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Biblical references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible. Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James version of the Bible.
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Introduction.
A. When Moses went up on the mountain, he received two stone tables written by the finger of God.
1. These tablets contained "The Ten Commandments" to govern people in their relationship with Him and one another.
2. In near the same sense, Paul has in this section of scripture given us commandments from God to govern the Christian in his relationship with God and others.
3. It is in no way an exhaustive list.
B. After telling the Romans to transform their lives so as to think the way God wants them to think, Paul goes into a discussion of the change which must take place when our thinking does change.
1. If our thinking changes, then our actions are going to change also.
2. Our actions should change when we consider the great price that was paid to redeem us from those futile ways.
C. Evil is found in attitudes as well as actions.
1. Paul says that we must change both.
2. In this text, he teaches us how to shun evil and embrace good.
D. When we look at Christ on the cross, we should feel like changing right then and there.
1. If we don't, we might ought to question our heart perception.
2. Are we truly seeing what God has done in Jesus?
E. And by the way, this Paul was saying to everyone, weather they had or had not received a miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
1. As we look at this list, we many think that it would take the Holy Spirit working miracles in our lives.
2. What is takes is Jesus changing our lives through His word.
3. It is part of our "spiritual service of worship." as the NASB calls it.
F. And, by the way, when we serve one another through love, we are serving the Lord with love!
Body.
I. True Love Is "Sincere Love." (12:9).
A. The agape love which Paul speaks of here is not a feeling.
1. It is an action.
a. It is a learned action.
b. It violates what we naturally do.
2. Therefore, Paul says it breaks down into two actions.
a. Abhor that which is evil.
b. Clinging to that which is good.
3. To do otherwise is to love with hypocrisy.
a. Meaning of the word.
(1) unfeigned.
(2) undisguised.
(3) sincere.
4. Love responds to love.
a. Our love is in response to the love with which Jesus loved us.
5. True love responds to the needs of others.
a. God's love responded to our needs.
(1) Ephesians 5:2 -
"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. "
(2) Romans 15:14 -
"Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. "
B. Love is our guide for our lives in both our relationship with God and others.
1. But, remember that this is an action verb, not a feeling.
a. Certainly, it should have an impact upon our feelings.
b. When we do right, we feel good.
a. Our debts are to be debts of love only.
b. Love fulfills the commandments of the law involving our relationship with one another.
(1) And, it is also of our relationship with God.
(2) The 10 commandments were based upon love.
c. Without love, we're nothing but noise.
3. Love is the embodiment of Christ's way of life.
a. Love is not of the flesh, but of God. Romans 13:14.
b. Love develops us contrary to nature and makes us more spiritually mature.
Colossians 3:12-14.
4. Love is the motive toward genuine discipleship.
a. It opens to us the door to greater understanding of spiritual matters. Ephesians 3:16-19.
5. Love, as described above, is impossible apart from a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
a. John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
b. Love will keep us doing God will and seeking to please Him rather than ourselves.
John 15:4-12.
6. Love is the blood in the body of Christ.
a. In Christ, all the members of the body are immediately related to each other.
b. In Christ, all the members of the body are bound together in oneness.
c. In Christ, love flows from one to another in unfeigned genuineness; that is, love in the heart and not just in outward talk
1 John
3:16-18; 1 Peter
1:22; 4:8.
C. Love is the most important ingredient in the Christian and his/her relationship with all other people.
1. Love is not mentioned first by accident or careless thought. Galatians
5:22-23.
2. Love is the hinge upon which all other things are fastened. Colossians 3:14.
3. Love in this Section is parallel to what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians
13:1-8.
4. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul closed that chapter by saying,
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
5. If we don't get the love right, nothing else will connect.
II. Paul Discusses the Behavior of Sincere Love.
A. Love is genuine (12:9).
1. 1 Timothy 1:5 -
"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere
faith."
B. Love is discerning (12:9).
C. Love is fraternal (12:10).
D. Love is selfless (12:10).
2. "Preferring one another" over self is the honor shown by sincere love.
3. "Outdoing one another" in mutual service is the devotion kindled by sincere love.
E. Love is practical (12:11).
1. Diligent love never lags in zeal.
2. Glowing love is always fervent in spirit.
3. Serving love is always conscious of the Lord.
F. Love gives us a hope in which to rejoice (12:12).
G. Love gets us through the difficulties of life (12:12).
H. Love encourages us to remain in communication with the Lord (12:12).
I. Love is helpful (12:13).
1. Benevolent love shares with those in need, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.
Matthew 25:31-46.
2. Hospitable love keeps the heart and home open to serve God by being generous to people.
Hebrews
13:1-3; 1 Peter 4:9.
J. Love offers blessing against hostilities received (12:14)
Matthew 5:43-48.
K. Love feels what the other person feels and offers fellowship (12:15).
1. Jesus prayed that we might be one.
a. Without love, that is impossible.
b. Harmony in the body of Christ is the result of the love God offers.
2. It was His love which took Him to the cross to establish one body among all men.
M. Love is humble (12:16).
1. It is the opposite of high-mindedness (vain pride).
2. It is the opposite of arrogance and conceit.
P. Love leaves vengeance in the power of God, not self.
Q. Love will ultimately win.
2. "Do not be overcome by evil." "But overcome evil with good."
3. If we become like the evil which attacks us, then we are overcome by that evil.
4. It that case, evil wins!
Conclusion.
A. Will we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God?
B. In order to do so, we must learn how to love.
C. Paul isn't finished yet.
1. This carries on into our extended relationships with those even outside of Christ.
-- Don Treadway, January 2002 --
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