A PICTURE OF THE TRUE CHURCH PART 2
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Romans 12:9-21
Jesus said in His Sermon On The Mount, "Blessed are those who
are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so
they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "You are the salt of the
earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It
is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under
people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be
hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand,
and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine
before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven.” Matt 5:10-16
Why would Jesus say all this? This is what the blessed redeemed life produces in the child of God as we face opposition in this life. Paul wasn’t there as Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount, but Paul recaptures many of the things Jesus said briefly here in Romans chapter 12. The manifest changed life we have in the Spirit-filled life is to do according to the Scripture, for His witness and glory. John Piper said, “Virtually all the commands in verses 14-21 assume that something deeper has happened. All these commands are rooted in freedom from self-preoccupation and self-infatuation and self-exaltation. And, much more than that—though that is crucial—they are rooted in Christ-preoccupation and Christ-infatuation and Christ-exaltation.” Again this appeal goes back the opening verse of the 12th chapter as it exemplifies the workings of Christ in the gospel from the past 11 chapters.
It’s because of Christ Paul says….
Bless
those who persecute you and refrain from cursing them.
Rejoice
and be glad for others in the body of Christ.
Weep
with those who weep.
Live
in harmony with all people
Don’t
be proud or arrogant, but acknowledge the lowly.
Don’t
become arrogant with knowledge.
Live
peaceably with all people
Vengeance
will never solve anything in the Christian life.
Do
the complete opposite of the old nature. (v20)
Overcome
evil with Good.
This love that we have for
one another in the body of Christ is now
being extended to those
outside the body of Christ, as well.
Speak Well Of Those Who Persecute You, Bless And Do Not Curse Them. (v14)
This is relation to our
attitude and actions
towards our enemies.
What is our attitude to be? Is it to be an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth? In the Old Testament we read, “Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” Deut 19:21. Understand though! Even in these cases retaliation was judicial not personal and no person was given the right to extract personal vengeance beyond the legal limits. When we come to the New Testament Jesus said something radically different. “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt 5:38-39. This teaching, “eye for an eye...” is opposed to the way of the Kingdom.
The Christian standard is now
to meet violence with love as
Paul explains here in the text before us.
This
is building up others even though they persecute
(to put to flight, to drive someone away). Even
though the persecutor is trying to drive you out of your: home, job, and society, we call upon blessings for them, not
curses. This
is just not simply a call to bless those who insult you, and me, on occasion. We are to love our enemies? Jesus’ whole ministry was faced with cursing and insults. “If (better translated “since”) the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you
are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you.” John 15:18-19. This is part of the course of
life for the child of God. Paul’s
ministry was conducted under persecution. (Read the book of Acts). Paul’s
response here is by calling redeemed sons and daughters to exemplify this in
one’s life. It’s
fairly easy to not curse those who persecute us; but to pray for God to extend blessing
upon them, seem downright insane. But is it? And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34.
This is radical behavior in
the Christian life
and it seems impossible to do.
Cursing is a reaction to hostility, the natural fleshly response is the desire to hurt back , but Paul says “Don’t curse them” You might have all kinds of hateful and resentful and vengeful and practical motives for striking back. But this is not in character or in step with the gospel confession and life. Studies have indicated…. much of high blood pressure or other anxiety related diseases are not by life threatening pressures, but by the persistent attitude of resentment and hostility. This happens most in people who react negatively by unpleasant situations and people. It’s easy to love those closest to us, but to love our enemies has to be by the power of God. The ability to apply this comes from a transformed heart, and you can see it in the words, “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them.”
This is a partial quotation of Jesus’ words where Jesus says, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Luke 6:28. The word “pray” shows a deep expression to God of what you long for. Its praying for those who do us terrible harm. So this blessing someone is not just the way you treat him. It includes the longings that you have for someone. The Spirit-filled life’s prayer is to be from a genuine heart. “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess 5:15-18. We are to pray for their good despite how they mistreat you in the process.
Not only are we to bless
them, we are not at
all or ever to curse them.
Yes without excuse, even if they are hostile, because the mob still had Jesus killed, and Stephen put to death. How can I do this? The best way is to remind yourself of what Christ did for you when you were hostile to the things of God. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Rom 5:6. As God’s child, you have the ability to do such a thing towards those who hate you, who are hostile towards you, and those who persecute you. Romans 5:6 described that Jesus, "died for the ungodly"; not for himself. Why is this important? Jesus had no sins of His own to die for, nor did He want any happiness to gain. Jesus died for the ungodly, man and women who are not…. holy, just, and good, but ungodly. Jesus didn’t do this for martyrdom status, but for your eternal good.
Meditate on this truth before you respond out of haste against someone who seeks to remove your comfort by driving you away. Remind yourself, of how many times God is patient with you; and still pours out blessings in your life. Remind yourself, that you are no different in your natural flesh. Remind yourself, that we have been given something beyond words; and we are to extend that offering of blessing to everyone. Remind yourself that the wages of sin is death, what you earned before Christ is your wage, and that wage is by your death. This is what we have all earned apart from Christ ….death. Christ became our payment on our behalf, so that we could receive and taste blessing, rather than cursing, or worse death.
These same reminders can be
applied
to what Paul says next
Rejoice And Weep With The Body Of Christ. (v15)
This is the idea to rejoice with a genuine happiness for someone else. That'easy, right? Let’s put that to the test! There is something you were hoping for….a job opportunity, a contract, an academic award, a proposal, a pay raise, a relationship or engagement. Or more importantly a loved one whom you have been praying for many years to seek Christ and live. But it doesn’t happen for you or the way you planned possibly yet, and it does for someone else in the church.
Can you/we participate in
others’ joy and forget
about our sense of loss?
Yes! If a brother or sister in Christ receives something beyond what we have receive, we should delight in their blessings. Rather than saying, “He doesn’t deserve that; why should they get this wonderful advantage.” Believer’s spiritual accomplishments are to be rejoiced over. (an addiction, confessed sin, a life struggle, anger, gossip, unforgiveness, and etc.) We should rejoice for one another, as we grow in grace doing life together. The Christian life is not about me, or my selfish gains, but to build up the body of Christ. It’s about showing a genuine love interest in someone else’s blessings over yours.
The
believer is to identify with the
ups and downs of human life.
And this life affects us all differently, but it doesn’t excuse how we respond to one another in this cold world. Your indifference, non-commitment, disengagement, not sharing or caring or none of your business lifestyle, produces nothing for the Kingdom. The person who distant and disengages or rejoices in another’s downfall or a calamity displeases God and it will not go unpunished. “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” Prov 17:5. We should be praying, “LORD God, condition my heart to the needs of others so that I genuinely rejoice and weep with others.” This is call to love is radical as Paul said to the Corinthian church. “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Cor 12:26
The same is true in our brokenness and sorrow. And when one of us weeps in the body of Christ, we should all weep. A great example of this is found with Job’s three friends. “They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.” Job 2:11-13. When Paul came to sorrowful people, he sorrowed with them, He would stand beside them through the tribulation. We are to demonstrate sympathy, empathy by entering into their suffering as well.
One of the greatest examples of this is when Jesus went to see the tomb of Lazarus. “Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" John 11:32-36
It is right, natural, and it is necessary for the Christian to sympathize with others in their afflictions, in this case death of a loved one.
The tenderness of personal
friendship is not inconsistent
with the most pure religion.
Jesus wept for a family and a friend, sorrow at the death of friends is not improper. It is right to weep. It’s a natural expression of humanity and the Bible does not forbid or condemn it. In all reality! Nothing is so well suited as to extend sympathy towards those we love. Why? Because of this truth in your life. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. This is the greatest act of love that humanity has ever seen. This single act of love is the greatest act of compassion the Godhead expressed towards rebellious, ungodly sinner, like you and me.
The Bible says that God is called a Compassionate God, “For the LORD your God is a merciful God. (This means compassionate God)” Deut 4:31. And He is so compassionate they never fail. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lam 3:22-23. James says God is “full of compassion”
James 5:11.
And can I tell you! And we are to reflect our Lord’s character
with one another in the same way.
R C Sproul wrote, “We like to distance ourselves from pain. We feel that we have enough of our pain without having to weep with everybody else who is weeping, but doing so is love without hypocrisy. Sharing in others’ joy is the same. When a young woman is about to be married, that is all she can talk about. We should share in her joy. We should share in the joy of marriage, just as we share in the sorrow of the grieving. That is what love looks like.”
This attitude in the
Christian life is relevant in any age, in
every circumstance, but it’s also very challenging.
The challenge for you and me is to do better to demonstrate a real love for the joy and sorrow of others. God has bound the family of God together by these sympathies. As we saw in the person of Jesus Christ through the death of his friend. This is a special duty of Christians to sympathize in each other’s griefs. Jesus set them the example to follow after, because we are all subject to similar trials 0and afflictions. And most of all, we cannot expect the sympathy of a cold and unfeeling world. We respond to persecution through the lens of Christ, and we are to rejoice and weep in the same manner.
It is always to be done through
the lens of Christ.
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