Title: Guidelines for Living in Love
Exposition of Romans 92
guidelines for living in love
Romans 12:9-13
Introduction: At the beginning of Chapter 12, Paul said that the spiritual worship of Christians to God is “presenting your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.” And this Christian life is “a life of discerning what is the will of God, which is good, pleasing and perfect, by being transformed by the renewing of your mind, not following this generation. And Paul said that this kind of Christian life is the work of forming the body of Christ and fulfilling the charismatic office of God-given members in the church. In verse 9 and below, Paul concludes by connecting this to the practical life of Christian love. gave
1. Christian life and love
The Christian life must begin with love and end with love. But that love does not belong to us, but to God, and it comes from God.
(1) Love is a gift from God. The word love that the Bible tells us is the love of God. There is no love connected between humans in this society. It is the love that Christians should possess when we receive love from God and show that love to the world. Therefore, love is a gift from God. In the church, there are various charismatic offices as members, but this gift of God's love must be overlaid on all of them. It says, “Above all these, put more love, which is the bond of bondage with integrity” (Colossians 3:14).
(2) Love is a gift that is more abundantly provided to those who deeply understand God's love. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” We are giving (1 John 4:10, 11). Without realizing the love of God who sent His only begotten Son, we cannot possess the love of God.
2. The essence of love
From the words Paul pointed out in verse 9, we can see that there are three essential elements of love.
(1) First, he said that there is no lie in love. The true form of love is always true. God is truthful. Because God's love for us is true. True love doesn't come out of the mouth. It comes from a person deep in the heart. To say that there is no lie in love means that the beginning of the first love and the end of the last love are the same. There are times when love is poured out at first, but that love is soon cut off. This is not love. When there is a profit, love goes, and when there is a loss, love reaps. This is the universal love that prevails in our human society. However, God's love is a love that is high, deep, and continuous without end in a straight line. To say that there is no lie in love means that by doing love, its beauty is revealed. Love without works is a dead love, a love that does not even deserve to be called love.
(2) Next, it is said that people hate evil. In Psalm 1, we look at the life of a blessed person. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Love cannot and cannot act on evil. If a person puts their love into doing something evil, it is not love. Love cannot be shown in anything that violates God's will, in unrighteousness, or in failure to edify. Therefore, love cannot always coexist with evil, but rather hates evil. To hate evil means that a loving Christian cannot devise evil. In all things that contain evil, only the power of darkness is active, so love cannot intervene in such a place.
(3) Next, it is said that people belong to the good. Love always intervenes in good works. Therefore, where there is love, good fruit abounds, and where there is good fruit, love abounds. Christians should always be zealous and interested in one another's good works. The saints must work together for good works. It is there that true love between brothers sprouts. In this way, we need to know the three essences of love, to cast away lies in all things, to hate evil, and to do good.
3. People and Methods of Service to Brothers
The words in verse 10 and below are exhortations about love to be cultivated among brothers in the church.
(1) He told us to love our brothers. Brotherly love is shown in two ways. One is to encourage each other to be kind. And the other told me to respect first. Brotherly love is friendship and respect. Friendship means the supreme love between friends. Respect is essential to brotherly love. Where there is no respect, there is no place for love. The opposite of respect is contempt and contempt. Where there is contempt and contempt, there is no place for love. Respect is essential to maintaining a right loving relationship with your brothers.
(2) In verse 11, the method of service is found. First, it was said that serving in the church requires diligence in work. A lazy person cannot be a servant of charity in the church. Christians should be diligent in the service of the Church. I told you not to be lazy next time. Christian laziness is a sin. He told the lazy man to go and learn from the ant. He told me to always focus on prayer next time. To work hard means to work hard even if you don't have time to do it. It means you have to do it even if you don't want to. All temptations that come to us come when our prayers are idle. Therefore, it should be understood that the Christian's constant focus on prayer is of the utmost importance in all things. Next, I told them to supply the needs of the saints. It is rewarding to be able to provide for the needs of the brothers in the church. The fellowship of love between the saints is burgeoning in these places. And he told them to try hard to treat them with their hands. It is an expression of sincere love to treat brothers and sisters who come to one's house generously. “Do not forget to entertain guests, for in this way some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2).
Conclusion: We are people who must live according to the Word of God in everything we do. Each member must move in harmony. There is nothing more important for Christians to form the body of Christ, the church. Use your members according to love. Then you will fulfill your mission as the most beautiful members.