Living the Transformed Life! - Romans 12:9-21
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 18, 2007 AM
There is an old adage that states: “What you do speaks louder than what you say.” This could not be more true than as it is seen in the life of the Christian. There is almost a myopic phobia in Christian circles today that does not want to mention the word “responsibility” in connection to Christian living. The fear stems from the absurd notion that if we “offend” the unsaved they will not want to hear about Jesus. Also, there are those who think that this might in some way be an endorsement for the believer to try and gain God’s approval. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not in support of works, but rather what is to spiritually occur after the love of God transforms the life of a believer. Paul would say that it is how a believer lives the transformed life.
The transformed life is displayed in every responsibility, attitude, action and reaction, and relationship the Christian has in life. And as believers in Christ we are accountable to the Lord for each area. My father would say, You are a Hemen, now act like one.” My mother would tease us by declaring, “You act just like your Dad, a Hemen!” At first I did not understand what that meant. My father was not holding up some ancestral tradition that enslaved me to a specific way of living, but rather an expectation of how I would act in the world as a young man. In this, my father set a high standard. God does as well. Paul teaches us what living the transformed life means.
READ: Romans 12:9-21
Someone once asked Vice President Cheney how the White House defines excellence in journalism. The Vice President, in his blunt but dry wit, quickly answered: “I’ll know it when I see it.” It was kind of a backhanded response to the one-sided nature of the press. This is kind of what Paul was trying to portray to his Roman readers as well. Paul knew a Christian when he saw one, and seeing for Paul was an experiential thing. He did not pull any punches in relating exactly what he would find in a life that was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. For Paul, living the transformed life meant…
I. A believer has sacrificial responsibilities to one another! (vv. 9-10, 13)
1. Responsibilities begin at “home,” so-to-speak, in the family of God! Paul began specific exhortations on how the church was to act with the key ingredient for success in holy living – “agape” sacrificial love. He starts with the notion that “Love must be sincere.” True sacrificial love must be. It cannot contain a false piety that only outwardly shows empathy, it must act. Saying, “I feel your pain,” means nothing. In godly agape love, the believer is always to “hate what is evil.” Anything that even hints at evil should be avoided by the believer. Is it because we are fearful of being “tainted” by the world? NO! Instead we should always want to “cling to what is good” because the ultimate goodness of God lives in us! The Christian does this by “being devoted to one another in brotherly love!” Paul is speaking of Christian unity in the church. How is this possible? By honoring “one another above yourselves.” How do we do this in a real way? Christians are called to “share with God’s people who are in need,” and we are called to “practice hospitality.” Notice this is directed to God’s people for God’s people. If we cannot take care of and envelop our own, who will? The world? Paul is telling his readers that a transformed life will display a godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another!
EXAMPLE: There are churches today that “win” a lot of people to Christ, but they do not disciple a lot of people for God’s kingdom. They think that all there is, is to come to Jesus and that is enough. To disciple someone takes time, effort, and being involved. I fear that many who think they know Christ, have no clue at all what the transformed life truly is about. Many have accepted a spiritual concept rather than a life changing accountability. You cannot sit in a darkened room and watch a TV screen and have a relationship with God that is reasonable and responsible. You will live it out in your church. A transformed life will display a Godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another!
For Paul, living the transformed life also meant…
II. A believer watches his attitude! (vv. 11-12)
1. The life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit radically alters the way a person lives! This is why I often tell folks not to worry about “cleaning” their lives up for God. God will do it, if you are sincere in your faith! It is a fact that people who say that they are “Christian” will display certain attitudes because they have been spiritually changed from the inside out. Paul tells his readers to be “never lacking in zeal.” Literally, the idea is that a believer will always be diligent in their faith! In fact, Paul relates the Christian is to “keep” their “spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Not because they “have to” or because it is “required” of them. It is who they are in Christ! They will display attitudes that focus not on themselves, their problems, or their meager little world. Instead, you find them looking life squarely in the eye and being intentionally “joyful in hope (confident trust), patient in affliction (keep on keeping on),” and “faithful in prayer (not allowing Satan an opportunity)!” What a marked difference to the attitude that is often encouraged and displayed by today’s “me-first” society! The transformed life will display a godly attitude!
EXAMPLE: I find it odd when people actually want to be a part of a church where the pastor never associates with the “common folk.” Where you have to schedule a meeting with an underling rather than break bread with the actual shepherd of the flock. And, I find it personally repugnant when pastors are not willing to get their hands “dirty” in the actual work of the church. I have witnessed pastors who treat others with disdain as if they were “owed” their position. This is not who Jesus was and it should not be found in His church here on earth. A transformed life watches his attitude.
For Paul, living the transformed life also meant…
III. A believer controls his actions and reactions! (vv. 14-16)
1. How the person responds to a personal slight, an unkind comment, or an unwarranted offense displays their spiritual foundation! Paul knew that being falsely accused is often hard to take. But perhaps he thought of Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) and of Jesus Christ (Luke 23:34). They both modeled these words and responded to persecution even to death by praying for God’s forgiveness for their persecutors. The principal of non-retaliation and not taking personal vengeance is found throughout the pages of the New Testament. Why? It is based on the loving mercy of God. This is no silly endorsement of pacifism, but rather one of personal commitment. If we have been shown God’s mercy, we are to display God’s mercy. Christians are therefore to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” How is this done? By actively living “in harmony with one another, by no being “proud,” but by our willingness “to associate with people of low position.” Harmony is not found in compromising your faith, but in a mutual understanding God’s way of thinking. If Jesus was humble enough to come to earth and die for us, we should “not be conceited.” Our actions, again, speak louder than our words ever do. A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions!
EXAMPLE: There are special classes in the public school where children, that cannot control their behavior, are taught. It takes a lot of patience and endurance to do this. These children cannot be in a regular classroom because of their wild and uncontrollable conduct. For some it is because of medical or psychological conditions, while for others it is simply because their parents have made very poor lifestyle choices or they refuse to make sure their children control their actions. When families have these kinds of problems they are called dysfunctional. When someone who is supposedly a Christian constantly behaves in an ungodly way, they are spiritually dysfunctional. A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions.
For Paul, living the transformed life finally meant…
IV. A believer understands his relationship to the world! (vv. 17-21)
1. The church and the Christian are not to act like the world they are part of! Although it is important that Christians take great pains to do what is right in the eyes of God, it is also essential that what we do is seen as godly by the world. While we are living in the world, we are never to acquiesce our morals or ethical standards to the world’s in order to “fit in.” Paul bluntly tells his readers, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” And then he ratcheted it up a notch and states, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone!” Everyone? How!? Sometimes, it may not be possible because the gospel message by its very nature can be contentious! Namely, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) However, believers are not to “take revenge,” but we are called to “leave room for God’s wrath.” It is His right as our Heavenly Father to “avenge” and “repay” the evil done to us because of His Son’s name. How is this possible? Paul reminds us that we are not to “be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We do this when our “enemy is hungry,” we “feed him.” When they are “thirsty,” we “give him something to drink.” By our doing this in the right spirit, we “heap burning coals on his head.” Does Paul mean that this is our revenge? NO! The “burning coals” refers to repentance on the part of the “enemy.” Our goal is to do such Godly goodness, even when we are hated for it, that our enemies would repent and turn to Jesus! A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
EXAMPLE: There are bugs that look like thorns, leaves, or twigs. There are lizards that change within seconds to the pattern and color of the background they are resting on. God created them this way so they could survive by blending in. Yet for the Christian, God did not make us new in His Spirit so that we would blend in to the world around us. Quite the opposite is true. Sadly there are those who have made the body of Christ in the color and shape of the ungodly world instead. They think that by making it easier for the ungodly to feel comfortable it will result in more people being won to the kingdom. But does it really do this? We see no change in our society, communities, or churches in reaching the lost and dying world. I fear that while many are claiming they “know” Christ, most have no clue what it means. While they feel good about themselves emotionally, they are not transformed spiritually. A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
Conclusion:
We covered a lot of ground today. In these verses Paul teaches us that a transformed life will display a Godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another! The transformed life will display a godly attitude! A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions! A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
March 18, 2007 AM
There is an old adage that states: “What you do speaks louder than what you say.” This could not be more true than as it is seen in the life of the Christian. There is almost a myopic phobia in Christian circles today that does not want to mention the word “responsibility” in connection to Christian living. The fear stems from the absurd notion that if we “offend” the unsaved they will not want to hear about Jesus. Also, there are those who think that this might in some way be an endorsement for the believer to try and gain God’s approval. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not in support of works, but rather what is to spiritually occur after the love of God transforms the life of a believer. Paul would say that it is how a believer lives the transformed life.
The transformed life is displayed in every responsibility, attitude, action and reaction, and relationship the Christian has in life. And as believers in Christ we are accountable to the Lord for each area. My father would say, You are a Hemen, now act like one.” My mother would tease us by declaring, “You act just like your Dad, a Hemen!” At first I did not understand what that meant. My father was not holding up some ancestral tradition that enslaved me to a specific way of living, but rather an expectation of how I would act in the world as a young man. In this, my father set a high standard. God does as well. Paul teaches us what living the transformed life means.
READ: Romans 12:9-21
Someone once asked Vice President Cheney how the White House defines excellence in journalism. The Vice President, in his blunt but dry wit, quickly answered: “I’ll know it when I see it.” It was kind of a backhanded response to the one-sided nature of the press. This is kind of what Paul was trying to portray to his Roman readers as well. Paul knew a Christian when he saw one, and seeing for Paul was an experiential thing. He did not pull any punches in relating exactly what he would find in a life that was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. For Paul, living the transformed life meant…
I. A believer has sacrificial responsibilities to one another! (vv. 9-10, 13)
1. Responsibilities begin at “home,” so-to-speak, in the family of God! Paul began specific exhortations on how the church was to act with the key ingredient for success in holy living – “agape” sacrificial love. He starts with the notion that “Love must be sincere.” True sacrificial love must be. It cannot contain a false piety that only outwardly shows empathy, it must act. Saying, “I feel your pain,” means nothing. In godly agape love, the believer is always to “hate what is evil.” Anything that even hints at evil should be avoided by the believer. Is it because we are fearful of being “tainted” by the world? NO! Instead we should always want to “cling to what is good” because the ultimate goodness of God lives in us! The Christian does this by “being devoted to one another in brotherly love!” Paul is speaking of Christian unity in the church. How is this possible? By honoring “one another above yourselves.” How do we do this in a real way? Christians are called to “share with God’s people who are in need,” and we are called to “practice hospitality.” Notice this is directed to God’s people for God’s people. If we cannot take care of and envelop our own, who will? The world? Paul is telling his readers that a transformed life will display a godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another!
EXAMPLE: There are churches today that “win” a lot of people to Christ, but they do not disciple a lot of people for God’s kingdom. They think that all there is, is to come to Jesus and that is enough. To disciple someone takes time, effort, and being involved. I fear that many who think they know Christ, have no clue at all what the transformed life truly is about. Many have accepted a spiritual concept rather than a life changing accountability. You cannot sit in a darkened room and watch a TV screen and have a relationship with God that is reasonable and responsible. You will live it out in your church. A transformed life will display a Godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another!
For Paul, living the transformed life also meant…
II. A believer watches his attitude! (vv. 11-12)
1. The life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit radically alters the way a person lives! This is why I often tell folks not to worry about “cleaning” their lives up for God. God will do it, if you are sincere in your faith! It is a fact that people who say that they are “Christian” will display certain attitudes because they have been spiritually changed from the inside out. Paul tells his readers to be “never lacking in zeal.” Literally, the idea is that a believer will always be diligent in their faith! In fact, Paul relates the Christian is to “keep” their “spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Not because they “have to” or because it is “required” of them. It is who they are in Christ! They will display attitudes that focus not on themselves, their problems, or their meager little world. Instead, you find them looking life squarely in the eye and being intentionally “joyful in hope (confident trust), patient in affliction (keep on keeping on),” and “faithful in prayer (not allowing Satan an opportunity)!” What a marked difference to the attitude that is often encouraged and displayed by today’s “me-first” society! The transformed life will display a godly attitude!
EXAMPLE: I find it odd when people actually want to be a part of a church where the pastor never associates with the “common folk.” Where you have to schedule a meeting with an underling rather than break bread with the actual shepherd of the flock. And, I find it personally repugnant when pastors are not willing to get their hands “dirty” in the actual work of the church. I have witnessed pastors who treat others with disdain as if they were “owed” their position. This is not who Jesus was and it should not be found in His church here on earth. A transformed life watches his attitude.
For Paul, living the transformed life also meant…
III. A believer controls his actions and reactions! (vv. 14-16)
1. How the person responds to a personal slight, an unkind comment, or an unwarranted offense displays their spiritual foundation! Paul knew that being falsely accused is often hard to take. But perhaps he thought of Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) and of Jesus Christ (Luke 23:34). They both modeled these words and responded to persecution even to death by praying for God’s forgiveness for their persecutors. The principal of non-retaliation and not taking personal vengeance is found throughout the pages of the New Testament. Why? It is based on the loving mercy of God. This is no silly endorsement of pacifism, but rather one of personal commitment. If we have been shown God’s mercy, we are to display God’s mercy. Christians are therefore to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” How is this done? By actively living “in harmony with one another, by no being “proud,” but by our willingness “to associate with people of low position.” Harmony is not found in compromising your faith, but in a mutual understanding God’s way of thinking. If Jesus was humble enough to come to earth and die for us, we should “not be conceited.” Our actions, again, speak louder than our words ever do. A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions!
EXAMPLE: There are special classes in the public school where children, that cannot control their behavior, are taught. It takes a lot of patience and endurance to do this. These children cannot be in a regular classroom because of their wild and uncontrollable conduct. For some it is because of medical or psychological conditions, while for others it is simply because their parents have made very poor lifestyle choices or they refuse to make sure their children control their actions. When families have these kinds of problems they are called dysfunctional. When someone who is supposedly a Christian constantly behaves in an ungodly way, they are spiritually dysfunctional. A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions.
For Paul, living the transformed life finally meant…
IV. A believer understands his relationship to the world! (vv. 17-21)
1. The church and the Christian are not to act like the world they are part of! Although it is important that Christians take great pains to do what is right in the eyes of God, it is also essential that what we do is seen as godly by the world. While we are living in the world, we are never to acquiesce our morals or ethical standards to the world’s in order to “fit in.” Paul bluntly tells his readers, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” And then he ratcheted it up a notch and states, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone!” Everyone? How!? Sometimes, it may not be possible because the gospel message by its very nature can be contentious! Namely, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) However, believers are not to “take revenge,” but we are called to “leave room for God’s wrath.” It is His right as our Heavenly Father to “avenge” and “repay” the evil done to us because of His Son’s name. How is this possible? Paul reminds us that we are not to “be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” We do this when our “enemy is hungry,” we “feed him.” When they are “thirsty,” we “give him something to drink.” By our doing this in the right spirit, we “heap burning coals on his head.” Does Paul mean that this is our revenge? NO! The “burning coals” refers to repentance on the part of the “enemy.” Our goal is to do such Godly goodness, even when we are hated for it, that our enemies would repent and turn to Jesus! A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
EXAMPLE: There are bugs that look like thorns, leaves, or twigs. There are lizards that change within seconds to the pattern and color of the background they are resting on. God created them this way so they could survive by blending in. Yet for the Christian, God did not make us new in His Spirit so that we would blend in to the world around us. Quite the opposite is true. Sadly there are those who have made the body of Christ in the color and shape of the ungodly world instead. They think that by making it easier for the ungodly to feel comfortable it will result in more people being won to the kingdom. But does it really do this? We see no change in our society, communities, or churches in reaching the lost and dying world. I fear that while many are claiming they “know” Christ, most have no clue what it means. While they feel good about themselves emotionally, they are not transformed spiritually. A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
Conclusion:
We covered a lot of ground today. In these verses Paul teaches us that a transformed life will display a Godly loving sacrificial responsibility to one another! The transformed life will display a godly attitude! A transformed life will have control of its actions and reactions! A transformed life understands its relationship to the world!
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