Christian Love
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
~ Rom 12:9-13, ESV
Christian Love
(Rom. 12:9-13)
Intro:
A. There is a verse that many Christians know, have heard or been preached from the pulpit so frequently, it the meaning has lost its wonder and awe. To put the verse in the context I take you to the night commonly called the Last Supper. But instead of reading about it from Matthew, Mark or Luke, I want you to experience this from the vantage point of the Apostle John. It starts for us in John 13:1. Jesus loved these men and wanted them to learn a message about what it means to for a group of believer to really have love.
B. Jesus did the unthinkable. He became a servant to all of these people washing their feet, drying them with a towel and saying nothing. But that’s just the set-up for what he wants them to hear. After doing that, showing them that love is a verb, he makes this statement in verse 34, “a new commandment I give to you…” Just stop there.
C. I can see them leaning in. They might be wondering, “is this a test question?” They had already experience Jesus washing their feet and telling them to do as he had done by being a servant to each other, but now he is about to give them something new. “New” has a little different meaning that we often thing. The new here has the idea of “unusual,” “unexpected.” Jesus set them up for this moment. “A new command I give you…” Say this with me, “that you love one another.”
D. That’s not new!? I can almost see it, “Peter, you have get over Matthew’s former life as a tax-collector and love him.” Hear me, that’s different than put up with. Yes, I have to put up with you, but what Jesus is telling me is that I have to love you. And here is the kicker, “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The way to show love is to follow the example of Jesus. Now love Christians like that.
E. In this moment, Jesus declared that all human beings have value. For the church to come into existence and last, it has to be where people love each other like Jesus did.
I. Genuine Love
A. When Paul writes to the church in Rome, with all this great doctrine we find in the book of Romans, we read cluster of identifiers of what it means to be a Christian. In this cluster we find these words (READ Rom. 12:9).
B. Love in the church is genuine. It’s really the positive way of translating the phrase, “not hypocritical.” The point is that love is more than nice words said in a church building. It is more than a kind note sent to a hurting Christian. It is more than not doing bad or saying bad things. Love is so active within the body of Christ that we hate all that is evil and we cling to all that is good.
C. Christian love never leaves a person living in sin, but it also doesn’t walking around trying to throw everything bad in a fellow Christian’s face. Love clings to the good. It seeks the good. It does the good.
D. As God says through Paul, love with brotherly affection. Love takes a group of people that all have the same doctrine and makes them into a family. It binds us together. It takes outside of just finding common ground, and brings us into the lives of each other.
E. Love was the thing the early church had that made the them unstoppable. The love they had for each other propelled them to be generous givers because they wanted their fellow Christians to have their needs met. It propelled them through a conflict where some widows didn’t seem to get the same help as others. It propelled them through the persecution and martyrdom of their fellow church members and leaders. Love for each other drew the unsaved into a desire to be saved. It was the fulfillment of what Jesus said that night, “By THIS all people will know you are my disciples,” then Jesus tells them the “this,” “if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
II. You Are Placed High On My List
A. The second aspect of Christian love is seen in verse 10. ESV “outdo,” NIV “Honor above yourselves,” NASB, “give preference to one another.”
B. Here’s the point, you are placed higher than me by me. I sincerely desire to show you honor. Think about who is valuable in this congregation. Our mind often goes to people like me or others who lead different parts within the congregation. God has gifted leaders to lead. I am proud that we have people are leaders, but think of the value of others in this congregation. Think about the kids that hand out cards, the ladies that prepare the communion, the people that walk around the building cleaning up after we leave a mess in the pew. Outdo one another in honor, value others in this church for who they are, not just what they do.
C. We have some fantastic members here who for many years have been servants of God. Now, graced with age and spiritual wisdom, how deeply do we honor them? When King David was older, there was a time in battle with the Philistines when he almost was killed. After that, the mighty men told David that he would no longer go out to battle. Not because he was old, but “lest the lamp of Israel be quenched.” Their point, David was valued for what he had become, not just what he could do.
D. Look for ways to show honor to people in this congregation. Look for what they bring to this congregation and remind them of their value. You have value. Never forget that God brought you to this congregation because of who you are and what you bring as person. Live up to that.
Conclusion:
A. Listen to 1 Cor. 6:20. I want you to notice the phrase, “with a price.” That phrase is the same word generally translated “honor” in most other passages. Jesus honored you when he died for your sin. He honored you because he values you. He honored you because he wants you to have the glory of eternal life.
B. What is Christian Love? It is when we serve and honor one another sincerely. When we make this family a priority and see it a privilege to worship together. You are loved, valued, honored and desired. By Jesus and by us. If we can help you live in love, come as we stand and sing.
Because of Jesus,
Jeffrey Dillinger, minister