The Christian Life of Love: Part 2
The United in a World Divided • Sermon • Submitted
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
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
Introduction
As we come to the Word this morning, recall that we’re considering together the series “The Church United in a World Divided.” As the world trying to grapple with many of the issues that it faces, particularly the racial divides that are so prevalent, how should we as the church respond?
Primarily, how should we respond to one another within the body of Christ?
But further to that, how should we respond to those outside of the church?
And God’s word deals with these matters for us. In particular, I want to emphasize once again the importance of knowing who we are in Christ, and how that reality shapes our responses. We must understand how our new identity in Jesus Christ brings us to radical new perspectives in life, and radical new responses in life.
When I say “radical”, I mean something very different to what the world means when they use the word “radical.” The world’s radical is extreme, usually with a view to bringing change by force, violence if necessary. When we speak of a Biblically “radical” response in the context of the church, we mean that it is entirely counter-intuitive to our human senses. It will simply not make sense to your average person of the world.
Today’s message is the second one dealing with the Christian life of love. Last week we looked together at the love that is to be demonstrated towards those of a low position, or those who are in great need. We saw how radical love leads those who are in such a position to demonstrate great love through practical means to the weak, or oppressed.
Today’s message focuses on those who are weak, or perhaps those who have been persecuted. How does the Christian who has been treated in such fashion respond to the one who has wronged them and caused them harm? How does any Christian respond in the face of evil perpetuated against them?
This is what we consider this morning. We will consider this topic under 4 main headings...
Firstly, notice with me from our text...
1. Loving Well means Trusting God in Affliction (v.12)
1. Loving Well means Trusting God in Affliction (v.12)
Paul writes in verse 12 of our passage...
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
When the Christian faces affliction (the word means troubles of various kinds), they are to respond to this affliction in a very peculiar manner. They are to do so even joyful in hope (forward looking), being patient through the affliction, all the while being faithful in prayer as they humble themselves before God.
As we consider this further, there are a number of things that we need to remember as we consider this affliction as a whole. I will spend some time on this, because it’s applicable to all that follows. As we consider this call to be patient in affliction, we must recognise that...
1.1. Affliction is to be expected
1.1. Affliction is to be expected
A proper reading of the Scriptures will lead us as Christians to recognise that affliction is typical of the Christian life. We are not delivered in the here and now from our afflictions as Christians. Certainly we have a hope that one day we will be fully and finally delivered. We look forward to glorious union with our Saviour. But as we continue to live in this world, we must know that we are going to face afflictions.
These afflictions have been foretold in the Scriptures.
The Christian life is typically going to be one of affliction
Christ foretold this, as he spoke to his disciples...
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
The Apostles, when proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom, warned Christians that they would face suffering…
They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
Paul wrote to the Philippian believers...
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
And the Apostle John in the book of Revelation wrote...
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
But we must recognise that this affliction is not only to be faced for being a Christian. Certainly our entrance into the kingdom of Christ, into the kingdom of light, produces for us afflictions because the world hates the light that shines upon the darkness in terms of sin.
But apart from this suffering and afflication, the Scriptures teach us that afflictions of all kinds will come upon Christians. But for the Christian, the purpose behind the suffering takes on an entirely new meaning purpose.
For the unbeliever, they can see no good purpose to suffering, particularly extended suffering. For the unbeliever, any suffering and afflication is evil - intrinsically evil.
But for the Christian, every moment of ones life under the sovereign power of God is for His ultimate glory, and the believers ultimate good. Words we know so well from Romans 8:28...
1.2. The Reasons for Affliction
1.2. The Reasons for Affliction
What are some of the reasons for the afflications that Christians face? There are many, but I’ll just mention four that are specifically applicable…
1.2.1. It affirms believers adoption
1.2.1. It affirms believers adoption
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
In other words, when we face hardships, we endure those as discipline. By that I mean training. Don’t just think of discipline as a punishment for wrongdoing. That’s not the meaning there. It speaks of training and instruction. It is the process of being trained.
All suffering and hardship should be endured as the hand of God disciplining us and traning us for His glory and our good.
1.2.2. It develops trust in God
1.2.2. It develops trust in God
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
As we endure suffering in this world, we are to turn our eyes to our faithful Creator, and to trust in Him, continuing to do good. Part of the reason for any suffering in our lives as Christians is to teach us to trust more fully in our great God.
1.2.3. It draws believers to Christ
1.2.3. It draws believers to Christ
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
There is a sense of deeper union with Christ as we recognise through our own sufferings, the suffering that Christ endured for our sake.
1.2.4. It prepares us for heaven
1.2.4. It prepares us for heaven
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
There are profound uses in God’s economy for suffering of all kinds. God uses these moments in our lives in order to shape us, form us, test us, and ultimately prepare us for our presence with Him. Every affliction that we face as Christians takes on a new meaning and purpose.
With all of that in mind, we must ask ourselves, what is...
1.3. The Correct Response in Affliction
1.3. The Correct Response in Affliction
Let me begin by saying that the our response to afflictions is the most important thing when facing such afflictions. This is the most important thing for us… how we respond to afflictions and struggles.
I know, I acknowledge that while in this life, we’re not going to get this perfectly right. We are imperfect beings. We will not achieve a perfect, Christ-like response under every circumstance. But we do strive for perfection. Our goal is Christ-likeness. That’s where we set our sights. And so we must consider how we are responding to these afflictions.
With that in mind, consider how the Scriptures teach us to respond to our afflictions.
1.3.1. Christ's Example
1.3.1. Christ's Example
Christ is our key example in responding to affliction. He did not run away from affliction. Affliction did not lead Christ to forsake His mission in this world. Instead, Christ embraced affliction as forming an integral part of His mission in this world.
Here are just some examples of how he endured affliction...
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1.3.2. The Early Church Example
1.3.2. The Early Church Example
The early church went through extensive struggles and trials. They were opposed on many fronts. The Gospel was opposed. Christians were blamed for things that were not their fault. But when you find the Apostles exhorting them, you find a profound response.
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
1.3.3. Paul's Example
1.3.3. Paul's Example
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
What a radically different response to afflictions Paul had. He would bost of these things that showed his weaknesses and inability.
Elsewhere, Paul speaks about the thorn in the flesh that he found himself with - and how God used this thorn to demonstrate that His grace was sufficient for Paul.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
One author has written:
“An unbeliever and a believer may occupy the same hospital room afflicated with an identical disease. But the way in which the two of them interpret their suffering must be radically different. The believer sees the hand of a loving Father at work in his life while the unbeliever mutters curses over his “fould luck”.
As we consider this world around us, and the way in which the world is responding to situations - even responding to genuine oppression where it exists - we need to recognise that we as Christians must respond differently because we know the God who is over all these things. We must affirm as Christians that even behind affliction and pain and suffering, whatever those causes are, our Sovereign God is at work, and everything is according to His perfect, loving care for our lives.
We must view every eventuality as a Christian from the perspective that God will use this too for His glory and my good. My calling is to a joyful hope; to a patience through affliction; and faithfulness in prayer to my Father.
2. Loving Well Means Rejoicing with those who Rejoice (v.15)
2. Loving Well Means Rejoicing with those who Rejoice (v.15)
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Part of the profound love that we have towards our neighbour is demonstrated when we greatly rejoice when we see things going well with our neighbour. This is a response that is formed by the working the Holy Spirit within us, irrespective of who that person is - we should rejoice with them.
If we consider the racial divides, and the rhetoric that is being used in the world, we will hear that people from a previously advantaged group have what they have because of oppression, and they thus do not deserve it (at least that’s what is implied). Does this enable or assist those from previously disadvantaged groups to rejoice when it goes well with their brothers or sisters from previously advantaged groups?
Or does this instead lead to the opposite of how we are to react, which is in envy? Envy is the typical response of the world when they see someone else prospering. They begin to envy that person. But Biblically, any envy and jealousy is a work of the flesh, and is not from God. It is out of place in the life of a Christian, and the Christian is called to put such envy to death in their life.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
There is no positive dimension to this kind of envy. We’re not talking now about the jealousy that a husband / wife are to have for one another. This is an envy or jealousy over what another person has. There are no qualifiers given here in Scripture. Envy is out of place.
Peter speaks of it like this in 1 Peter 1:23-2:1
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
“All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
As Christians, we need to recognise that the position that we are in in this world is by the providential working of God’s hand. And the position that someone else is in in this world is by the providential working of God’s hand. There may be any number of factors that have contributed to that, but we nonetheless recognise God’s providence. And as Christians in this world, our delight is in the riches that are ours in Christ.
Listen to how James speaks about this…
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Consider to omit…
In the world today, there is a dividing of people into categories - oppressed vs. oppressor. And you belong to some extent to these groups. And everyone is seen as either oppressed or an oppressor. etc...
Consider to omit...
God teaches us, rejoice with those who rejoice.
But it goes further...
3. Loving Well Means Not Repaying Evil with Evil (v.17,19)
3. Loving Well Means Not Repaying Evil with Evil (v.17,19)
In verse 17 we read...
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
In the Kingdom of Christ, it is unfitting of us to repay those who have perpetuated evil against us with evil from our side. In the world, it is believed that if someone wrongs us, then we now have the right to return harm to them as a result of the harm that they’ve done us. Sadly, many Christians live with this mindset. They deserve what I’m going to do to them, because of what they did to me. But this is not the calling of God for his people.
Even Solomon gave this as a directive for wise living...
Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me;
I’ll pay that man back for what he did.”
When Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote...
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
We must not pay back evil with evil.
Particularly when we consider the context of the church, and how we as those in the body of Christ treat each other, should we be holding things against our brothers and sisters? Not at all!! This would only lead to divisions within the body.
Why is this so important? What leads us to not repay evil with evil? Look with me at Matthew 18…
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
The debt that each one of us has been forgiven as a result of our sin against our Holy God is infinitely greater than the debt which one of our brothers or sisters owes us, in terms of the sin that they have committed against us. How can we plead for and receive the great forgiveness of the Almighty, Holy God, and then hold comparatively petty grievances against our brother and sister, or even anyone else for that matter? It should not be!!
But even further than this, the reason that we do not repay evil with evil, is because God is the one who will do any repaying that needs to be done, according to His perfect wisdom, and in His perfect time.
In verse 19 we read…
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.
Deliverance and Vengeance belong to God.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
As Christians, we are not to take vengeance for grievances that we have against other people. Only God, who has infinite wisdom and understanding, and has all power and sovereignty in this world, is in a position to enact true justice and vengeance, where necessary. We simply do not understand the complexities of sin and righteousness and justice as God does. And He calls us to leave room for His wrath.
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
And then in the book of Hebrews, we read these words…
For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
One additional comment on this - let us never think to ourselves that we look forward to God bringing vengeance. We must grieve at sins perpetuated by others. We must grieve when people oppress and kill and hate one another. But we must pray for their eyes to be opened to God’s goodness and grace, as our eyes needed to be opened.
And as Christians, let us remember, we must not repay evil with evil.
But it goes further than that, even. This leads us to our fourth and final consideration...
4. Loving Well Means Repaying Evil with Good (vv.14, 20)
4. Loving Well Means Repaying Evil with Good (vv.14, 20)
In verse 14 we read...
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
And then in verse 20 we read...
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.”
Here, this love that we are called to as Christians reaches its climax. This call is entirely counter-intuitive. But such is the calling that is ours as children of the living God.
Consider with me...
4.1. The basis for such radical love
4.1. The basis for such radical love
Why is it that we should love in this manner?
What would drive us as Christians to love other people in such a manner that we would do good to those who do us evil... that we would show kindness to those who show us hatred?
We have already touched on this, but the basis of this radical love is the love that God had for us! God loved the unlovely.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
When the Scripture says that we were dead in transgressions… it’s saying that we were dead to the righteousness of God. We were rotten and smelly - dead corpses. Far from the eternal God. But because of God’s great love for these unlovely people - sinful people; rebellious people - He changed us. He granted us His grace.
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
It was to such people that the perfect Saviour came. Descended from heaven where He existed eternally with God in perfect holiness and righteousness. And He came in order to save such as these… such like you and I.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Think of the account of Jonah - very often we as people are much like Jonah… He didn’t want to go to Ninevah to call them to repentance, because they were despised enemies of Israel. You know the story - he ran away, was swallowed by a large fish, spat out again, and then decided to go. But as he preached to them, they repented, and Jonah was indignant.
But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
But the Lord replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”
When we understand this profound love of God for us… when we understand how unmerited His grace and mercy are, His love for us must transform our love for others.
We love because he first loved us.
That’s the basis for such radical love - repaying evil with good. With that in mind consider...
4.2. The call to such radical love
4.2. The call to such radical love
You and I are called to thus love each other in this way. Instead of repaying other people with evil when they perpetuate evil against us, we are to do them good. We are not even called here merely to leave them alone. Or to ignore them. Rather, we are called to actively do them good.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Paul spoke to the Corinthians about how he and the Apostles did this themselves when they faced all kinds of persecutions and difficulties.
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
The example of the Good Samaritan comes to mind...
Finally and very briefly, notice with me...
4.3. The results of such radical love
4.3. The results of such radical love
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.”
You will heap burning coals on his head. What is the meaning of this? Albert Barnes writes:
Leviticus 16:12 suggests an explanation. The high priest on the Day of Atonement was to take his censer, to fill it with "coals of fire," and then to put the incense thereon for a sweet-smelling savor. So it is here. The first emotion in another caused by the good done to him may be one of burning shame, but the shame will do its work and the heart also will burn, and prayer and confession and thanksgiving will rise as incense to the throne of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we close, let us just acknowledge that we are far from able to do these things in our own strength. What God calls us to as His people is absolutely profound. Don’t let that be lost on you!
But it flows out of a profound love that God has demonstrated towards us.
Just bringing this back to the world and culture and its thinking... I do trust that you can see just how inconsistent the teaching of the world is in terms of retribution, and the hatred and envy and animosity that is being demonstrated - is so entirely contradictory and out of step with what God calls His people to.
This must apply to all of us. In terms of the racial tensions. Even the tensions in South Africa - working both ways. One side blaming another. One group charging another with hatred.
In this very, very dark world, what has God called you and I to? How has He called us to live, and to respond, and to treat one another. Let His Word guide us… not our emotions… not our own assumptions about who is to blame and why they are to blame - His word must guide us.
I close with the words of...
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Amen!