What about love?
Biblical understanding of love
Biblical command to love one another
Biblical foundation of church living
Living out the Gospel (Romans 12-16)
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:3-8 Living as a body of Christ
Sober-judgement, humility, diversity, serving one another.
What is the love in a Christian community like?
Romans 12:9-10
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Love is not hypocritical
“Love must be sincere” (v9a)
Love differentiates good and evil
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (v9b)
Love is affectionate devotion
Be devoted to another in love (NIV) (v10a)
Love one another with brotherly affection (ESV)
φιλόστοργος (philostorgos)
φιλαδελφία (philadelphia)
Love takes initiative to honour others
Honor one another above yourselves (v10b)
Is such love possible?
Love is not hypocritical
Love differentiates good and evil
Love is affectionate devotion
Love takes initiative to honour others
Being devoted to one another in the early church (Romans 16)
Relational
- Phoebe was a “benefactor” of Paul (v.2)
- Prisca and Aquila “risked their lives” for Paul (v.4)
- Paul calls numerous people “dear friend” (v.5, 8, 9, 12)
- Mother of Rufus was “a mother to me” (v.13)
Diverse
Serving in different capacities
- Travelling (v.2-4),
- Witnessing (v.5, 10-11, 13),
- Suffering (v.4, 7)
- Giving financially (v.2)
- Hosting churches, and people (v.5, 23)
Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Being devoted to one another in our church
