason.
There is an understanding that some people cannot be persuaded or shamed into behaving nicely. That is why believers are instructed “If it be possible . . . live peaceably with all men” (v.18) Some people are mean-spirited and nothing you do is going to change that. Regardless of their response believers are called to the high road. That does not mean we continue to take abuse or to make gestures of peace that will be spit on. Discernment is needed and Jesus Himself told us not to “cast our pearls before swine” (Matt 7:6)
Application: Instead of retaliation we are to simply leave these offenders to the judgment and vengeance of God - He will deal with them in the time and manner of His choosing. It is not your place or mine to play God and to condemn. We are called to express genuine Christian love to these types and to pray for God to soften the heart
Moving to the Table:
Before we observe Communion together at the Lord’s Table we are going to have a time of response.