Romans

1. Romans Rom 12:9-13 May 6, 2012

2. Introduction • Rom 12:9-21 has a few unique characteristics. • Style, many short exhortations with little elaboration; no main verb(s). • Structure, very loose, no obvious connections between exhortations. • Theme, no dominate idea to unite the whole section. • Diversity, reflects many concepts drawn from various sources: • OT quotes (v.19, 20) • Jesus’ teachings (v.14, 17, 18, 21) • Early Church’s teaching to new converts

3. Introduction • Rom 12:9-21 is characterized by a string of general admonitions regarding Christian ethics. There does not seem to be sequence of thought or development of a single theme. • Thus this section is understood as a summary of Christian ethics, which is generally taken to be the outworking of Christian love (v.9; cf. 13:8). • “Most scholars would agree that love is basic to the section. But it is basic not in the sense that every exhortation is a direct exposition of what love is, but basic in the sense that it is the underlying motif of the section. Paul is not always talking specifically about love, but he keeps coming back to love as the single most important criterion for approved Christian behavior.” Moo • Rom 12:9-21 is perhaps best understood as an elaboration of what is “good and acceptable” to God (Rom 12:2).

4. v.9a Let love be without hypocrisy. • There is no verb, so we must supply one for good English. Best taken as an imperative “let love be,” “love must be,” etc. • Love was singled out by Jesus as the essence of the whole OT law (Mark 12:28-34), He taught it as the central demand of His disciples (John 13:34-35), and was taught by the Apostles as the standard for Christian behavior (Gal 5:13-14; 1 Cor 13; James 2:8-9; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 2:7-11). • Mark 12:28 One of the scribes . . . asked Him, "What commandment is the foremost of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' 31 "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

5. Rom 12:9a - love John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.“ Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 1 Cor 13

6. Rom 12:9a - love James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 1 John 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

7. Rom 12:9a - love • The early church adopted a relatively unused term – αγαπη (agape). • The noun agape was most likely choose this term because other Greek words for “love” would have had unwanted connotations and nuances. • By the time Paul wrote this epistle to Rome, the term was so widely recognized among believers, that Paul did not need to qualify it. He simply refers to it literally as “the love” (with the definite article ‘the’) which indicates “love” was a well know virtue. • “So basic does Paul consider love that he does not even exhort us here to love, but to make sure that the love he presumes we already have is genuine.” Moo • Love is to be (anhypokritos) “without hypocrisy, sincere, genuine”

8. v.9b Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. • It is possible that these two exhortations are to be taken closely with the preceding exhortation to sincere love. If so, Paul is describing sincere love as that which abhors evil and clings to good. • Both terms “abhor” and “cling” are strong. Abhor is to “hate exceedingly” which is contrasted with “cling” which is used elsewhere in reference to sexual union and spiritual union with the Spirit (1 Cor 6:16, 17). • “Genuine Christian love is not a directionless emotion or something that can be only felt and not expressed. Love is not genuine when it leads a person to do something evil or to avoid doing what is right – as defined by God in his word.” Moo

9. v.10a Be devoted to one another in brotherly love Here Paul uses another “love” term (from the root philo), phildelphia, “brotherly love.” The philo root convey the sense of family relationships. “Paul here reflects the early Christian understanding of the church as an extended family” Moo 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; Hebrews 13:1 Let love of the brethren continue. 1 Pet 1:22

10. v.10b give preference to one another in honor Greek phrase can be understood in different ways, either works just fine, either is just as godly as the other: Honor one another above yourselves NIV Outdo one another in showing honor ESV

11. v. 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord Because it would be hard to see “not lagging in diligence” as standing alone (diligence regarding what?), these three phrases (broken by commas in our English translations) are most likely best taken as whole, leading up to the main idea as expressed in the third phrase “serving the Lord”. The counter balance to the negative “not lagging in diligence” is the positive statement “fervent in spirit.” “Spirit”, here may be the Holy Spirit or human spirit (“spiritual fervor” NIV). It is hard to determine, but the analogy of faith would point to Holy Spirit. Even if it was human spirit, we would need to understand Holy Spirit enabled human spirit.

12. v. 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord • The fervency is specifically in regard to serving the Lord. This exhortation is very concrete for a good reason. • “The encouragement to be set on fire by the Spirit is, as church history and current experience amply attest, open to abuse. Christians have often been so carried away by enthusiasm for spiritual things that they have left behind those objective standards. . . This, it seems is Paul’s concern; and he seeks to cut off any such abuse by reminding us that being set on fire by the Spirit must lead to, and be directed by, our service of the Lord.” Moo

13. V. 12 “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,” Three things are here connected together, . . he who derives his joy from the hope of future life, and patiently bears tribulations. However this may be, he first; forbids us to acquiesce in present blessings, and to ground our joy on earth and on earthly things, as though our happiness were based on them; and he bids us to raise our minds up to heaven, that we may possess solid and full joy. If our joy is derived from the hope of future life, then patience will grow up in adversities; for no kind of sorrow will be able to overwhelm this joy. Hence these two things are closely connected together, that is, joy derived from hope, and patience in adversities. No man will indeed calmly and quietly submit to bear the cross, but he who has learnt to seek his happiness beyond this world. But as both these things are far above our strength, we must be instant in prayer, and continually call on God, that he may not suffer our hearts to faint and to be pressed down, or to be broken by adverse events. But Paul not only stimulates us to prayer, but expressly requires perseverance; for we have a continual warfare, and new conflicts daily arise, to sustain which, even the strongest are not equal, unless they frequently gather new rigor. That we may not then be wearied, the best remedy is diligence in prayer. John Calvin

14. V.13 “contributing to the needs of the saints,” • The word for “contribute” is koinoneo “share in, have a share in ; give a share,” the same root as the term koinonia “fellowship.” • “The meaning would be that we are to identify ourselves with the needs of the saints and make them our own.” Murray • The term “needs” is always used of material necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter (e.g. Acts 20:34; Tit 3:14). • The call for benevolence here (and elsewhere) needs to be coupled with the call to discern real need, and to prioritize the recipients (Gal 6:10; II Thess 3:10; I Tim 5:3-4)

15. V.13 “practicing hospitality.” • Q. When you hear “hospitality” what do you typically think of? • Hospitality in the 1st Century was very different from our 21st Century idea. • “They had not then so much of the convenience of common inns as we have; . . Nor is it yet an antiquated superseded duty” M. Henry • “But even where economic and social conditions are more favorable, the practice of hospitality is not irrelevant. Murray • Q. In what ways could the 1st Cent. idea of hospitality be demonstrated in the 21st Cent?

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17. “Romans’ Road” • 1. Man’s Sin • Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, • Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death,but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Use “but the free gift . . .” as a transition

18. “Romans’ Road” • 2. God’s Provision. • Rom 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. • Transition: What do you need to do?

19. “Romans’ Road” • 3. Man’s Response. • Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. • Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." • Offer to lead in prayer.

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