What's love got to do with it?
Righteousness of God revealed - Book of Romans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 53:26
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How do you act?
How do you act?
How you act reflects what you believe. What you believe stems from what you hear. So, it is application time, as mentioned before with the Romans and for us today.
Paul in this teaching passage for application comes along with Christ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Everything is applicable.
How people see you is how they will see the church. What do people see in you?
A couple of side passages to look at regarding how people see the church, or may see the church (Gal5:14-16; Col1:3-8)
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
In Gal5:14, what are the instructions?
In Gal5:15, what is the problem, or potential problem?
What is the solution offered (Gal5:16)
In summary from the Col1:3-8.
Love which you have for all the saints
There is hope laid up for you
You heard, you believe the grace of God in truth
Their love was not secret it was evident and it was travelling to Paul of their love in the Spirit.
So, what does love have to do with it? This has nothing to do with a song by that title, but by the God eternal who demonstrated His love. Love has everything to do with it, it is both receptive and applicable.
Let’s read together, pull some questions, then get into the passage little by little.
rom12:9-10
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 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.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19 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.
20 “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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Anything stick out to you in this passage? What verse?
What is love to be like (v.9)?
What is love supposed to look like, and give verse?
What is love to do (vv.14-17)?
What are we to do if possible (v.18)?
What are we not to do (v.19)?
Love is all about relations with one another. Love is not kept to self is it?
Relationships: grounded in love
Relationships: grounded in love
They are founded in real love. For there is no hypocrisy in real love.
Real love is a reflex, it is unconditional and responsive to human needs (turn to Rom5:5-8)
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Even Christians can have love that is laced with hypocrisy, real love is careful not to have any.
Real love is sacrificial (Eph5:2)
2 Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Love hates what is evil and clings to what is good.
Real love is demonstrative (Rom13:8-10; 1Cor16:14)
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Real love is exampled by Christ love (Col3:12-14; Eph3:16-19)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Real love is impossible outside of Christ, consider (Jn15:4-12)
All of our relationships should start with God, with love and it should be reflexive love, sacrificial, abhors evil, it is demonstrative and exampled. True love is not found outside of Christ for God is love and we need to stay connect through Jesus.
Abhor evil/cling to good
Easy to do one or the other, harder to both.
Godly Christians know how to practice both
Be kindly affectionate
This command is vital for us, we are not to be standoffish, we should not be cold toward one another.
Giving preference to one another; well this is a display for being affectionate to one another
Be diligent, fervent in spirit
Not lacking diligence
Good zeal, manners
Doing the “hard work” of the church; being a Christian is not for lazy people but committed people
Fervent in spirit, means that keep fanning the flames of the work of the Holy Spirit in you and through you.
Rejoicing in hope
Hope is for something to come in the future with great expectation, can you think of something like that?
we are to serve God rejoicing in hope, not just the rewards of our hope.
Keep an eye on heaven with your hands serving here as we wait for our final hope to be fulfilled may we be serving, rejoicing in hope.
Patient in tribulation
Morris says “Patient denotes not a passive putting up with things, but an active, steadfast endurance.”
Tribulation “denotes not some minor pinprick, but deep and serious trouble.”
Difficult, tribulation times do not excuse a lack of love for other Christians, or a lack of willingness to do His work.
Contributing to the needs of others.
Our love, our care, our concern for others will demonstrates itself in practical needs for others
This is going to them, doing for them, inviting them (showing hospitality).
This kind of love is not words, it is actions.
Practicing hospitality
This is our care and concern in action for others. It will demonstrate in practical means our love for God and our neighbor, be they Christians or non-Christians
Oftentimes in scripture you see this is hospitality for those you don’t know.
Again, this is love in action, it is more than words. This, hospitality, takes a matter of faith to do.
Love relating with others
Love relating with others
What does it mean to relate to others?
What does relating to others look like in your life?
Is this an area you need to work on (personal question)?
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
What are the instructions that Paul gives in (v.14)?
Bless, don’t curse them
Who is Paul asking to bless them?
God
How do you think God blesses them?
Hum, think about it, it is YOU!
We are not to have a poor, hateful attitude toward others, even if they have one towards you. I know I struggle with this one at times, how about you?
Consider Mt5:46
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
The Jews thought that tax collectors were persecuting them by the taxation. And that they were sellouts to the Rome.
Not all persecution comes from outside the church (Jn16:2)
2 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.
Love outside the church matters
Love outside the church matters
Look at that phrase, love outside the church, what does that mean?
What does that look like?
Why do you think it matters?
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We are to rejoice, rejoice with others, for the benefit of others.
We are to weep weep with others because we have empathy, or for some we have sympathy for them.
We are to care for, be considerate of others, even if they are not to us. It is a simple command, sometimes not very simple to carry out.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes, in other words do not be conceited. We are to have a humble mindset
Don’t retaliate, repay evil for evil. Consider (Mt5:38-45) you can look that one up, basically it says - love your enemies, do not resist the evil person, give beyond what is deserving, but what is right in the sight of men (and more importantly, God).
Live peaceably with others, as much as it depends on you. You have a choice in most parts, so be at peace or a bringer of peace to others.
Murray says
“If it be possible indicates that it may not always be possible.”
Can you think of a time when it may not be possible to be at peace with others?
Don’t be vengeful, let the Lord do it. This one is hard when others persecute you or try to take your joy, your peace away from you.
Go the extra mile, feed your enemy, offer drink to your enemy. This is in direction opposition to them and this can convict their heart. Like burning coals on their head. You know, a burning conviction.
In closing here is a quick summary on what love has to do with it.
Love is . . . picture here
Love is genuine (12:9)
Love is discerning (12:9)
Love is brotherly (12:10)
Love is selfless (12:10)
Love is practical (12:11)
Love is exuberant (12:12)
Love is steadfast and prayerful (12:12)
Love is helpful (12:13)
Love is gracious (12:14)
Love is considerate (12:15)
Love is unifying (Eph4:1-6)
Love is humble (12:16)
Love is non-retaliating (12:17)
Love is peace-making (12:18)
Love is not self serving (12:19-20)
Love is victorious (12:21)
(Prayer)