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Presented, August 14, 2005 pm

HOW TO BEHAVE AS CHRISTIANS (1)

Romans 12:9-11

As we continue our study of Romans we are now dealing with practical applications every Christian needs to consider.  Having spent considerable time dealing with doctrinal issues, Paul has begun to make application calling for these brethren to put aside their physical differences and work together.  To refresh our minds of what he has said in this section of the letter - Having encouraged us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, Paul also called for the importance of working together with each of us doing whatever we are able to do “according to the grace that is given to us.”  Tonight, we want to examine a few verses that describe the way we as Christians ought to treat each other and how we ought to act.   We will continue examining this text next week.

I.                    Let love be without hypocrisy (9)

a.        We begin with Paul’s call for love.  The word here is agape, caring enough to sacrifice for what is best.  Sometimes referred to as “Christian love” it is the pinnacle of the Christian’s life – 1 Corinthians 13:13. 
1 Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
1 John 3:18-20 speaks of loving in deed and in truth.

b.       This love is to be “without hypocrisy”. 
Paul notes that our love for one another needs to be genuine, without pretense.
It is easy to say we love our brethren, but what do our actions say?  We sing about loving one another and we talk about it, but do we live it? 
1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”

c.        How do we demonstrate unhypocritical love?  Read the rest of our text.

II.                  Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good (9)

a.        What is evil?  It is a word that we need to think about.  It means that which is wicked or bad, anything that is against God.  It is the opposite of good.  It is sin.
Obviously, Christians need to despise anything that is evil.
The word abhor is a strong word meaning “to dislike, abhor, have a horror of” (Thayer).
Matthew 5:37 calls upon us to mean what we say, “For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22, “Abstain from every form of evil.”

b.       What is good?  It is a word that means “good, excellent, distinguished, best…” (WS Dictionary).  It is the opposite of evil.  It is actually a word we do not fully comprehend in our language – Jesus said, only God is good (Mark 10:18), Romans 5:7 – described as greater than simple righteousness.
We are to cling to such things.  Another strong word meaning, “to glue together, cement together.”  (Thayer)  The same word you find in Matthew 19:5

c.        These two go together in the true Christian life.  Notice how they both require our passion equally.  If our lives are to have true direction we have to passionately choose which path we are going to take.  Whichever path we choose, we must with equal force oppose the other. 
Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 that you cannot serve two maters at the same time.
James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

d.       What do these have to do with our relationships?  Everything.  One of the bonds that tie us together as Christians is our mutual morality.  We MUST despise evil and cling to that which is good together.  Whether we like it or not, moral issues help us draw proper lines of fellowship (consider 1 Corinthians 5 where they were to withdraw from one for his immoral behavior).

III.               Be kindly affectionate to one another (10)

a.        Kindly affectionate are from a compound Greek word that means the natural love of family (storge) with kindness (philo). 

b.       He ads to this, with brotherly love, which describes the type of love we OUGHT to have for each other – loving as brothers.

c.        Continually, we are called upon to have this brotherly love.
Hebrews 13:1 – “Let brotherly love continue”
1 Peter 1:22 – “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere
love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,”

d.       Paul is appealing to a bond that we need to work at where we actually have feelings for one another.  We are a family and we need to act like it – and NOT a dysfunctional family.
As I read this I think of how it requires EVERYONE involved to work at it.  Why do we NOT get along as we ought to?  It is usually because of flaws and weaknesses that we have.  Not the same weaknesses, but different quirks and approaches to a given situation.  We all have strong traits that can clash if we are not careful.  IF we want to achieve the brotherly love God demands we have to learn to work through these differences.  That is why so much of the New Testament addresses attitudes that we need to work on.  They are attitudes that will promote this affection for one another that we NEED to overcome the world and stay together.

IV.                In honor giving preference to one another (10)

a.        Yet another interesting phrase that our English translations do not give due justice to.  
We properly understand the idea that we need to honor each other – that is showing proper respect for “one another”
But the word prefer is actually a Greek word that means “to lead the way,… To lead forward and onward, to go before, take the lead.” (WS Dictionary)

b.       The idea is that we are to get out front in honoring the other.  One source that I consulted says that we are to try and out do one another.  Think about that in the way we treat each other.  HOW often do we point fingers at the other guy for what is wrong?  “I know that I am not what I ought to be, BUT its YOUR fault!” or “I am willing to change IF he/she does”.  Sound familiar in marriage and other relationships?  What Paul is calling for here is you and I to TAKE THE LEAD in acting like Christians.  It doesn’t matter what the other person is doing.   Instead of criticizing others, DO YOUR PART!
The way Jesus said it was, “first remove the beam from your own eye…” (Matthew 7:4-5)
Consider also Philippians 2:3 – look out for the interests of others.

V.                  With diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (11)

a.        Not lagging in diligence.  The word diligence means, “to speed, urge, hasten, press…earnestness, diligence, zeal.” (WS Dictionary)  The idea is that in these things we put forth great effort.
Lagging implies the idea of not being lazy or slothful, “to be slow, to delay…tardy, slothful, lazy” (WS Dictionary)
The KJV says, “Not slothful in business” which makes sense when you understand the meanings of the words.  The idea of business here is what you need to be doing.

b.       Fervent in spirit is the opposite of lagging in diligence.  Just as previously Paul said to hate evil and cling to good, here he gives both the negative and positive commands.  Using both give emphasis.

c.        Serving the Lord is what we are talking about.  It is what we do.  It is the focus of our lives – that which we have been transformed to do.  Colossians 3:17, “do all in the name of the Lord”
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6)

d.       In this verse Paul is saying, don’t be lazy in your service to the Lord, AND do it NOW!
Consider Colossians 3:23 – whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hands find to do…

In our next lesson, we will consider some more of what Paul has to say about the way we are to behave as Christians.  As you study these verses, do you see room for improvement in your life?  If you were to consider the various problems you see in this congregation, can you see how they are related to failures in the things we have talked about tonight?  And as such, are you a part of the problem or the solution?