B Romans Tough Love Chapter 12:14-21 ray introduces these verses in Romans by speaking to Paul s call to believers to exercise God s love before a fallen world. Love is the fulfilling of the law and the ultimate goal of all our labors. Deep love for one another is the hallmark of the Christian fellowship at all times. Love must be accompanied by zeal and service if it is to be effective. Christians are called to rejoice because of their hope of eternal salvation, to be patient in times of suffering and persecution, and to pray without ceasing. In all these things the eschatological dimension of hope governs everything the Fathers say on the subject. The early Christians understood that persecution elicits spiritual growth, and therefore they ought to bless their persecutors. Christian pastoral care must be marked with sympathy and understanding for others but also by wisdom to know which reaction is the appropriate one at any give moment. Humility and peace are the universal marks of a Christian. Christians repay evil with good and never seek revenge, which belongs to God alone. The Fathers believed that if Christians did good to their enemy they would be shaming the enemy into repentance. The coals of fire were understood as a kind of punishment that would burn away all rebellion and malice and prepare the enemy to receive Christ. The Christian demonstrates the superiority of good over evil by refusing to succumb to bitterness, even when provoked. 1 I Introduction II Loving the Unlovable Verse 14 III The Cost of Love Verses 15-21 A With Brethren Verses 15-16 B With Enemies Verses 17-21 IV Conclusion The Overcoming Principle What makes believers unique is the possibility of loving one another within the Body of Christ. What makes us even more unique from the world is our calling to loving our enemies. CHRYSOSTOM: If you have love, you will not notice the loss of your money, the labor of your body, the toil of your words, your trouble or your ministering, but you will bear everything courageously. HOMILIES ON ROMANS 21. 2 We are able to do these things because we are saved. We respond in love to the love we have received from God. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit. And, as our minds are transformed, replacing small t truths with Big T Truths, God s truths, we see the world from a different perspective: His. 1 Bray, Gerald, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Vol. VI, Romans, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1998, p. 314. 2 Ibid.
It is one thing for God to call us to love the unlovable within the church, but it is another to follow Christ s injunction to love our enemies. And as part of us argues with this, we need to remember it is Paul who reminds us of Christ s words. Paul is the one who suffered more persecution than many believers. Yes, there are believers today who have and still are being persecuted even as we speak, but, in spite of what the world does to us, we are to love the lost, the persecutor, the truly unlovable. I have 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 (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). And bottom line, we can afford to love and have compassion now, for one day we will live in glory, having had our tears wiped away. And one day, but for God s intervention, our persecutors will face an eternity of judgment and separation from God. We shouldn t want to see this happen to anyone. So, let s look at Paul s call to tough love. Verse 14: We are called to bless those who persecute us. So what does Paul mean by bless? How did Christ bless His enemies? He prayed for them and desired they would be forgiven. For us, this means we should desire their salvation. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28). Harrison speaks of persecution this way: Persecution could take various forms, running the gamut from verbal abuse and social ostracism to the use of violence resulting in death. A few years later, Roman Christians were to lose their lives in great numbers at the hands of Emperor Nero. Persecution in some form or another was so common in the experience of the early church that Paul is able to assume as a matter of course that it is a factor in the lives of his readers. If such treatment is not encountered in our society, we can at least cultivate the readiness to meet it and so fulfill the injunction in spirit. 3 To do this necessitates God s perspective. We need to look at the lost, all lost, even those who create trials for us, as fallen creations needing to be restored to their Creator. I can think of one practical application related to September 11 th. While we may recognize certain national leaders and others as our enemies because of the attack, and while we may have to take steps against terrorism, we need to pray for God s intervention because these individuals need to find the Savior. There is more at stake than the safety of the U.S., as important as that 3 Harrison, Everett F., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Romans, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990. ) 227 (
is. It is the salvation of millions of people who face an eternity of judgment. This is what it means to bless rather than curse. One point should probably be made here. The persecution here occurs because we are believers committed to the dissemination of the Gospel. I ve heard too many individuals claim because their boss didn t want them to interfere with other employees work by witnessing, they were being persecuted for the Gospel. They just don t get it. Verse 15-16: But along with the difficult requirement to love those who would persecute believers comes a command that can provide comfort in the midst of the struggle. We are able to rejoice with those who rejoice and grieve with those who grieve. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (1 Corinthians 12:26). One of the blessings of being part of a community of believers is being part of a family where we can care for one another in the struggles of live. Can you think of a time when the community carried you through a trial in Your live? Being concerned with the joy and suffering of others shouldn t be limited to just fellow believers. With God s perspective, we should also be concerned with the condition of others. Haldane puts it states: This precept has no doubt a peculiar importance with respect to the brethren, but it is applicable in general. We ought to sympathize with our fellow-creatures in their happiness and afflictions. The meaning of the precept is quite obvious. The prosperity of others ought to inspire us with joy. Their affliction ought to affect us with sorrow. Even the very semblance of this duty among the people of the world has a beneficial influence on society, heightening the joy of prosperity, and lessening the pain of adversity. 4 If we are to be able to stand in the midst of living in a fallen world, there needs to be a place where we can lift up the drawbridge, and feel safe and that is right here in the church. Wiersbe puts it this way: Finally, Paul reminds them that they must enter into the feelings of others. Christian fellowship is much more than a pat on the back and a handshake. It means sharing the burdens and the blessings of others so that we all grow together and glorify the Lord. If Christians cannot get along with one another, how can they ever face their enemies? A humble attitude and a willingness to share are the marks of a Christian who truly ministers to the Body. Our Lord ministered to the common people and they heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37). When a local church decides it wants only a certain High class of People, it departs from the Christian ideal for ministry. 5 The church is a place where we are to live in harmony with one another. This means we are to value one another equally. This goes back to Paul s previous comment not to think more highly of oneself. 4 Haldane, Robert, Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans. The Master Christian Library, AGES Software, Albany, OR, Version 8.0 2000, p. 772. 5 Wiersbe, Warren W., Be Right, Chariot Victory Publishing, Colorado Springs, CO, 1977, p. 142-143. ) 228 (
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you (Romans 12:3). Paul is reiterating his principle that we all have roles within the body, and therefore shouldn t aspire after a role God hasn t assigned, because it is more showy. This gets us back to what we have so often repeated; it is how love is lived out in the church that demonstrates the reality of Christ s presence before the world. Verse 17-21: Paul is concerned about the testimony we present to the world. All is concerned with our primary focus, which isn t to be obsessed with our rights. Society is become so litigious that more time an energy is put into avoiding liability than seeing to the needs of others. If a doctor seems someone hurt on the side of the street and wants to help there is risk of suit. I know therapists who will no longer see individuals with certain conditions because the fiscal liability is too high. So it is difficult to balance the realities of our society with God s call to be concerned for the needs of others. I guess we need what Dr. McGee always called sanctified common sense. Here Paul gives some specific applications for the believers walk. First we are to give up the demand that our rights are always meet. If someone takes advantage of us, we are to be more concerned for their spiritual well being that our own rights. Jesus put it this way: You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matthew 5:38-42). And we are to be concerned with the image we place before a fallen world. We need to careful to do what is right in the eyes of others. This means first, we are to be thinking, not acting spontaneously, which often means incorrectly. Second, we are to do what is right, not try to please others. We are responsible for what we do, not how others perceive us. Christian conduct should never betray the high moral standards of the gospel, or it will provoke the disdain of unbelievers and bring the gospel into disrepute (see 2Co 8:21; 1Ti 3:7). 6 Paul makes this clear as he notes that we are to get along with others, being at peace, as much as is dependent on us. As you think about last week and your interactions with others, how well did you do in your efforts at being at peace? How can we do better here? Justice is in God s hands not ours. Revenge is destructive rather than constructive. Our concern is to meet the needs of others. And please note this care is holistic. That is we are to be concerned for their material needs as well as spiritual. This isn t a call to a social gospel, but it does mean that we are to be balanced in our concern for the lost and not just for their salvation. 6 NIV Study Bible Notes, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999 ) 229 (
Finally, if we act lovingly to the unlovable, it will be as if we have heaped coals on their heads. Harrison says of this: Burning coals are best understood as the burning pangs of shame and contrition (Cranfield, in loc.). There is no definite promise at this point that the offender will be converted 7 A good illustration of this is David s treatment of Saul. When Saul was after David to destroy him, David would do nothing to injure Saul. Saul acknowledged this when he said: You are more righteous than I, he said. You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly (1 Samuel 24:17). Being obedient doesn t guarantee that the lost will be saved, but it does mean that as we demonstrate God s love we open the door to their receiving the call of the Holy Spirit. And it also means we will mature as believers, growing in our understanding of the world from God s perspective. We will leave in His hands what is His and only take on that which He places in ours. Conclusion: Walking the walk is one of perspective. It is seeing life from God s perspective. It is being more concerned with the spiritual state of the lost, than their impact on us. It is creating an environment where we can grow and be equipped to minister more than worrying about survival. It is where we leave the outcome in God s hands instead of thinking we are in control. Max Lucado put it this way. Would you buy a house if you were only allowed to see one of its rooms? Would you purchase a car if you were permitted to see only its tires and a taillight? Would you pass judgment on a book after reading only one paragraph? Nor would I. Good judgment requires a broad picture. Not only is that true in purchasing houses, cars, and books, it s true in evaluating life. One failure doesn t make a person a failure; one achievement doesn t make a person a success. The end of the matter is better than the beginning, penned the sage. Be patient in affliction, echoed the apostle Paul. We only have a fragment. Life s mishaps and horrors are only a page out of a grand book. We must be slow about drawing conclusions. We must reserve judgment on life s storms until we know the whole story don t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. He should know. He is the Author of our story. And he has already written the final chapter. 8 It is with this kind of perspective we can put our focus where it belongs, living Christianly, loving God and others, and advancing the kingdom. It is this kind of perspective that allows us to trust God to deal with those who have harmed us instead of seeking revenge. We can minister within the church to one another, and minister outside the church to those who are suffering the greatest hurt of all, the pain of being separated from their Creator. So, let us overcome evil with good, that it may cause the lost to be overcome by God and find the final good, salvation. 7 Harrison. 8 Lucado, Max, Life Lessons, Book of Romans, Word Publishing, Waco, TX, 1996, p. 78. ) 230 (
AUGUSTINE: The evil man who is overcome by good is set free, not from an exterior, foreign evil but from an interior, personal one, by which he is more grievously and ruinously laid waste than he would be by the inhumanity of any enemy from without. LETTERS 138. 9 99 Bray, p. 323. ) 231 (
Romans Tough Love Chapter 12:14-21 I Introduction II Loving the Unlovable Verse 14 III The Cost of Love Verses 15-21 A With Brethren Verses 15-16 B With Enemies Verses 17-21 IV Conclusion The Overcoming Principle I Introduction: (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) II Loving the Unlovable: (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28) III The Cost of Love: A With Brethren: (1 Corinthians 12:26; Mark 12:37; Romans 12:3)
B With Enemies: (Matthew 5:38-42; 1 Samuel 24:17; also see 2 Corinthians 8:21; 1 Timothy 3:7) IV Conclusion The Overcoming Principle: Personal Application: Is there anyone you need to make peace with? Pray for the Lord s leading to move towards someone you need to make things right with. Prayer for the Week: God of peace, teach us what it means to be peacemakers. Help us to cultivate peace between others and you in our neighborhoods, offices, and schoolrooms. Teach us to rely on you to defend us instead of constantly sticking up for ourselves. Teach us the art of building bridges and not walls. May we be slow to judge and quick to forgive. 1 1 Lucado, Max, Life Lessons, Book of Romans, Word Publishing, Waco, TX, 1996, p. 79.