I want you to know that God is all for that which is “attention getting.” Just look at what He has created. How can you see the incredible beauty and variety of the colors and shapes of the creatures He has placed in the ocean and not be amazed? How can you stand on a snow covered mountain and watch snowflakes falling with the grace and elegance of a Baryshnikov and not be amazed? God has placed within us an attraction for the magnificent. He has placed within us a propensity for wonderment, but rather than being amazed at what is truly amazing, we’ve become amazed with stuff.

In Matthew 15, the people who were in the presence of Jesus were amazed at what He did for those who had debilitating needs. Read along with me from Matthew 15:30-31.

30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:30-31 NIV)

What did they do when they broke out in amazement? They praised God. Our wonderment, our amazement, should lead us to praise God, to draw near to God.

In Matthew 5, Jesus was telling the people that they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He said that people don’t light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Instead, they set it where it can give light to the whole room. Then, in verse 16, Jesus said,

16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NIV)

Let your light so shine that others may see your good deeds. As a result they will… What will they do? They will praise your Father in heaven. We are to live in such a way that others are amazed at our lives and in turn they praise God, they desire to seek God. Turn with me to John 13:35 and let’s read together.

35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35 NIV)

The distinguishing mark of the follower of Jesus is love, a unique kind of love. The distinguishing mark of a follower of Jesus is not their understanding of the difference between Dispensational Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, and Preterism, how many verses he or she can quote, how many conferences they’ve attended, or how many bumper stickers they have on their car. The distinguishing mark of the followers of Jesus is a unique kind of love. It is God’s desire that as we live out this unique kind of love, others will say, “Where did you get that?”

We’ve been taking a look at this unique kind of love for many weeks now since we began our study of Romans 12 and 13. How do we love our brothers and sisters in Christ? How do we love outsiders, those who are not followers of Jesus? How do we love our enemies? How do we love those in authority over us? Paul isn’t done yet. Let’s read our Scripture for today and we’ll get started.

7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:7-10 NIV)

We covered verse 7 in our last study so we won’t go back over it. I’ve included it this morning because verse 8 is an extension of verse 7. Pay what you owe. “Let no debt remain except the continuing debt to love one another…”

I really debated this week about spending our entire time on five words from verse 8: “Let no debt remain outstanding…” Debt is suffocating. The average debt that Americans carry on their credit cards, per household, was $10,679.00 at the end of 2008. 13.9% of our disposable income went to pay consumer debt. According to Cardtrak.com, the average interest rate for standard bank credit cards topped 19% in March 2007, compared to 16.5% in 2003. (source: www.cardtrak.com) I read just this past week about the First Premier card which is targeted at people who have really bad credit. Those who get the card have a $300 credit line, but they will pay an annual interest rate of 79.9%!

I’ve heard it said, “As goes the people, so goes the nation.” We spend like there is no tomorrow and when we become smothered in debt we simply declare bankruptcy. Our nation is living the same way. We are over $12 trillion in debt as a nation. I know what the politicians say, but God says, “Pay what you owe.” In Proverbs 22 we read, “The borrower is the slave of the lender” (Proverbs 22:7 ESV).

We, as followers of Jesus, should pay what we have agreed to pay. If you borrow money to buy a house then pay your mortgage and pay it on time. Buy a house you can afford and pay your mortgage. If you are renting an apartment, rent one you can afford and then pay your rent on time. If we have bills of any kind then we should pay them on time. If we borrow tools from a neighbor or a book from a friend—then we should return them in a timely manner. Many years ago I had an old brown Chevy truck; I called it “Brown Sugar.” It was like a community truck. People borrowed it all the time to move stuff and I was glad to let them use it. I have a friend who would borrow my truck quite frequently. Every time he borrowed it he returned it to me with a tank full of gas and cleaner than when he took the keys from me. Now, that’s a testimony. Let’s read verse 8.

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8 NIV)

We are to make a concerted effort to get out of debt, to owe no one anything, but there is one debt that will be perpetual, that we will never fulfill. We owe love to those God has placed in our lives. I mentioned to you earlier that the love we are talking about is a unique kind of love—it is “agape” love. It is love with no expectations, love with no strings attached. It never says, “I will love you if you love you.” Reciprocal love is the kind of love that we are accustomed to seeing in our daily lives. If you do me right then I will do right by you. If you love me then I will love you. The love that we are called to is rooted in the character of God who loved us when we were His enemies and continues to love us when we go astray.

When Paul began urging us to love and then addressing how we are to love the various groups of people that he has outlined in Romans 12-13, he began by giving us a view of “God’s mercy.” It is God’s mercy that serves as our model, our standard, not the love that we hear about and witness in the world around us. If left to our own to determine “who” and “how” we are to love then our circle will be quite small. We are no different than those who have gone before us.

In Jesus day, the people knew that they were to love their neighbor, but their definition of “neighbor” was quite different than Jesus’ definition. Jesus didn’t give them a list of who qualified for the title of neighbor, He told them a story. Turn with me to Luke 10:30-37 and let’s read together.

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 2 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30-37 NIV)

Who was the neighbor to the man who fell on hard times? Was it the priest? Hardly. He was too busy. Was it the Levite? Nope. He didn’t even stop to see the man in need. It was the Samaritan. A man who was not his “homeboy,” didn’t attend the same church, and didn’t live in the same neighborhood as the man who had been beaten. As a matter of fact he would have never hung out with the guy from Jerusalem, but he loved him enough to stop and help. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus said,

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)

Can you see why I’ve been saying that this is a unique kind of love? Who loves their enemies and prays for those who persecute them? I can tell you. Those whose hearts have been captured by the love of God and who desire more than anything in life to walk in Jesus’ steps.

We often hear people in our society talk about the need for all of us to love one another, for us to, in the words of Rodney King, “just get along.” The kind of love that we are called to live out is impossible apart from the transformation that comes through knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life. Let me give you another glimpse of the uniqueness of the love of Jesus. Paul wrote to the folks in Colosse and said,

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

We can find examples of each of these characteristics in the lives of people that we know. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness—these are not uniquely “Christian,” but what sets God’s people apart from the rest of the population is that we are to be the embodiment of these characteristics regardless of whether things are going our way or not. There are experiences in life that cause even the most hardened to momentarily become compassionate. There are instances in life when even the most tight-fisted can exhibit kindness. There are moments when the toughest can be gentle. For the follower of Jesus these characteristics are to be the bedrock of who we are.

Because of the Fall, because of our sin nature, we are not naturally inclined in this direction. We are primarily and fundamentally self-preservationist. We are really good at looking out for number one. The only way for these characteristics to become part of the fiber of our being is transformation. We must be transformed through the invasion of our hearts by Jesus Christ. It is His kindness expressed through our living. It is His gentleness articulated through our actions. It is His compassion being manifested through our daily interaction with others. He is the one who has freed us from the bonds of self. He is the one who has liberated us from the agony of living life according to the pattern of this world. It is incumbent upon us to share with those who are still walking blindly through life trying to find relief, trying to find meaning and purpose, trying to find peace, and trying to make sense of it all.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives an illustration to help us understand our debt to those who need to know God’s unique love. There was a man who had been ill for many years. He had some kind of crippling arthritis that no doctor could diagnose or help alleviate his pain. One day the man heard about a doctor who, he was told, could help him. He traveled to the city where the doctor resided and once the doctor saw him he knew immediately what was the source of his trouble. The doctor prescribed him some medicine and said, “Now you take that and you will get rid of your pain. After a while, your joints will become loose and supple again and you will be perfectly well.” The man did exactly as he was told and, in time, he regained his health.

One day the man was walking up and down the streets of his town when he saw a man who was struggling just to walk. Immediately, he knew that the man was suffering from his old ailment and that he had never heard of the prescription that brought him relief. Not only this, but he just happened to have some of the pills with him. He carried them with him everywhere he went since his health was restored. So what should he do? Dr. Lloyd-Jones says,

He must cross the road, accost the man and say to him, ‘Excuse me, sir, you don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I do know what’s the matter with you. Tel me, have you ever heard of this? And he must produce the prescription. (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Romans: Chapter 13, pgs. 169-170)

He knows the one thing that will bring the man’s suffering to an end. He owes it to the man to share the prescription with him. We, like the man in the illustration, know the remedy for what ails all of humanity, and we owe it to them to share the only “prescription” which can bring them relief.

We are indebted to the world which is walking in darkness trying to find the light switch. They may not look like they need a thing, but let me assure you that if they do not know Jesus, if they are not walking with Jesus, then they are living in the dark and their future is grim.

At the end of verse 8 and at the end of verse 10 Paul says, “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” I’ve been thinking about Paul’s statement this week. Love is a debt that we will never be able to stamp “Paid in Full!” and yet, if we live out of the love of Jesus we will fulfill the law. In Romans 7 we learned that the law shines a spotlight on our sinful nature. We just can’t keep it. We are law breakers. Then, in Romans 8, Paul tells us that God has done for us, in Jesus, what none of us could do on our own. Read verses 1-4 with me.

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NIV)

God, through Jesus, has set us free to live in love, to walk in love, to love the unlovable, to love our enemies, and to do all of this for His glory and the blessing of all of those He has led into our lives. In Romans 13:9-10 we read,

9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10 NIV)

Paul is quoting Scripture from Exodus 20 and Leviticus 19:18. “Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not covet” are all from the Ten Commandments. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is a quotation from Leviticus 19:18.

The law was the end all for the Jews of Jesus’ day. As long as you did what you were supposed to do then you could feel good about your relationship with God. They became so consumed with the law that it became mechanical, simply something to make sure you did. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest, He said,

37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)

“Love.” Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as you love yourself. God never intended for the law to become an endless series of mindless acts. Love breathes life into the law. Why do we refuse to take another person’s life? Why do we refuse to betray our marriage vows? Why do we refuse to steal what belongs to another person? Because it is wrong? Yes it is wrong, but an even greater reason is because our love for God compels us to love our neighbor in the same way that we have been loved.

We are to live our lives in such a way that an unbelieving world takes notice and says, “Where did you get that?” As I mentioned to you earlier, and I must stress again, the agape love that God calls us to live is impossible in and of ourselves. We can only be a vehicle of His love, a conduit of the divine love that seeks to bless others even when it is costly. I ran across a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13 this week that is so beautiful. Let me read it to you before we leave here.

If I [know] the language perfectly and speak like a native, and have not [God’s] love for them, I am nothing. If I have diplomas and degrees and know all the up-to-date methods, and have not His touch of understanding love, I am nothing. If I am able to argue successfully against the religions of the people and make fools of them, and have not His wooing note, I am nothing. If I have all faith and great ideals and magnificent plans, and not His love that sweats and bleeds and weeps and prays and pleads, I am nothing. If I give my clothes and money to them, and have not His love for them, I am nothing. If I surrender all prospects, leave home and friends, make the sacrifices of a missionary career, and turn sour and selfish amid the daily annoyances and slights of a missionary life, and have not the love that yields its rights, its leisures, its pet plans, I am nothing. Virtue has ceased to go out of me. If I can heal all manner of sickness and disease, but wound hearts and hurt feelings for want of His love that is kind, I am nothing. If I can write articles or publish books that win applause, but fail to transcribe the Word of the Cross into the language of His love, I am nothing. (Source unknown)

The love that God has modeled for us is a love that has captured our hearts has it not? Why do I do the things I do? That is so easy for me to explain. It is because God has showered me with His love, His mercy, and His grace. He has loved me in unexplainable ways. His patience with me is incomprehensible. I want to express my gratitude to Him with every breath I have within me. I want others to know His love. I want others to know the salvation and security that is found in a living relationship with Him. I want others to know the peace that surpasses all understanding that comes from sharing in an intimate relationship with Him. He says the best way for them to come to know these wonderful blessings is for me to love them with His love. Maybe someone here this morning has been looking for the love, peace, and purpose that I’ve been talking about this morning. The world and your own mind will try and convince you that what you are looking for is something, or someone, other than God, but I came to tell you that the Lord has brought you here this morning so that you might come to know Him this very morning. Won’t you invite Him in?

Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
OKC, OK. 73114
February 21, 2010
bccpreacherman@aol.com

A few days later I was driving back from Lincoln, Nebraska with Annie. I told Annie about my conversation with the young lady and then I said, �What if, when we left Lincoln, I asked someone, �Can you tell me how to get to Oklahoma City?� and they said, �Just follow your heart?� Where would that advice get us?� Annie said, �Lost.� And that is where most folks are today�lost. They don�t mean to be lost, they don�t want to be lost, most don�t even think that they are lost, but that doesn�t change the fact that their internal GPS is all messed up and they are off the path that God desires for them.

What I didn�t tell you last week, but what I want to confess this morning is this: I got to talking to Annie and was enjoying our conversation so much that I missed my turn south off of I-80 onto Highway 81. I drove 10 miles out of my way before I recognized that I was lost. Once I realized that I was lost I had to �confess� my sin and �repent.� The word, �repent,� in the Bible means, �to turn around.� And that is exactly what I did. I turned around and got back on track. I was only 50 miles outside of Lincoln when I made that huge mistake. I could have said, �Well, it feels like we are on the right road.� Or �I just need to follow my heart all the way home.� If I would have kept on the same path I would have ended up in San Francisco, California and not at my desired destination. For the rest of the 400 miles of our trip I paid attention, I was disciplined, focused on the task at hand.

The word �discipline� isn�t a word that we use every day. As a matter of fact, it is mostly used when we talk about athletes or what happens to a child when they get in trouble, but for the follower of Jesus, �discipline,� should be a word we are well acquainted with. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul wrote,

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV)

Athletes set goals and work on their games for a medal, trophy, ring, or prize money, but our goal is altogether different and so is our training. I know the commitment that it takes, the discipline that is required of athletes. I also know the discipline, the training that God desires for those who are followers of Jesus. I will tell you there is no comparison. Godly discipline is exacting, arduous, and demanding, far more demanding than the training that athletes undergo. The writer of Hebrews wrote,

11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)

�No discipline seems pleasant at the time.� Never was there a more true statement made. As God molds us, shapes us, renews our minds, brings our issues to the surface, leads us to confront them, and crucifies our flesh it is painful is it not? I had a coach in college who used to say, as we were dying from running �gassers,� �If it�s hurtin� it�s helpin� men!� Paul would agree. Godly discipline, godly training, is not pleasant in the moment, but we press on because we know it is God�s best for us. We know that it �produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.�

Now, the truth of the matter is that most of the followers of Jesus are not in the program, they are sitting on the sidelines. It is not that God is unwilling to �train� them, to mold and shape them, build their character, and develop their dependence upon Him. No, that is not the problem. The problem rests in us. We are unwilling to commit ourselves to God�s training. We want to be part of the team, but we refuse to show up for practice. The word �discipline� as defined in the dictionary is:

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that
produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3. a. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
b. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demands discipline in the
classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.

It is the training aspect of discipline that I want us to think about as we study our next section of Romans this morning. Let�s read Romans 12:9-13 as we dig into our lesson for this morning.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 NIV)

As we continue our study of Romans 12 we are continuing to witness the unfolding of the progression of Paul�s thought. It is imperative that we keep in mind, or rather that we keep in sight, �God�s mercies,� for it is God�s mercy that is the impetus for everything that follows. It is God�s mercy that leads us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. It is God�s mercy that keeps our estimation of ourselves in check. It is God�s mercy that has placed us within the Body of Christ. It is God�s mercy that has given the Body the rich diversity of gifts and abilities. It is God�s mercy that causes us to recognize the incredible value of each of the gifts God has given to us, as well as the other parts of the Body. And in the Scripture that we will study today, it is God�s mercy that compels us to love the other members of the family of God with a love that is totally other oriented. John MacArthur writes about this type of love when he says,

Agape love centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved and will pay whatever personal price is necessary to meet those needs and foster that welfare. (John MacArthur, MacArthur�s New Testament Commentary: Romans 9-16. The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. 1994)

Paul has used the word �?????� (agape) already in this letter to the Romans, but each time it has been in reference to God�s actions. In Romans 5, Paul was writing about the by-products produced by our struggles when we view them from a godly perspective. Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Then, in Romans 5:5, Paul writes,

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5 NIV)

Why is our �hope� unfailing? Because of God�s �agape.� God�s unfailing love is the foundation for our hope because we know that God is Sovereign, He is all-powerful, and His will for us is perfect�He knows what He is doing.

Romans 5:8 is one of the best examples of God�s �agape.� Remember MacArthur�s definition of �agape?� This type of love centers on the needs and welfare of the one loved. Let�s read Romans 5:8.

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)

Amazing love! How else would you describe love that is being beaten and brutalized and yet prays, �Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.� (Luke 23:34 NIV) Who would willingly die for those who were enemies? Why would anyone die for those who beat you, bludgeon your face, and rip your back to shreds? How? Why? Agape.

The greatest need of humanity was not, and is not, education, cures for incurable diseases, or a stronger economy, but it is forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Not only has God�s �agape� accomplished this, but it continues to hold us through every experience, every moment, every trial of life. In Romans 8:35-39 we read of two more instances of God�s �agape.� Read along with me.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)

How has God�s �agape� acted on our behalf? God has come to us when we had no desire for God whatsoever. God has reconciled us to Himself when we were His declared enemies. God�s love will never ever let us go�no matter what. There is nothing that can pry you out of His gracious, loving hands. Why has God done all of this for you and me? That�s a great question. It is a question with a very uncomplicated answer really. He loves you. He loves me. He does not want us to spend our lives not knowing Him, not understanding His purpose for our lives, and not wasting our lives on ourselves.

There is a second reason for God demonstrating His love for us in such an overwhelming way�He wants us to love others. The love of God is the standard for our love for others. In our Scripture for today God introduces the word, �agape� as the standard for our love for others.

The problem that we see so prevalent in the Church today is that we don�t understand the kind of love that God calls us to have for our brothers and sisters. We are so accustomed to what society calls �love,� but which is really not even close to the �agape� of God. We love those who love us. Our love lasts as long as people treat us right, as long as it is reciprocated by those around us. Much of what our society calls �love� is mere emotion, but God calls us to make a decision to love�through thick and thin, through good times and bad, when it is reciprocated and when it is not. I call this the discipline of love because it is a decision that will press you and me beyond what is comfortable for us.

It is so important that we understand the kind of love that God asks of us because if we don�t have a good understanding we will settle for far less. Now that we understand let�s read again our Scripture for today and see if it does not take on a much deeper meaning.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:9-13 NIV)

I want to forewarn you. We will not finish this study today. I want us to take our time to understand how we are to relate to one another because how we relate to one another is imperative for the health of the Body of Christ and the local church.

How many times have you heard of churches that have gotten their start because they split off of some other church? A group of folks got mad because they didn�t get their way so they took their marbles and began their own game somewhere else. Or how many folks have gotten their feelings hurt by a pastor or a church member and instead of sitting down, talking things over, and reconciling with them they simply went to a new church. This should not be�not if we are practicing the kind of love that is described for us in Romans 12:9-13.

Paul begins by saying, �Love must be sincere.� I know some of you get bored sometimes with me taking the time to explain to you the meaning of words from the original languages of the Bible, but in this sentence we find one of the great examples of why I take the time to help us understand. First of all, the word �love� used here is the word, �agape.� We now know what that word means. �Agape� is focused on the needs and welfare of the other person. This type of love demands a decision�I will love you regardless. Mere sentiment, pure emotion, will never carry out this type of love.

Secondly, the word, �sincere,� is a very interesting word in Greek. It is the word, �anupokritos� (anupokritos) and it means, �Without hypocrisy, without a mask, unfeigned, undisguised, or sincere.� The word is taken from the Greek theatre. The Greek actors would have various masks to represent the role they were playing. If it was a comical scene then the actor would hold a funny looking mask over their face while speaking their lines. If it was a solemn, dramatic scene, then the mask would reflect the role the actor was portraying. Paul says that our love doesn�t wear masks. We don�t pretend to love folks�we make the decision to really love them. Let me show you a couple of places where this same word is used in Scripture.

In Paul�s letter to the young pastor, Timothy, he urged him to stay in Ephesus and to work towards correcting those whose teaching was in error. Timothy was to point out to them the error of their ways and correct their teaching, not because he wanted to show them up or be a trouble maker, but because of love, �agape� love, which comes from a �sincere� faith, a faith without masks. Read along with me from 1Timothy 1:3-5.

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work–which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:3-5 NIV)

In the last example I want us to look at we will take a look at 1 Peter 1:21-22. Turn there with me and let�s read together.

21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:21-22 NIV)

Did you notice something truly amazing? Paul says that living out this love God calls us to have for our brothers and sisters is part of a process. Paul says, �Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.� Or, keep on loving one another. The more we follow God�s Word, pursue His will rather than our own, the more we will become like Jesus and His love will permeate our hearts.

What Paul is teaching the church in Rome is a lesson he taught to all believers. You may wonder how I know that since I wasn�t around when Paul was teaching. Well, there is evidence in Paul�s letter to the church in Corinth that we need to look at this morning. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul wrote about the Body of Christ and the various �members� and �gifts� that are present in the Body. Sound familiar? That is just what he has been writing about in Romans 12. Then in 1 Corinthians 13 he shared the great chapter of love. Let�s read it together.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NIV)

If we are eloquent and convincing, but don�t have love we don�t have anything. If we have great biblical knowledge and can explain all of the mysteries of God, but don�t have love then we don�t have anything. If we give all of our money to help meet the needs of the poor, but we don�t have love then we don�t have anything. The kind of love that Paul portrays for us is very specific in its character and nature because it is modeled after the love God has for us. It is patient and kind. It doesn�t envy, it doesn�t boast, and it is not proud. Love is not rude nor does it ring its own bell. Love doesn�t fly off the handle nor does it hold wrongs over the heads of others. Love rejoices over truth and not evil. Love protects others, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. It never fails, it never gives up, it never throws in the towel on others.

The Scripture that we are looking at this morning from Romans 12:9-13 holds before us a replica of the type of love that Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 13. There are thirteen aspects of the love we are supposed to live out in Romans 12:9-13. They are: 1) Love is to be real, sincere, not faked. 2) Love hates what is evil. 3) Love clings to what is good. 4) Love cares for others with a brotherly affection. 5) Love tries to outdo others in being the first to show honor to others. 6) Love is not lazy, but zealous. 7) Love is bubbling over in the Spirit, Loves great desire is to serve the Lord. 9) Love rejoices in hope. 10) Love is patient in tribulation. 11) Love is constant in prayer. 12) Love desires to help brothers and sisters who are in need. 13) Love goes out of its way to show hospitality to others.

The reason why Paul was so forceful and persistent in pressing the followers of Jesus in his day to embrace the lifestyle of love was because it was this lesson that was most prominent in the teachings of Jesus. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments was the greatest, He said, �love God and love your neighbor.� Turn to Mark 12:28-31 and let�s read together.

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 NIV)

It is my prayer for Britton Christian Church that we will be a church that is known for its love for God and its love for people. You want to honor God? Then love Him enough to do what He says. You want to honor God? Then love people. Really love people. Don�t just love those who are easy to love, love all people in the same way that God loves you.

The key for Britton Christian Church to be known as a church of godly love is for each of us to keep in mind the mercies of God that have been lavished upon us as individuals. If you and I understand the lengths to which God has gone in reconciling us to Himself, blessing us with the gifts and abilities that we possess, and sustaining us through the good times and bad then we will never give up on others. Has God given up on us? You know the answer to that question. He never has and He never will.

There may be someone here this morning who has never truly considered or had explained to you that wondrous love that God has for you. I pray that this morning you have had your eyes opened and your heart has been filled with great understanding. He loves you more than you can even imagine. Will you respond to His love by opening your arms and your heart and inviting Him in as your Lord and King this very morning? He will give you a love for others that you can never have on your own. Won�t you invite Him in?
Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
922 NW 91st
OKC, OK. 73114
November 15, 2009
bccpreacherman@aol.com