Love Genuinely, Love Affectionately, Love Generously

Live Harmoniously, Live Patiently, Live Courageously

Romans 12:14–16 (ESV) 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

• Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
• Bless. Speak well of, we get the word eulogy from the word used here.
• Literally - Stop cursing.
• Not Bless them in prayer, and curse them at other times.
• Acts 7:60 (ESV) 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
• Luke 23:34 (ESV) 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
• The wordplay is striking: just as believers “pursue” hospitality in verse 13, they must also bless those who “pursue” them with hostility.
• Luke 6:27–36 (ESV) 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
• This is counter cultural.
• 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
• He didn’t need to give a reason but He did – In loving our enemies we are better image bearers of God
• 1 Corinthians 4:11–13 (ESV) 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat…
• If you see your enemy suffering, do not suppose that God is inflicting him on your case against him.
• As a matter of fact, you should try to help him out…. SO bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

• Robertson, “Rejoicing with rejoicing people, weeping with weeping people.
• Stott, John R “Love never stands aloof from other people’s joys or pains. Love identifies with them, sings with them and suffers with them. Love enters deeply into their experiences and their emotions, their laughter and their tears, and feels solidarity with them, whatever their mood.”
• Rejoicing with others’ joy demands more unselfishness than weeping with sorrow, requiring freedom from envy
• Proverb - “A sorrow shared is but half a trouble. A joy that’s shared is a joy made double.”
• Hebrews 13:3 (ESV) 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

1. Live Harmoniously

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly (or Or accommodate yourself to lowly things). Never be wise in your own sight.

• Associate with the lowly, or “be carried away with”, men, “not rising far above the ground”.
• The song captures it, “I’ve got friends in low places.”
• Stay grounded.
• Psalm 131:1–2 (ESV)1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
• The call to “same-mindedness” likely addresses class and racial divisions within Rome’s church, reminding believers that grace levels all status distinctions.
• Boa, Kenneth “All have been leveled by sin, and any who have been redeemed have been so by God’s mercy. Therefore, anyone who would look upon another believer with contempt or conceit because of status or position in life has not grasped the enormous implications of having been redeemed solely by grace.”[1]
• Don’t be a snob.
• Was this a likely temptation for the Romans? They were the great power of the earth at the time.
• I wonder about how we may resemble them.
• Psalm 119:63 (ESV) 63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
• YES! Companion to ALL those…
• Henry – “True love values grace in rags as well as in scarlet. A jewel is a jewel, though it lie in the dirt.”[2]
• Wherever God has positioned you, and whenever that is, never think yourself above it. Be present and ready in it.
• Philippians 2:2–11 (ESV) 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• 1 Peter 3:8–11 (ESV) 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
• Wuest offers a translation: Be constantly blessing those who are constantly persecuting you; be blessing and stop cursing. Be rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, and be weeping with those who are weeping; having the same mind towards one another, not setting your mind upon lofty things, but associating yourselves with lowly things and lowly people. Stop being those who are wise in their own opinion.

Romans 12:16–19 (ESV) 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

• Live Patiently
• Verses 17–19 emphasize restraint and forbearance, Verses 20–21 shift to active goodness
• Paul provides two reasons for refusing personal revenge:
• (1) it usurps God’s exclusive role as judge, and (2) Scripture confirms God’s commitment to justice.
• We can add, (3) vengeful retaliation damages the gospel’s credibility in society and hinders its spread.
• Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
• Give thought before hand.
• Take thought of, what would be viewed as good by others.
• Proverbs 24:28–29 (ESV)28 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
• Exodus 23:4–7 (ESV) 4 “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him. 6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.
• Inward good = outward good.
• 2 Corinthians 8:20–21 (ESV) 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.

• Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
• So far as it depends on you, meaning sometimes it impossible.
• Tré expects me to live by everything I preach.
• James 3:17–18 (ESV) 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
• Psalm 120:7 (ESV) 7 I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!

• Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3–6 (ESV) 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
• Hebrews 10:30–31 (ESV) 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Romans 12:20–21 (ESV) 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• Live Courageously.
• Verses 20–21 shift to active goodness
• The word used for feed, has to do with feeding in little pieces as with a small child.
• Burning Coals – one of my favorite verses. (Quoted from Proverbs)
• Proverbs 25:20–22 (ESV) 20 Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda. 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
• I’ve read so many alternative explanations to this verse and I don’t see the trouble with it.
• One way to destroy an enemy is to make a friend.
• We just read that is sometimes impossible.
• I saw a meme once, with Iran and Israel… not you meet in the middle?

• Do NOT be overcome by evil!
• Matthew Henry – “When others are angry, let us be calm….
• …He that cannot quietly bear an injury is perfectly conquered by it.”
• 1 Samuel 24:8–13 (ESV) 8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you.
• 1 Samuel 24:16–19 (ESV) 16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
• Romans 12:20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
• 2 Kings 6:8–23 (ESV) 8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
• 11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
• 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
• 20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they m
• ay see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

• Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Nika – Victory
• Don’t be a victim. Be a victor.
• Drown the evil in the good. Seneca: Vincit malos pertinax bonitas
• Wuest Translation. Stop avenging yourselves, beloved ones, but give place at once to the wrath, for it stands written, To Me (belongs) punishment. I (in contradistinction to anyone else) will repay, Says the Lord. But, if your enemy is hungry, be feeding him. If he thirsts, be giving him to drink, for doing this, you will heap burning coals of fire upon his head. Stop being overcome by the evil, but be overcoming the evil by means of the good.

Live Harmoniously

Live Patiently

Live Courageously

We begin with pure love, hating evil, holding fast to what is good; humbly, affectionately being concerned with others; enthusiastically, fervently, with maximum effort serving the Lord. And when the inevitable resistance to that service comes, we face it with hope, and joy, and believing prayer. And when we see others who are in the same kinds of trials, we reach out to them and share our possession and our homes with all who have need.

And when we are opposed in our service to Christ, we bless those who oppose us and who persecute us. And we reach out to enjoy the joy of others and to endure the pain of others. We have no desire for personal prestige. We seek neither position nor office. We do not regard only those who are high people, but we love to fellowship equally with those on the lowest level, and we are marked by a humility that knows no intellectual or social aristocracy. Even those who personally harm us, we do not return evil against them, but we desire to overpower them with good no matter what they have done; and we assign any vengeance, and any judgment, and any punishment to God.

And in the end, we’re the overcomers. We’re the winners.” – John MacArthur

[1] Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000, p. 376.

[2] Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Hendrickson, 1994, p. 2228.