LESSON 9 RELATIONSHIPS
ROMANS 12
Our relationship to God 12:1-2
Therefore: “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” (J.B.Phillips)
Christian life and worship that is consecrated and acceptable to God is a response to the mercies of God in both physical and mental aspects as an act of intelligent sacrifice. It is counter-cultural, healthy and productive and fulfills the purpose of God for your life. It is the highest and best use of your life. Our offerings are not just monetary but represent our entire life responding to the grace of God.
Our relationship to ourselves: thinking soberly about our gifts 12:3-8
Our self esteem should be balanced: not too high nor too low according to our faith in Christ and membership of his body with seven different speaking and serving gifts of grace.
Our relationship to one another: love in the family of God 12:9-16
12 components of love: 1. Sincerity, 2. Discernment, 3. Affection, 4. Honor, 5. Enthusiasm, 6. Patience, 7. Generosity, 8. Hospitality, 9. Good will, 10. Sympathy, 11. Harmony, 12. Humility.
Our relationship to our enemies: not retaliation but service 12:17-21
Retaliation and revenge are absolutely forbidden to the followers of Jesus (Matt.5:39ff.; Luke 6:27ff.. Instead we are to pursue peace. Retaliation and punishment belong to God. We are to leave it to the wrath of God which is expressed now through the state’s administration of justice (13:4) and the final judgment on the day of God’s wrath (2:5). Seek the welfare of your enemy. Paul draws a vital distinction between the duty of private citizens to love and serve the evildoer, and the duty of public servants, as official agents of God’s wrath, to bring him to trial and, if convicted, to punish him. Overcome evil with good. This is the way of the cross.
CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORS
ROMANS 13
Our relationship to the state: conscientious citizenship 13:1-7
The authority of the state (1-3) The authority of the state is derived from God from whom all authority exists and flows. Therefore, we are required as citizens to respect and honor such authority (that is what submit means). However, we are to submit only up to the point where obedience to the state would entail disobedience to God. If the state commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, then our plain Christian duty is to resist, not to submit, to disobey the state in order to obey God (Acts 5:29). This is the strict meaning of civil disobedience, namely disobeying a particular human law because it is contrary to God’s law. Whenever laws are enacted which contradict God’s law, civil disobedience becomes a Christian duty. Compare this teaching with Revelation 13 where the state is no longer seen as the servant of God, but as the ally of the devil.
The ministry of the state (4-7). The state’s functions are to promote and reward the good, and to restrain and punish evil. It has the power of life and death, the coercive power of the police and the military. It has the power to tax to pay for state services. All state officials should be respected and honored.
Our relationship to the law: neighbor-love as its fulfilment 13:8-10
Love is an unpaid debt. We can never love enough to fulfill our obligation to others.
Love is the fulfilment of the law. Love is defined by the moral law. Love cannot manage on its own without an objective moral standard. Love and law need each other. Love needs law for its direction, while law needs love for its inspiration. The contemporary slogan “love is love” is vacuous without definition.
Love does no harm to its neighbor. The second table of the moral law prohibits doing harm to others.
Our relationship to the day: living in the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’ 13:11-14
Understanding the time (11-12a). At present two ages overlap: this age and the age to come. The hour has come to wake up because our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The old age is nearly over, the day of Christ’s return is almost here. We live in the last days.
Understanding what is appropriate to the time (12b-14). We live in the daytime, not the night and should behave accordingly. We need protection (armor) of the Lord Jesus Christ and rejection of the desires of our sinful nature. This was the message given St. Augustine which precipitated his conversion to Christ. It is a decisive action.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
- What does it mean to “heap burning coals on his head”?
- How can you distinguish between your Christian duty to love your enemy and leave vengeance to the Lord, and your duty as an official of the state to punish evil?
- What do you do when the state passes laws which contradict God’s law?
- How do you respond to those who claim that any kind of love is love?
- What does it mean to you to live in the last days and salvation is near?
- Augustine had to decide whether he would get his life in order and follow Christ or continue to live frivolously. How relevant is this message today?
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