[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 4th of February, 2018. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the churches in Rome is his longest and many feel his most important work. It was very likely written while Paul lived in Corinth, in anticipation of a longed for visit to Rome. So part of the letter’s purpose was to introduce himself to the folks he hoped to be with soon.
But of far greater significance to those faithful Romans and especially to us today is the main topic the letter deals with: the Gospel, the Good News of the justification and salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. In this letter, Paul not only reveals the righteousness and love of our Father God, he also teaches us how we should live as Christians, as believers in and followers of Christ Jesus.
Please listen and follow along as I read all of chapter 12 of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
But of far greater significance to those faithful Romans and especially to us today is the main topic the letter deals with: the Gospel, the Good News of the justification and salvation of Jews and Gentiles alike, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. In this letter, Paul not only reveals the righteousness and love of our Father God, he also teaches us how we should live as Christians, as believers in and followers of Christ Jesus.
Please listen and follow along as I read all of chapter 12 of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
--Romans 12 (NKVJ)
Let us pray… Father God, love is so important to You. You want us to live in harmony with one another, to share Your love with others by giving our love. Thank You, Father, for showing Your love by sending Your Son Jesus to offer us justification and salvation. Speak to us now, Father, that we might better hear Your voice and know Your will for our lives. In the blessed name of Your Son Jesus we pray. Amen.
The middle school principal encountered a ninth-grade boy walking out of math class with a dour, downtrodden look on his face. The concerned principal asked the student, "And how are we today?"
The boy replied. "Awful! I don't understand all that stuff the math teacher wants us to learn - all those logarithms and postulates and stuff."
The principal tried to comfort the boy saying, "Well, I'm sure we can't find it all that bad, can we?"
The boy huffed back, "Well sure, we can say that! Because the you half of we doesn't have to learn that stuff all over again with the me half of we!"
Sometimes we can get a little carried away with the use of first person plural pronouns, can’t we? I’m sure that young student felt himself to be all alone when it came to learning all his math assignments, regardless of whether that principal or anyone else in his class were present or not.
“We”, “us”, “our”… those are inclusive words, often used to show we have something in common, to convey a sense of community, or shared goals or concerns or needs. Like all of us here this morning, gathered together, sharing our love and worshiping our heavenly Father. We are many individuals, each with his or her own unique skills, qualities, gifts, talents… quirks. But though we are many, we come together as one family, one church. For we are one, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You may remember that last week we talked about the first church, the Acts 2 church, and how the believers all came together with one purpose, looking after one another, helping one another. Let me just remind you of one aspect of that early church, that comes from chapter 4 of the Apostle Luke’s Book of Acts, the very beginning of verse 32…
They were all united in heart and mind. And what does united mean? Working together as one, for one goal, with one heart and one mind. The early church was as one, they were one, and we should be too.
In his 1st letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes this unity using the example of our most sacred observance: Holy Communion. In chapter 10, verses 16 and 17, Paul says…
The bread we eat at our Lord’s table comes from one loaf, the juice from one container. And as we consume them they come from one body, that of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We are many, yet we are united as one in that moment, united in Jesus.
Jesus certainly understood the importance, and the significance, of us being united as one. After all, He Himself is One with God and the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity, Three in One. The Apostle John recorded for us the most beautiful prayer in our Bible, when Jesus prayed to His Father God. Listen to parts of this prayer, from chapter 17 of John’s Gospel account, verses 9 through 11 and 20 through 23…
In the first part of what I just read, Jesus is praying for His disciples, His closest followers, those that He brought together as one. And He asks God to keep them as one after He departs from them. In the second part, Jesus prays for us – all who will believe in Him through the words of His disciples, the words in our Bible. He asks not only that we be kept together as one, but that we be made perfect as one, so that all the world might see the love of God.
How can the world see that love but through us, through our service, through our love. The only way the world will ever have a chance of seeing Jesus is by seeing us, by seeing Jesus in our actions, our acts of love. Yes, others may be able to see Jesus in us as individuals, and I sincerely pray they do. But if we are not acting as one, if we are too often seen bickering or nit-picking among ourselves, then others may be distracted enough that they miss the love we’re trying to show.
That’s why the early church acted as one. That’s why Paul encourages us toward unity, like in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 2 verses 1 through 4…
We can turn the first part of that around and see that if we are like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and one mind, then we will enjoy consolation in Christ during our times of trial, the comfort of His and God’s love, the affection of one another, and the mercy only God can give. So let’s not just pretend we love others but really love them. Let us do nothing out of some selfish ambition or conceit, but out of lowliness, out of humility, remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Let us put others first, even to the point of looking at them as being better than ourselves, seeing to their needs and interests ahead of our own. And let us do this, if for no other reason than because Jesus told us to. In chapter 13 of John’s Gospel account, verses 34 and 35, Jesus says…
We are to love others just as Jesus has loved us. How did Jesus love us, how did He show His love? By giving everything, even His own life, just for us. This isn’t a request – it’s a command from our Master. Why? So that others can see that we truly are disciples of Christ Jesus. So that we can be united in heart and mind. So that we can be one with Jesus and with God. Though many, in Christ, we are one.
In the blessed name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your Son Jesus prayed to You that we be kept together as one after He had to leave us. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Holy Spirit to live within us, to be a common bond between us, so that together we may be one. Forgive us when we splinter off from the unity You make available to us. Forgive us when we let our personal agendas interfere with our sincere service. Help us to share all the blessings You have bestowed upon us, taking advantage of our health, giving of our time and resources from our abundance You provide.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, repenting of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You asked our Father God to keep us together as one, this family of believers You left on earth to carry out Your commands. Help us, Lord, to love others as You loved us, to see to their needs as You saw to ours, to show the world Your love through the love we share with them. Help us to love as You loved: sacrificially, unconditionally, humbly. Let the world see You in us. Help us be one, so the world will know that we are Christians by our love.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
The middle school principal encountered a ninth-grade boy walking out of math class with a dour, downtrodden look on his face. The concerned principal asked the student, "And how are we today?"
The boy replied. "Awful! I don't understand all that stuff the math teacher wants us to learn - all those logarithms and postulates and stuff."
The principal tried to comfort the boy saying, "Well, I'm sure we can't find it all that bad, can we?"
The boy huffed back, "Well sure, we can say that! Because the you half of we doesn't have to learn that stuff all over again with the me half of we!"
Sometimes we can get a little carried away with the use of first person plural pronouns, can’t we? I’m sure that young student felt himself to be all alone when it came to learning all his math assignments, regardless of whether that principal or anyone else in his class were present or not.
“We”, “us”, “our”… those are inclusive words, often used to show we have something in common, to convey a sense of community, or shared goals or concerns or needs. Like all of us here this morning, gathered together, sharing our love and worshiping our heavenly Father. We are many individuals, each with his or her own unique skills, qualities, gifts, talents… quirks. But though we are many, we come together as one family, one church. For we are one, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You may remember that last week we talked about the first church, the Acts 2 church, and how the believers all came together with one purpose, looking after one another, helping one another. Let me just remind you of one aspect of that early church, that comes from chapter 4 of the Apostle Luke’s Book of Acts, the very beginning of verse 32…
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind.
--Acts 4:32a (NLT)
In his 1st letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes this unity using the example of our most sacred observance: Holy Communion. In chapter 10, verses 16 and 17, Paul says…
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.
--1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NKJV)
Jesus certainly understood the importance, and the significance, of us being united as one. After all, He Himself is One with God and the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity, Three in One. The Apostle John recorded for us the most beautiful prayer in our Bible, when Jesus prayed to His Father God. Listen to parts of this prayer, from chapter 17 of John’s Gospel account, verses 9 through 11 and 20 through 23…
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.--John 17:9-11, 20-23 (NKJV)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
How can the world see that love but through us, through our service, through our love. The only way the world will ever have a chance of seeing Jesus is by seeing us, by seeing Jesus in our actions, our acts of love. Yes, others may be able to see Jesus in us as individuals, and I sincerely pray they do. But if we are not acting as one, if we are too often seen bickering or nit-picking among ourselves, then others may be distracted enough that they miss the love we’re trying to show.
That’s why the early church acted as one. That’s why Paul encourages us toward unity, like in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 2 verses 1 through 4…
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
--Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV)
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
--John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
In the blessed name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your Son Jesus prayed to You that we be kept together as one after He had to leave us. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Holy Spirit to live within us, to be a common bond between us, so that together we may be one. Forgive us when we splinter off from the unity You make available to us. Forgive us when we let our personal agendas interfere with our sincere service. Help us to share all the blessings You have bestowed upon us, taking advantage of our health, giving of our time and resources from our abundance You provide.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, repenting of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, You asked our Father God to keep us together as one, this family of believers You left on earth to carry out Your commands. Help us, Lord, to love others as You loved us, to see to their needs as You saw to ours, to show the world Your love through the love we share with them. Help us to love as You loved: sacrificially, unconditionally, humbly. Let the world see You in us. Help us be one, so the world will know that we are Christians by our love.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
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