Living Life Together
Issues – April 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Living Life Together
Some Thoughts On Romans 12:9-21
Living Together In Love
Before we can have outreach for growth, we must focus on an in-reach for health! What we have in Romans 12:9-21, a life of love, can only happen when we are practicing Romans 12:1-2 privately and Romans 12:3-8 personally! Verses 1-2 are about a life of consecration, while verses 3-8 teach us about a life of humility. These two sections set the groundwork for living together in love.
Supernatural living, which is not possible in the natural man, is spoken about in Romans 12:9-21. It must be accomplished in the power of the Spirit of God in and through the life of one who has offered himself as a living sacrifice and is not thinking more highly of himself than he ought! A life of love together can only be accomplished when there is consecration and humiliation.
There are about 25 exhortations in Romans 12:9-21 which instruct us to use the gifts we have been given to build up others. But what is emphasized in these verses is not so much the service as the attitude of heart in that service. It is possible to serve outwardly – going through the motions and doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do – without having our hearts filled with the love of Christ. Paul mentioned this in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, where he wrote: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (NKJV).
It has been said, although the source is not known, that “love is the circulatory system of the spiritual body, which enables all the members to function in a healthy, harmonious way.” As we look at Romans 12 we will see that love – really, Christ in the heart – is to be displayed to fellow believers (vv.9-16) and to unbelievers (vv.17-21).
Personal Duties Of Love (Romans 12:9)
Paul began in verse 9 by saying, “Let love be without hypocrisy.” This is agape love – a God-given love that has been poured out in every Christian’s heart (5:5). It centers on the needs and welfare of others. Agape love is self-sacrificing love, which displays that we are children of God and followers of Christ (1 Jn. 4:7-16).
This love is to be shown “without hypocrisy,” meaning it is to be real and genuine, not false or pretend. In it we have the power to love and forgive one another (Eph. 4:32–5:2). It is the love that displays we are being filled or controlled by the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22-23).
Returning to Romans 12:9, we are instructed to “abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” “Abhor” has the idea of “shuddering with horror.” We are told in Proverbs, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (9:10) and, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil” (8:13). David determined, “A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness” (Ps. 101:4). Psalm 97:10 says, “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” We have this illustrated for us in Psalm 1:1-2, where we read: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
Love clings to what is good. This word “cling” is kollao in Greek. It has the thought of “to glue, bond.” As followers of Christ we are to glue ourselves to whatever is good. This word for “good” in Romans 12:9 is agathos, meaning “that which is inherently good.” With this in mind, think of the instruction of Philippians 4:8, which says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 instructs us to “test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” We are to cling to what is good!
Duties To Other Believers (Romans 12:10-13)
We have seen that love is to be pure (v.9), but the apostle went on to further describe the characteristics of love as being personal (v.10), passionate (v.11), positive (v.12) and practical (v.12).
We are told, “Be kindly affectionate to one another” (v.10). “Be kindly” has the thought of “devoted to.” It combines two words for love: phileo, which means “brotherly love,” and storge, speaking of family love. Then Paul said that this affectionate or devoted love is to be carried out “with brotherly love” (v.10), which is philadelphia love – to have tender affection for another. This is what the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:35).
This love reflects our new nature! It is a love that gives “preference to” (Rom. 12:10) others, honoring them above ourselves – even above our own views or opinions. It is what Paul was referring to in Philippians 2:1-5, setting the Lord Jesus before us as the perfect example. In that passage we read: “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
In Romans 12:11 Paul went on to challenge us in our love for one another in the assembly, “not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” We are not to be lazy in our zeal and intensity as we live together and love one another. We are to be “fervent in spirit,” literally “boiling over.” We are not to grow weary or lose heart in doing good (Gal. 6:9). “Whatever” we are doing should be done “heartily, as to the Lord” (Col. 3:23). Truly, as we live together we are to love one another as service to the Lord.
It might be good to note that Paul used three different words for “service” in this chapter. In verse 1 he used latreia, which is a service of worship. Then in verse 7 he wrote diakonia, pertaining to practical service. In verse 11 we find douleuo, referring to the service of a bondslave. As I serve in the assembly, it is not about me or my rights; I serve the Lord as a bond servant, who does not have any rights. I am here to do my Master’s will.
This service is to be done “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (v.12). Paul mentioned “hope” throughout this book as an incentive or encouragement for us (5:3-5, 8:24-25, 15:13). This hope is what helps us to persevere in trials and our interactions with people we view as trying.
Philippians speaks of having joy in spite of our circumstances, people and things (Phil. 1–3, respectively). The fourth chapter tells us that joy defeats worry. This joy comes to the one who is steadfast in prayer (Rom. 12:12), which ought to mark the local assembly (Acts 1:14, 2:42).
Acts 2 also tells us how the believers met the physical needs that arose in the assembly. The word in Romans 12:13 for “distributing to the needs” can be translated as “sharing” or “fellowshiping.” Again, this takes us back to the early church. We notice there that they knew what the needs were because they were in each others’ homes (Acts 2:46). They were quite apparently “given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:13).
Duties To All People (Romans 12:14-16)
“Bless those who persecute you” (v.14) sounds like the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5. It is exactly what the Lord Jesus did: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:21-23). How do we react when someone hurts us or does not treat us the way we think we should be treated?
We are instructed to rejoice with those who rejoice, but sometimes we do just the opposite. How do we respond when something good happens to others, when they get a new car or a new house or get a raise at work? Do we rejoice with them? How do we respond when others suffer? First Corinthians 12:26 reminds us that “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
In Romans 12:16 the Spirit of God puts His finger on the origin of so many difficulties: “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” Here he mentioned self-seeking pride and conceit. This reminds us of James 4:1-10: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’? But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Duties To Enemies (Romans 12:17-21)
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all” (Rom. 12:17). These words are very close to what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” Peter expressed similar words, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Pet. 3:8-9).
Paul, in Romans 12:18, went on to challenge us: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Later in this letter he returned to this subject: “Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (14:19). Whether it is to our enemy or to a brother or sister in Christ, we ought to be a peacemaker.
There are three types of people: peacemakers, peacekeepers and troublemakers. Obviously, troublemakers are not scriptural. A peacekeeper is one who seeks peace at any cost, which is not scriptural either. The Lord desires us to be peacemakers. This means we might have to confront issues, and for that God has given us instructions in His Word. We should not just sweep problems under the rug, so to speak, nor should we let our problems or differences divide us. We need to seek the things that make for peace. Romans 14 clearly instructs us on how to deal with differences of liberty. Matthew 5:21-26 and 18:15-20 teach us how to deal with offenses, and a number of other passages, such as 1 Corinthians 5, helps us to know what to do when sin is involved.
The closing verses of Romans 12 remind us to leave matters in the Lord’s hands. We must be in subjection to the Lord and not take things into our own hands. When it comes to the Assembly, we need to remember it is His Assembly.
I would like to close with these verses from Ephesians: “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (4:11-16).
By Timothy P. Hadley
“For the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12 KJV) is the specific object of ministry. This never fails; and it is done in various ways, for we find various differences among the saints. Individual perfecting is the direct object of Christ that each individual should grow up to the standard of Christ. Then comes the increase of the body. — John N. Darby (adapted)