Treasures New and Old

Romans: Seven Key Behaviors

This month, I want to look at seven exhortations or encouragements which Paul shared that apply to all believers. There are others in this chapter, but I want to concentrate on these seven for now.

• Reminder, the first eleven chapters of Romans were primarily salvation by faith through Jesus Christ with lots of arguments dealing with this subject. Also, it was primarily to the Jewish contingent in Rome, but also some arguments directed to the Gentiles lest they get prideful and cause contention. All have sinned, and all need to accept Jesus Christ by faith through God’s gift of grace.

• Chapter 12, as I mentioned a few months ago, is considered to be the second half of Paul’s letter, because it starts with various exhortations that benefit the believer in Christ if they endeavor to follow them.

• In our previous article of Chapter 12, we looked at a very difficult passage to follow, that of placing one’s self on the alter as a living sacrifice to Christ and allowing Him to, as our Master, direct our days and be willing to set aside our desires and allow His desires and directions have priority in our lives.

• Last article we looked at gifts that Paul has listed that are best described as functions as we dug into the Greek word praxis (Strong’s G4234). We noted that there is a contrast between the three key words found in 1 Corinthians 12:3-6. We discovered that the Holy Spirit gives every believer spiritual gifts (charisma (Strong’s G5486)), and that the Lord Jesus Christ gives us the administration of those gifts (diakonia (Strong’s G1248) – ministry), and, finally, that God the Father gives us the scope of power of our gifts (operations – energema (Strong’s G1755)).

• Finally, we saw that Paul mentions that everyone of us receives a function, a praxis, based on the measure of faith that God gives to each of us, just like Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 12:6 with the use of energema.

Let’s see what Paul is saying:

Romans: 12:9-15: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distribution to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

• We will take these verses one verse at a time.

Verse 9 Notes: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

• Of course, love here is agape (Strong’s G26), the selfless kind of love that loves unconditionally even of that love is not returned. “Without dissimulation” means without hypocrisy, love sincerely with unfeigned motives. We are to love as Christ loved and gave Himself for the church. The kind of love that forgives seven times seventy in a day without hidden agendas or motives, without regard to personal rewards. We love because Christ first loved us.

• But there is a caution to go with that love. We are to abhor evil. Utterly detest evil and wickedness. Love the sinner, but hate the sin. Have no fellowship with evil companions. Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Also 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

• Instead, we are to cleave to that which is good. In other words, glue yourself, stick with, keep company with, join with that which is beneficial, good for you, good for the Body of Christ. Wholesome activities with eternal rewards, good companions, other believers, etc.

Verse 10 Notes: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;”

• “Kindly affectioned”: (cherishing one’s kindred, especially parents or children); fond of natural relatives, that is, fraternal towards fellow Christian.” Philistorgos (Strong’s G5387) – cherish your brother with brotherly love: Philadelphia. Paul has said in Greek the following in English: Fraternal fondness with one’s kindred (including believers) with love of the brethren.

• How does one do that? You start by honoring and preferring one another. You value, you esteem (in the highest degree), – consider precious. Is that how you see fellow believers? Are they honored and held in high esteem in your eyes? Do you prefer believers’ fellowship over that of the world? Do you rather wish to spend time with believers instead of games, TV, movies, and other pursuits?

Verse 11 Notes: “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”

• Not slothful in business. The Greek has two words (business is not one of them; it is the word the KJV translators use), but what it says in the Greek is not slothful in diligence. Another translation says, “as to diligent zealousness” (Darby). Instead, we are to do our diligence, that is, Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest”, and Colossians 3:23: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

• Of course, whatsoever your hand finds to do is likely some sort of business, activities, tasks to be performed Homework, studies, job, ministry, service to others, chores, etc. Wherever you are in your journey with Christ, at whatever stage in life you are in, be diligent without slothfulness and, instead, be fervent in spirit because you serve as one serving the Master.

• Paul reminds us that we are to do what God has called us to do, not only diligently but, as unto the Lord (did we not get up on the alter this morning and every morning?)

Verse 12 Notes: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”

• I’m going to switch the phrases in this verse. I believe the focus is on how to respond to tribulation. So, I kind of read it like this: “Be patient in tribulation; Rejoicing in hope: continuing instant in prayer. If you are a believer in Christ, I guarantee that you will face some form of tribulation, especially these days as we approach His return. Paul mentions tribulation several times in Romans, and Jesus said Himself: John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcomes the world.”

• How does one respond to tribulation? Well, we’ll start with what Jesus said, be of good cheer. But I will add Paul’s exhortation: do two things:

• 1) Rejoice in hope (see good cheer with that rejoice?) Hope is akin to faith and relates to our expectations that we have in Christ: His promises and blessing, and mercies, and goodness.

• Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

• 2) Continue instant in prayer. Attend to, keep at, remain steadfast, always, right now in prayer, your worship. Ephesians 6:18: “Prayer always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Verse 13 Notes: “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

• The early church had all things in common. Acts 2:44-47: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

• Let us, therefore, look about ourselves and see what are the needs of the saints and where we can help them. I am not talking wants, but needs. The necessity of the saints. The needs that they have. The Greek word implies a requirement, something demanded to them, something that without they would be destitute.

• Also, given to hospitality. Apt to be hospitable. Your door is always open. Your home really belongs to Christ anyway. When that destitute believer has lost his job because of persecution, we will need to assist and may need to take them in. We are not there yet, but I believe that the day is fast coming.

Revelation: 12:10-12:

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they over came him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Verse 14 Notes: “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

• Continuing in this discussion of persecution, Paul adds to being of good cheer, rejoicing in hope, staying instant in prayer. Distributing to those saints who had now found themselves in dire need and, if needed, being hospitable and take those in who may need food and shelter. He adds a response to those who are doing the persecution.

• Up until now the tribulation advice has been “inward”, that is how you are to respond with the saints. Now Paul is adding some outward advice.

• Bless, eulogeo (Strong’s G2127) – eulogize, invoke a blessing upon them. Don’t do that which is natural, what the old man would do – curse them for the wrongs they are performing against you. He knows our nature, so he says it twice – “bless and curse not.” Do not invoke a curse on them, pray for them.

Proverbs 25:21-22: “If thine enemy be hungry, give them bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”

Verse 15 Notes: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

• The last admonishment we will look at is verse 15 where Paul is almost summing up his discussion regarding tribulation and persecution. We are to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping, having presumably suffered some great loss.

• Rejoice in what it sounds like, to be glad, to be happy, to be joyful. You just found out your spouse has been cured from cancer. Your long-lost son has come home. God has miraculously met a financial need. Ted got a much-desired promotion. Don’t be angry that Ted got the promotion; rejoice with him. Lamont’s cancer is in remission, but mine is still slowly developing. That’s ok, I will rejoice with him!

• But I must also be ready to weep with those who have suffered loss. To come along side and, maybe like Job’s friends, just sit in the dust with them (too bad they blew it and started speaking . . .)

Closing Thoughts

Depending on how you count these admonishments, Paul has given us fourteen behaviors that we all ought to take seriously, especially, in the days ahead. Also, please be reminded, this chapter started with Paul beseeching you, speaking by God’s grace, not as a command. But also note how very good and important these exhortations are and how valuable they will be should tribulation and persecution come to you one day.

May God Bless you!

Maranatha!

Bro. Joe

References

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1890)

Darby, J. N. (1890). Darby’s Translation. Public Domain.

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