AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS
ROMANS 13:8-14
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HONORED OUR VETERANS DURING OUR SERVICE THIS MORNING, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE BIBLE USES MANY MILITARY ILLUSTRATIONS, LEADS US TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT WE TRULY ARE SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS.
WHEN I CONSIDER THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE TODAY, AND THE VETERANS FROM PAST YEARS, THREE WORDS COME TO MIND: COURAGE, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION. OBVIOUSLY WITHIN THESE THREE WORDS THERE ARE SEVERAL BRANCHES.
PAUL IS REMINDING US HERE, THAT AS CHRISTIANS IN GOD’S ARMY, WE HAVE TO UPHOLD THOSE SAME STANDARDS. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS, POLITICAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND RELIGIOUS. HE HAD STATED THAT WHEN CALLED UPON WHERE BIBLICALLY POSSIBLE WE ARE TO SUBMIT TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY AS A PUBLIC WITNESS AS TO HOW WE ARE TO SUBMIT TO CHRIST.
PAUL USES THIS PASSAGE TO HAVE US DEAL WITH THE MOTIVATION FOR FULFILLING OUR CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITIES. I WOULD GO AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT IF OUR MOTIVATION ISN’T PROPER, THEN OUR ACTIONS WILL NOT BE PROPLER AS WELL.
I’M REMINDED OF A CHURCH THAT WAS SEARCHING FOR A MINISTER. TWO MEN WERE INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE CHURCH. ONE WAS AN OLDER MORE POLISHED PREACHER, THE OTHER A YOUNGER, NERVOUS, PREACHER JUST OUT OF DIVINITY SCHOOL. NEITHER KNEW THAT THE OTHER HAD BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK, AND BY COINCIDENCE THEY BOTH SPOKE ON THE TOPIC OF HELL.
THE YOUNG MAN DID NOT THINK HE DID PARTICULARLY WELL. HE WAS EMOTIONAL, AND HAD TO STOP A FEW TIMES DURING THE SERVICE TO COLLECT HIMSELF. HE WAS CAUGHT BY SURPRISE WHEN A FEW DAYS LATER HE WAS CALLED BY THE CHURCH TO BE THEIR PASTOR.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, AS HE WAS HAVING LUCH WITH A DEACON, HE REMARKED THAT HE WAS STILL SURPRISED THAT THEY ISSUED THE CALL TO HIM.
THE DEACON LOOKED HIM STRAIGHT ON AND SAID, “THE OTHER MAN WAS A MUCH BETTER SPEAKER THAN YOU WERE. BUT THERE WAS ONE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU THAT WE COULDN’T IGNORE. THE REASON THAT YOU HAD A DIFFICULT TIME, WAS BECAUSE WHEN YOU SPOKE ON HELL, YOU HAD TEARS IN YOUR EYES AND AN ACHE IN YOUR HEART. THAT’S THE MAN WE WANT.”
MOTIVATION BEHIND ACTION IS THE KEY. WE SAW IT WHEN WE SPOKE ON LOVE.
ROMANS 12:20: IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO DRINK. IN DOING THIS, YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.
DOESN’T THIS LOOK LIKE THE PERFECT WAY TO GET REVENGE. I’LL FEED MY ENEMY AND TREAT HIM ALL RIGHT, AND THIS WILL JUST ADD TO HIS MISERY WHEN GOD FINISHES WITH HIM. I’LL DO IT, BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT AGAPE.
SOMEHOW WE MISSED THE VERSE BEFORE THIS:
ROMANS 12:19: DO NOT TAKE REVENGE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD’S WRATH, FOR IT IS WRITTEN: “IT IS MINE TO AVENGE; I WILL REPAY,” N SAYS THE LORD
LETS GO TO THE PASSAGE NOW.
ROMANS 13:8-9:
LET NO DEBT REMAIN OUTSTANDING, EXCEPT THE CONTINUING DEBT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR WHOEVER LOVES OTHERS HAS FULFILLED THE LAW. 9 THE COMMANDMENTS, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,” “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,” “YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” Y AND WHATEVER OTHER COMMAND THERE MAY BE, ARE SUMMED UP IN THIS ONE COMMAND: “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” A 10 LOVE DOES NO HARM TO A NEIGHBOR. THEREFORE LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WE LOOK AT THESE VERSES FROM A GENERAL POINT OF VIEW, AS A TEACHING THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO ALL SITUATIONS OF LIFE, AND NOT MERELY FINANCIAL.
THIS IS GOOD TEACHING ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, BUT I BELIEVE IT CAN ALSO BE APPLIED TO OTHER DEBTS THAT WE OWE IN OUR DAILY LIVES. SOME TRANSLATIONS OF THE LORD’S PRAYER INCLUDE THIS STATEMENT:
MATTHEW 6:12: AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAID THAT WE OWE SOMEONE FOR THE WAY THEY HAVE ENHANCED OUR LIVES? THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WE OWE DEBTS OF GRATITUDE TO. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, I THINK ESPECIALLY OF OUR WAR VETERANS. THEY CARRY WITHIN THEM THE HORRORS OF WAR THAT THEY LIVED AND WENT THROUGH SO THAT YOU AND I WOULD NOT HAVE TO.
SOME CARRY THE EFFECTS OF THAT WAR THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. SOME HAVE MISSING LIMBS, AND ARE MISSING PHYSICAL SENSES LIKE SIGHT, HEARING, OR TOUCH. OTHERS HAVE MENTAL PICTURES OF PAIN AND HORROR THAT THEY CHOSE TO BURY DEEPLY WITHIN THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM THEM.
THESE PEOPLE AND MILLIONS OF FAMILIES DEALT WITH BROKEN BODIES, BROKEN MINDS, AND BROKEN DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT YOU AND I COULD HAVE A FUTURE. YES WE OWE OUR VETERANS.
WE HAVE SPECIAL PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES TO WHOM WE OWE A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS AND RESPECT. OUR FAMILIES, OUR EMPLOYERS, OUR GOVERNMENTS, PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE, ALL WORK TOWARDS MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER.
MOST OF ALL THOUGH WE OWE A DEBT THAT WE COULD NEVER HOPE TO REPAY TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. HE CHOSE TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE FOR OURS, TO TAKE ON OUR GUILTY SIN NATURE SO THAT WE COULD BE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS.
WE CANNOT REPAY THAT DEBT. IF WE COULD SALVATION WOULD NOT BE A FREE GIFT. WHAT WE CAN DO IS RECOGNIZE THE DEBT, AND PAY IT PARTIALLY BY ACCEPTING CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR AND BY LIVING FOR HIM UNDER HIS LORDSHIP. REMEMBER WHAT WE ARE TOLD IN VERSE SEVEN.
ROMANS 13:7: GIVE TO EVERYONE WHAT YOU OWE THEM: IF YOU OWE TAXES, PAY TAXES; IF REVENUE, THEN REVENUE; IF RESPECT, THEN RESPECT; IF HONOR, THEN HONOR.
THIS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHT FOR VERSE 8, AS THEY ARE THE DEBTS THAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT. IT IS HERE THOUGH THAT HE ADDS THE DETAIL OF THE MOTIVATION FOR PAYING OUR DEBT, AND THAT MOTIVATION IS AGAPE.
I HEAR SO MANY CHRISTIANS SAYING I DID THIS OR THAT, AND I DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN. I KNOW I’LL BE REWARDED IN HEAVEN. WHILE THIS MAY BE TRUE IT IS NOT AGAPE. FIRST IT IS A PRIDEFUL STATEMENT, TRUE AGAPE DOESN’T BOAST OF THE THINGS THEY DO FOR THE LORD. SECOND IT IS A SELFISH STATEMENT, AS WE ARE NOT DOING THIS FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S BENEFIT, WE ARE DOING IT TO BUILD UP OUR REWARD IN HEAVEN. IT’S ABOUT US. THIS IS AT THE MOST PHILEO, TRUE AGAPE DOES NEITHER.
CONSIDER THESE GREAT STATEMENTS FROM VERSES 9-10.
ROMANS 13:9-10:
WHATEVER OTHER COMMAND THERE MAY BE, ARE SUMMED UP IN THIS ONE COMMAND: “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” A 10 LOVE DOES NO HARM TO A NEIGHBOR. THEREFORE LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.
PAUL CALLS US TO PRACTICE AGAPE AS OUR MEANS OF REPAYING THE AGAPE THAT CHRIST SHOWED TO US AT CALVARY. HE DOES SO BECAUSE OF THE SHORTNESS OF TIME THAT THERE IS BEFORE THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. CONSIDER HIS WORDS IN VERSES 11 AND 12.
ROMANS 13:11-12:
11 AND DO THIS, UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENT TIME: THE HOUR HAS ALREADY COME FOR YOU TO WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER, BECAUSE OUR SALVATION IS NEARER NOW THAN WHEN WE FIRST BELIEVED. 12 THE NIGHT IS NEARLY OVER; THE DAY IS ALMOST HERE. SO LET US PUT ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT.
PAUL IS TELLING US TO WAKE UP FROM OUR SPIRITUAL SLUMBER AND TO REALIZE THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM. AS BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN THE LORD IS GOING TO RETURN AND CLAIM HIS CHURCH. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE TRIBUALTION IS GOING TO FOLLOW THIS, AND IT WILL BE LITERALLY HELL ON EARTH FOR THOSE WHO ARE LEFT.
THAT HOUR DRAWS CLOSER WITH EACH BREATH WE TAKE. IT WILL BE AN AVERAGE TYPE OF DAY. THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. THE DESCRIPTION IS QUITE CLEAR IN MATTHEW 24. THERE IS AN APOSTACY IN THE WORLD TODAY THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN HISTORY.
PEOPLE ON ALL THE CONTINENTS ARE BEING KILLED BECAUSE THEY ARE CHRISTIANS. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DYING FOR THEIR FAITH. PEOPLE ARE BEING SINGLED OUT AND SHOT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN GOD. HAROLD TOLD ME THAT TODAY IS THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS.
AN AVERAGE OF 159,960 CHRISTIANS ARE MARTYREDA RECENT FOR THEIR FAITH PER YEAR, OR AN AVERAGE OF 1 EVERY FIVE MINUTES, FROM 2010 DATA. A RECENT 100 HUNTLEY STREET PROGRAM HAD AN AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 170-185 CHRISTIANS PER WEEK ARE MARTYRED FOR THEIR FAITH IN 2015.
THE DAYS OF THIS WORLD ARE NUMBERED, AND WHETHER IT IS IN 10 YEARS, 10 MINUTES, OR 100 YEARS FROM NOW THIS WORLD IS GOING TO COME TO AN END. SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO IN THE MEANTIME.
ROMANS 13:14: RATHER, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND DO NOT THINK ABOUT HOW TO GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.
PAUL CALLS US TO LIVE AS CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS TO THIS WORLD WHILE WE ARE IN IT. WE ARE TO SHOW THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD THE LOVE THAT CHRIST SHOWED TO US. THIS WORLD IS A DARK EVIL PLACE, AND IN SUCH A PLACE A SINGLE LIGHT CAN SHINE BRIGHTLY.
SOMEONE’S ETERNAL FUTURE MAY DEPEND ON YOU PUTTING ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST TODAY. SOMEONE YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW OR BE DEALING WITH DIRECTLY. THEY SEE CHRIST IN YOU, AND THEY WANT THAT RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE.
I REMIND YOU OF THE FIRST VERSE OF OUR TEXT TODAY.
ROMANS 13:8: LET NO DEBT REMAIN OUTSTANDING, EXCEPT THE CONTINUING DEBT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR WHOEVER LOVES OTHERS HAS FULFILLED THE LAW
