Rev. David Holwick Book of Romans series
First Baptist Church MOTHER'S DAY
West Lafayette, Ohio
May 14, 1989
Romans 12:9-21
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I. Human love.
Mother calls son, told others:
"He sounds wonderful. He sounds very much at peace with himself."
At the conclusion of the call she told him,
"You'll always be my precious son."
Nothing extraordinary about such as call, except that the mom is
Louise Bundy, and she was talking to her son, Ted,
just before his execution in Utah.
Everyone else hated her son, but not Louise.
She had a mother's love. #627
II. Love in Romans 12.
A. Love must be sincere. 12:9
1) Without dissimulation - without hypocrisy.
a) Hypocrisy = "playing a part."
2) Don't fake love.
As a member of the Marine Corps, Capt. David Rilling was once
required to attend a parade in Washington, D.C.
It was at the Marine Barracks.
He became hopelessly lost while driving through the city and spotted
an Army installation.
He pulled in to ask the sentry directions.
The soldier seemed friendly and gave him precise instructions.
He was impressed with the soldier's helpfulness toward a member of
another armed service -
- until he arrived at the National Zoo.
#63
B. Love involves choice. 12:9
1) Abhor evil.
2) Cleave to good.
a) World is wishy-washy: Just love everybody.
b) Bible: Love people, hate sin.
1> True love hates.
2> Not just consequences of sin, but sin itself.
C. Love has limits. 12:10
1) Brotherly love in ancient world - literally your brother.
a) Easy to love own family.
b) Moms love own kids.
c) Little violence toward blood relatives.
2) Brotherly love in New Testament - fellow believers.
a) Should be a close kinship.
b) (Not always evident)
3) New Testament goes beyond just believers:
a) Everyone. 12:18
b) Even enemies. 12:20
D. Dimension of love.
1) (OT) - Love neighbor as self.
2) (NT) - Love neighbor beyond self. (prefer) 12:10
a) Because God enables us.
b) Because other person is Jesus. (Matt 25)
III. Love for God - Spiritual Fervor. 12:11
A. On fire with Spirit of God. 12:11
1) "Spiritual life" is the effect of God's Spirit on us.
2) Enthusiasm.
B. Distributing (sharing) and hospitality. 12:13
1) Concrete expression of love, which is what spirituality is
all about.
2) Share feelings. 12:15
a) Christians are not stoics.
b) Tragedy - airplane disasters.
Numb for several days.
Don't need answers, just knowledge that you care.
IV. Love and Relationships. 12:16
A. Same mind.
1) Harmony, not cookie-cutter thinking.
B. Don't be prejudiced. (condescend)
C. Live at peace. 12:18
1) If possible.
a) Sometimes peace would violate our convictions.
2) As much as you can.
a) (Depends some on other person.)
b) However, don't sell God short.
3) Let God get even. 12:19
1930's in northern Canadian prairie. Depression.
Jansen family was share-cropping, lost their farm.
Friend told them of one across from Jud Brewster.
Few lasted there because Jud was so mean.
Mr. Jansen said, "I'll just kill him."
They moved to the new farm.
One week later, Brewster appeared at their door in a rage.
Their chickens were bothering him, and he threatened to
kill them.
The family locked them up in the henhouse.
Peace for a time, then he showed up again.
"Jansen, your pigs have been in my garden.
They'll never get in my garden again!"
There, in Brewster's wagon, was their herd of young pigs,
all dead.
He had shot each of them.
Without saying a word, Mr. Jansen buried the pigs.
A few weeks later one of the Jansen boys came rushing into
the house.
"Daddy, go get a gun quick.
Jud Brewster's pigs are in our garden!"
The kids could already taste revenge.
The father replied, "We won't need a gun. Round up the pigs."
After a lot of trouble getting them in the wagon, they headed
over to Brewster's farm.
"Good evening, Mr. Brewster. Your pigs have been in my garden.
I've brought them back."
The color drained from Brewster's face.
"My pigs, my pigs in your garden?"
"That's right. Where do you want us to put them?"
Brewster's body sagged against the door and he said,
"Just dump them over behind the barn."
Jansen replied with a slight grin,
"OK, but they'll just get out again."
When it had sunk in the Jansen had not killed the pigs,
Brewster clutched his hand like a dying man.
They talked for a long time.
Brewster gave him half the pigs to keep, and on Sunday he
came to church.
From that point on, he was a changed man.
Later one of his boys asked him what he meant when he said
he would kill Brewster when they moved by him.
He replied,
"Not with a gun. I planned to do it another way -
by heaping coals on his head.
"That old neighbor is as dead as a doornail, just like I'd said
he'd be.
"And we're glad to be alive to see it." #877
D. Let God do the dirty work. "Burning Coals" 12:19
1) Context of "burning coals" in Proverbs 25:21-22.
a) Make person feel guilty, God judges them & rewards you.
b) Egyptian ritual of repentance?
2) Paul's use of passage.
a) "God will reward you" is omitted.
b) They don't just feel guilty, they may repent.
E. Overcome evil with good. 12:21
Lincoln was asked why he was pardoning Southerners at the
end of the Civil War:
"Mr. President, don't you want to destroy your enemies?"
Lincoln replied:
"Is that not what I do when I make them my friends?"
#698
************************ NOTES **************************
Johnson
I. Framework.
A. Subject matter changes.
B. Participles with imperative force may reflective Hebrew usage
and make them rules of behavior rather than commands.
C. Sermon on the Mount is integrated.
D. Two main principles:
1) Love
2) Peace
E. Not a system of ethics, though all is under headship of Christ.
II. Exposition.
A. Love heads the list. (cf. Gal 5:22)
1) One test is how we handle differences.
2) Hate/cling.
a) Reflects dual nature of world.
b) Others must be preferred over ourselves.
B. Christian apathy. 12:11
1) Be zealous rather than discouraged.
2) Excitement is needed.
C. Living in hope. 12:12
1) Radical trust in God.
2) Feel a oneness with other believers.
3) Try to meet their physical needs.
a) Actively pursue hospitality.
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