SF414 - How To Get Along With Everybody (Romans 12 1-21)
Romans 12:1-2; 9‑21
INTRODUCTION
In the context of Romans 12:1-2 the Apostle Paul calls every believer live a transformed life. The foundation of a transformed life is the offering of our total person to God. We are to present our souls, our bodies, our minds, and our wills to God . In doing so we prove God’s will in our lives and please Him.
In verses 3-8 Paul discusses the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts in the church and commands us to be faithful to use the gifts God has granted to us.
Finally, in verses 9-21 Paul deals with the practical daily issues of living a transformed life. As J. Vernon McGee used to say, “this is where the rubber meets the road.”
Paul gives us instructions concerning how we are to behave toward our fellow believers as well as the world in general. These are difficult commands that are beyond the reach of natural man. They are indeed supernatural commands that can only be obeyed by a person who has experienced the transforming power of Christ. Yet, God expects every one of His children to fulfill each of these.
1A. Our Duty To God’s People (12:9‑13)
The Key Is Love
To dwell above, with saints in love,
That will indeed be glory;
To dwell below with saints we know,
Well, that's a different story.
1B. Love one another sincerely (12:9a)
We must love without hypocrisy
Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV) 37Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’£
1 Peter 4:8 (NASB) 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
2B. Hate evil and love good (12:9b)
Pure Christian love is expressed by our hatred of evil and our holding to what is good.
Psalm 97:10 (NASB) 10Hate evil, you who love the LORD…
"cling" = kollao; to glue
2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB) 22Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
3B. Be devoted to brotherly love (12:10a)
"devoted" = philostorgos, cherishing one's kindred, fraternal towards fellow Christians.:‑‑kindly affectionate.
Brotherly love is the mark of a Christian
John 13:35 (NASB) 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 John 4:20 (NASB) 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Brotherly love reflects the nature of Christians
1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NASB) 9Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
4B. Prefer one another in honor (12:10b)
“give preference” – going before, leading, to outdo
"honor" = time, a value, esteem ‑‑honour, precious, price, some
Romans 12:3
5B. Be eager and earnest in serving the Lord (12:11)
"diligence, zeal" = spoude; "speed", eagerness, earnestness: diligence
" fervent " = zeo, to be hot
Galatians 6:9-10 (NASB) 9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
"serving" = douleuo, to be a slave
Exodus 20:3 (NASB) 3“You shall have no other gods before Me.
6B. Rejoice in the hope you have in Christ. (12:12a)
"hope" = elpis, to anticipate, usually with pleasure
Romans 8:24-25 (NASB) 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
7B. Persevere in tribulation (12:12b)
"persevering, patient" = hupomeno, to stay under
Romans 5:2-5 (NASB) 2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and 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.
8B. Be devoted to prayer (12:12c)
“devoted, proskartereo;” to attend constantly
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NASB) 17pray without ceasing;
9B. Contribute to the needs of the Saints (12:13a)
"contributing, koinoneo" = to distribute, to share; fellowship
James 2:14-17 (NASB) 14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
10B. Practice hospitality (12:13b)
“hospitality,philonexia” entertain strangers
1 Peter 4:9 (NASB) 9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
Hebrews 13:2 (NASB) 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
2A. Our Duty To All People (12:14‑21)
The Key Here Is In Our Lifestyle
1B. Bless even to those who hurt you. (12:14)
Luke 6:27-28 (NASB) 27“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:32-33 (NASB) 32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
2B. Be compassionate to everyone. (12:15)
Rejoice in the good fortune of others
Weep when others are hurt.
3B. Be honest and humble (12:16)
Do not show partiality
1 Timothy 5:21 (NASB) 21I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
Do not be haughty in mind
“haughty, hupsela phronountes;” high minded
Ø No social aristocracy
Do not be wise in your own eyes
Ø No intellectual aristocracy
“It is arrogance that produces an argumentative spirit. Pride is seen where we are not interested in anybody else’s opinion, and where we just assume that anybody that disagrees with us must be wrong. What Paul is saying is that we need to be teachable. We are to have convictions, but those convictions have to be established on a sound basis and received with a humble heart and a humble attitude.” (Sproul, Romans, 205)
4B. Never return evil for evil. (12:17a)
1 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB) 8To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
5B. Respect what is right (12:17b)
“right, kalos;” that which is intrinsically good
We are to live beyond reproach.
6B. Try to live at peace with everyone (12:18)
We should take the initiative for peace!
“It is one thing if I give offence to somebody; it is another thing if a person takes offence at what I do.” (John Murray, Sproul, Romans, 206)
“By definition, a peaceful relationship cannot be one-sided. Our responsibility is to make sure that our side of the relationship is right that our inner desire is genuinely to ’be at peace with all men,’ even the meanest and most undeserving. Short of compromising God’s truth and standards, we should be willing to go to great lengths to build peaceful bridges to those who hate us and harm us.” (MacArthur, Romans 9-16, 202.)
7B. Never avenge yourself (12:19)
The prerogative of vengeance is God's (v.19)
Hebrews 10:30-31 (NASB) 30For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
8B. Overcome evil with good (12:20-21)
Our kindness can be used by God to bring conviction.
We must not allow the evil of others to overcome us.
We must not allow ourselves to be overcome by our own evil responses.
APPLICATION
Paul has given us 18 traits of a transformed life. How did you grade?
You may say Pastor I did not do so good.
There are two possibilities as to why.
First, it may be that you have strayed away from God, you are a Christian, but you are living your life for yourself not for the son.
Second, it may be that you have never placed your faith in Christ. You have tried to live the Christian life without a personal relationship with Christ. Nothing is more frustrating. Today I invite you to respond to the call of God on your life by repenting of your sins and placing your faith in Christ Jesus.
LIVING THE TRANSFORMED LIFE
Romans 12:1-2; 9‑21
1A. Our Duty To _______________ People (12:9‑13)
1B. _______________ one another sincerely (12:9a)
Matthew 22:37-39
1 Peter 4:8
2B. _________________ evil and love good (12:9b)
Psalm 97:10
2 Timothy 2:22
3B. Be ______________ to brotherly love (12:10a)
Brotherly love is the ___________ of a Christian
John 13:35
1 John 4:20
Brotherly love reflects the nature of Christians
1 Thessalonians 4:9
4B. _____________ one another in honor (12:10b)
Romans 12:3
5B. Be eager and earnest in serving the Lord (12:11)
Galatians 6:9-10
Exodus 20:3
6B. ____________________ in the hope you have in Christ. (12:12a)
Romans 8:24-25.
7B. Persevere in tribulation (12:12b)
Romans 5:2-5
8B. Be devoted to ____________________ (12:12c)
1 Thessalonians 5:17
9B. Contribute to the needs of the Saints (12:13a)
James 2:14-17
10B. _______________________ hospitality (12:13b)
1 Peter 4:9
Hebrews 13:2
2A. Our Duty To All People (12:14‑21)
1B. __________ even to those who hurt you. (12:14)
Luke 6:27-28; 32-33
2B. Be compassionate to everyone. (12:15)
_________________ in the good fortune of others
_______________________ when others are hurt.
3B. Be honest and _____________________ (12:16)
Do not show partiality (1 Timothy 5:21)
Do not be haughty in mind
Do not be wise in your own eyes
4B. ________________ return evil for evil. (12:17a)
1 Peter 3:8-9
5B. Respect what is _________________ (12:17b)
6B. Try to live at __________ with everyone (12:18)
7B. ___________________ avenge yourself (12:19)
Hebrews 10:30-31
8B. _________________ evil with good (12:20-21)