PROTOCOLS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING (1)

Romans 12:9-10

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   In Philippians 1:27, Paul gives us a very general instruction as to how we are to live the Christian life.

 

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…

 

1.    Conversation:  manner of life

2.    As it becometh:  appropriate, suitable, in a worthy manner

3.    The gospel of Christ:  the standard by which we are to conduct our lives

 

B.   In Romans 12:9-18, Paul gets much more specific about what is included in Christian living. 

1.    The apostle lists 22 behaviors of the child of God in these 10 verses.

2.    We have entitled this section:  “Protocols for Christian Living.”

a.    A protocol is a rule that governs conduct and behavior.

b.    In this lesson, we will examine the first five protocols (Rom. 12:9-10)

 

I.             LET LOVE BE WITHOUT DISSIMULATION (Rom. 12:9a)

 

A.   The word “love” here is agape.

1.    It is the love that God has for man.  Thus, it is divine love.

2.    It is a voluntary, self-sacrificial love.

3.    It is a love that seeks the best interest of another.

 

B.   NOTE:  Love is listed first of all the protocols.

1.    Love should be the first priority and the first element a Christian seeks to practice in his/her life.

2.    Two verses:

a.    Colossians 3:14

 

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

 

b.    1 Peter 4:8

 

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves…

 

C.   This love is to be “without dissimulation.”

1.    Dissimulation

a.    The term in the Greek language consists of two parts:

1)    The first part simply means “not.”

2)    The second means “acting under a false part, pretend.”

b.    Do not practice a false, pretend, hypocritical love for each other.

c.    Our love for one another should be real, sincere, and genuine.

d.    1Peter 1:22

 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeign love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

 

2.    Examples: 

a.    Judas’s kiss (Matt. 26:48)

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

 

b.    Personal:  We say we care about another person’s welfare, but we do nothing to promote their welfare:  calls, cards, visits, money, etc.

 

II.           ABHOR THAT WHICH IS EVIL (Rom. 12:9b)

 

A.   The word “abhor” is a very strong term in the Greek language.

1.    Strong (655):  to detest utterly

2.    Thayer:  to have a horror of

3.    Vine:  to shutter, to intensely hate

4.    One stated:  “It is used only here in the New Testament.  An intense sentiment is meant:  loathing.

 

B.   The thing the Christians is to hate, abhor, loathe, and have a horror of is “evil.”

1.    Strong (4190):  hurtful

2.    Thayer:  of a bad nature

3.    Vine:  that which causes labour, pain, sorrow

4.    Evil involves things that are wicked, immoral, sinful, corrupt, and violent.

 

C.   Examples:

1.    Jesus hated evil when He cleansed the temple on two occasions (John 2:15-16; Matt. 21:12-13).

2.    Peter hated evil when he rebuked Simon for desiring the ability to lay hands on individuals and give them the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18-23).

3.    Paul hated the evil of Peter and the Jews who withdrew their fellowship from the Gentiles when the Jews from Jerusalem came to Antioch (Gal. 2:11-13).

4.    Jesus hated the evil of the churches of Asia when He exposed their wrong doings (Rev. 2-3).

 

D.   This admonition is found several times in the Old Testament.

1.    Psalm 97:10

 

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil…

 

2.    Proverbs 8:13

 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil…

 

3.    Amos 5:5

 

Hate the evil…

 

III.         CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD (Rom. 12:9c)

 

A.   The child of God is to have just the opposite response toward all that is good.  Instead of hating it, he is to “cleave” to it.

 

B.   Cleave:

1.    Strong (2853):  to glue, that is, to stick

2.    Thayer:  to glue, to glue together, cement, fasten firmly together

3.    Vine:  to join fast together

4.    Clarke:  unalterable attachment

 

C.   What is the definition of “good”?

1.    Strong (18):  good in any sense

2.    Thayer:  of a good constitution, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, excellent, upright, honorable

3.    Vine:  good in character and beneficial in its effect

 

D.   We should cleave to:

1.    Good people

2.    Good works

3.    Good congregations

4.    Good leaders

5.    Good teachers

6.    Good environments

7.    Good recreations

8.    Good occupations

9.    Good books

10. Good entertainment

 

IV.         BE KINDLY AFFECTIONED ONE TO ANOTHER WITH BROTHERLY LOVE (Rom. 12:10a)

 

A.   Paul exhorted the Romans to love without dissimulation in the previous verse.  This love can be practiced without the display of emotions.

 

B.   Now, he exhorts Christians to love with affection.

1.    He even begins with these words:  “Be ye kindly affectioned…”

a.    Strong (5387):  cherishing one’s kindred, especially parents and children, fond of natural relations

b.    Thayer:  loving affection, loving tenderly

c.    Vine:  tenderly loving

d.    Opposite:  spite, hatred, grudge, malice, resentment, contempt

2.    He ends with the words “brotherly love.”

a.    This is the love shared by brothers and sisters

b.    1 Peter 3:8

 

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another; love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

 

3.    If you wonder how this love is displayed, just ask:

a.    How do you love your parents?  Love your brothers and sisters like that.

b.    How do you love your children?  Love your brothers and sisters like that.

 

C.   This can be a difficult love for us to show one to another.

1.    It is not natural in the sense that it is born within us.

2.    We have to make a conscious decision to love our brethren with affection.

3.    There are times when our brethren cause our negative emotions to be displayed toward them.

 

V.           IN HONOUR PREFERRING ONE ANOTHER (Rom. 12:10b)

 

A.   The word “honour” is easy for all to understand.

1.    It involves reverence, esteem, and placing a high value upon another individual. 

2.    We are to be the throne upon which our brothers and sisters sit. 

a.    The throne highlights the individual.

b.    However, it is the individual who is of utmost value.

 

B.   The word “preferring” is an interesting term when we learn of its definition.

1.    It literally means “to go before” or “to show the way,” and “to take the lead.”

2.    Illustration:  Picture yourself at an awards show.  You are the MC for the night.  Even though you have a prominent role, you are not the one being honored that night.  It is your responsibility to announce the winner.  You go before the person who is to be honored and introduce him to the audience.  When his name is mentioned, you fade into the background.

3.    Example:

a.    Negative example:  Diotrephes (3 John 9) who loved to have the preeminence.

b.    Positive example:  John the Baptist

1)    John was told of Jesus’ increase in popularity (John 3:26).

 

And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

 

2)    John’s response is an example of a man preferring another before himself (John 3:30).

 

He must increase, and I must decrease.

 

C.   We need to be on high alert when the desire to have honor conferred upon ourselves rises within our hearts. 

1.    Sit down.  Be patient.  Let another honor you.  If you never receive honor here, the Lord will honor you in the world to come.

2.    Arise, go before others, and proclaim their honor, worth, and value.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The gospel is intended to govern every aspect of our lives.

 

B.   We do not realize how much that involves until we begin to look at some of the specific commands that the Lord has given to us.

 

C.   What’s interesting is that many of our obligations run contrary to how the world views things. 

 

D.   Too, we are called to do some difficult things, especially when it comes to our responsibilities to our brothers and sisters in Christ.