Romans 12: Stanly Community Church

Transcription

1 Christian behavior should reflect God s good and perfect will. This is especially true as it applies to our relationship with other believers. It is our responsibility to serve God by loving one another. As a result, the Church is encouraged and strengthened in the faith. Romans 12:9-21 is a call to Christian responsibility in four areas: personal, church, unbelievers in general and our enemies. As discussed in our study of verse nine, genuine, godly love is the chief and essential Christian virtue. Unless we unselfishly seek the good of others, then we are being hypocritical. Real love leads us to be intolerant of sin and to seek what is truly good for ourselves and the ones we love. Love can only be reciprocated by true believers who have the nature of God. Therefore, love between Christians becomes essential to the mission of the Church. That mission is, of course, to represent God and His kingdom by displaying His grace at work in our lives. Our duty as His servants is to fulfill our responsibilities. In verses 10-13, Paul discusses the responsibility we have to our brothers and sisters in Christ. He explains that our love for one another should yield affection, diligence, endurance and fellowship. 1

2 Serving God: Christian Character - Part II (12:10-13) Church Responsibilities (vv ) Affection Christians are children of God. We have been born into His family by the same regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. We are renewed in the image and likeness of God s unique, firstborn Son -- Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). Through Him we have partaken of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4). As the apostle John puts it:...as many as received [Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (Jn. 1:12-13). Therefore, the love Christians have for one another produces close, family relationships. We should be devoted to one another in a way that distinguishes us from the rest of the world. This is what it means to be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love (v. 10a). Love for another believer is not based on their personal appeal to us. Yes, we are naturally drawn to some people, and we may develop a deeper relationship with certain Christians. However, a true believer will have an indiscriminate affection for all of God s children. Paul reminds us in 1Thessalonians 2:9 that God Himself teaches us how to love one another. The Holy Spirit who dwells in all of us binds our hearts together (Rom. 5:5; Jn. 13:35; 17:20-23; 1 Jn. 3:10-24; Eph. 4:15-16). 2

3 Paul says that a byproduct of brotherly love is to, in honor...[give] preference to one another (v. 10b). That is, our affection for other believers naturally breeds an unselfish appreciation and admiration. There is no room for petty jealousy or envy toward other Christians (1 Cor. 13:4; Gal. 5:19-26). Love motivates us to seek the absolute best for one another within the will of God. Therefore, we esteem our brothers and sisters better than ourselves (Phil. 2:1-3). We rejoice in the blessings of God on their life, and we seek to comfort, encourage and build them up (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess. 5:11). Being a part of God s family demands an end to being self-centered. Diligence The apostle also teaches us that our affection naturally produces a diligence in our personal ministry. As we discovered in 12:3-8, each believer is to exercise their spiritual gifts for the good of the Body of Christ. Whatever our ability we must utilize it (v. 6). Our love for one another should motivate our service. To be lagging in diligence is to not take our ministry seriously. If we are complacent and allow ourselves to become lazy, then we hinder the entire Church. Not only do we stifle the local fellowship, but we curb the effectiveness of the entire Church as God s representative on earth. Paul elaborates on the need for diligent ministry in Ephesians 5:

4 This goes hand-in-hand with the Lord s command to watch and pray in order to avoid temptation (Matt. 26:41). Being slack in our service within the family of God (cf. Gal. 6:10) is the direct result of our lack of personal diligence. It is our duty, as the beneficiaries of God s grace, to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. This literally means to boil in spirit. We should be constantly engaged and involved in doing our part to serve God. As boiling water is constantly in motion, so we are to be spiritually active. Through prayer, the study of Scripture, fellowship, worship, and the use of our gifts and good works, we are to fulfill the Lord s command to love one another. By this the world knows that we are His disciples (Jn. 13:35), and He is glorified (Eph. 3:20-21). Endurance Diligent service on the part of individual believers strengthens the Church as a whole. It allows the Body of Christ to endure the world s often harsh response to the Gospel. Even though we are pilgrims in a foreign land (Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11) -- whose citizenship is truly in heaven (Phil. 3:20) -- we can and must remain steadfast ambassadors for Christ on earth. 4

5 The world, the flesh and the devil cannot diminish the power of God at work in and through His children (Phil 2:12-18). Christians who are constantly strengthening the Church are ensuring a faithful witness for the Gospel. Despite the incessant opposition of evil, we can endure (Matt. 16:18-27). A strong Church means a fellowship of believers who are constantly rejoicing in hope. That is, we keep our focus on heaven where our salvation will ultimately be completed. We are presently justified, are being sanctified, and we will be glorified when we see the Lord in His glory (Rom. 8:30; 1 Jn. 3:2). We are free from the penalty and power of sin now, but then we will be free of its presence (Rom. 5:1-4). Paul noted this in 8:18 when he said, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Jesus encourages us in John 16:33 by saying: In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. It is inevitable that believers will suffer persecution. Paul knew this very well and was an example of endurance. He could say from experience that everyone who desires to live a godly life in the Lord will be persecuted to some degree (2 Tim. 3:12). Therefore, as he says here in verse 12, our obligation is to be patient in tribulation. 5

6 As we experience persecution (and the trials of life in general), constant communion with the Lord is essential. Thus Paul admonishes us to continue steadfastly in prayer. In prayer, we seek God s will, wisdom, direction, provision and protection -- we are acknowledging our total dependence on Him. Our Lord taught us how to pray (Matt. 6:8-15). The early Church was noted for continuing steadfastly in the apostle s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42). Paul elsewhere admonishes us to Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Paul also instructed Timothy to teach the churches that...supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men (1 Tim. 2:1; cf. 2:8). So prayer is an essential part of our responsibility as Christians. It keeps us connected with the reality of our life as the Lord s children living in a hostile, foreign world. Enduring the world while we serve the Lord in His Church requires hope, patience and prayer! 6

7 Fellowship Paul concludes by saying that our responsibilities to the Church include fellowship. By this I mean that we are to be involved in the lives of our Christian brethren. We serve the Lord together with those in our local church fellowship; we experience life together with them. This involves the ups and the downs of our existence here in this world. And that requires assisting one another in tangible ways if necessary. Paul refers to this in verse 13 where he encourages us to be distributing to the needs of the saints and to be given to hospitality. The word, distributing is from the Greek term often translated fellowship or communion. Essentially it means to share things in common. It certainly includes our faith in Christ, but it also involves sharing your resources with those who lack the basic necessities of life (1 Jn. 3:17). We should especially help other saints of God (cf. Gal. 6:10). This is directly related to verse 12 in that persecution often leaves believers in need. They may be lacking in the necessities of life (i.e. food, clothing and shelter). However, the idea extends to meeting the legitimate, basic needs of those in the Church which are not directly related to persecution (1 Cor. 16:1; Acts 4:32-37; 6:1-7). 7

8 The call for hospitality also involves opening one s home for church meetings as well as providing shelter in general. Church leaders are to be an example of hospitality (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8). Early believers often opened their homes to traveling Christian teachers and other believers (2 Tim. 1:16-18; 3 Jn. 5-8). Brotherly affection for other believers, diligence in our ministry, endurance in persecution, and having personal fellowship with the saints -- these are the responsibilities of every believer to the Church. Fulfilling these responsibilities is part of our service to God which reflects His good and perfect will. Does your love for other Christians include all true believers? Are you diligently ministering in the Body of Christ? Are you doing your part to encourage the Church to endure persecution? To what extent are you having real fellowship with the saints? 8