Walk like a Christian
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Scripture: Rom 12:9-21
ROM 239 - Walk Like a Christian - Rom 12:9-21
In the Bible - the Word WALK means
to order your steps - - to direct your life
& today we're going to look at TWO Truths about
"Walking Like a Christian"
1) HOW we can "Walk Like a Christian"
2) WHAT it Looks Like to "Walk Like a Christian"
But to lead into that - we've got to do a quick review
of the 1st 11 CH's of Romans
So I think we better PRAY right up front
Let's Pray
We spent 11 Ch’s in Romans
learning HOW God makes this happen
Before we ever starting learning - WHAT it looks like
when this does happen in our lives
So - Let's begin by reviewing HOW
God Prepares us to - to "Walk Like a Christian"
In the 1st 3 Ch's of Rom's we RECOGNIZED
we are sinners by Nature & by Choice
in CH's 3 & 4 - we RECEIVED the righteousness of God
thru FAITH in Jesus Christ alone
in CH'S 5 & 6 we learned about our TWO NATURES
& we learned - that being IN CHRIST - means POSITIONALLY
We have DIED to sin (in Christ)
& have RISEN (in Christ) to "WALK in Newness of Life"
Rom 6:4 - ESV4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
That is INCREDIBLE - Positionally
HOWEVER - We must fully RECKON it (put it to our account)
We must ACCEPT IT - & Put It into ACTION
Rom 6:11 - ESV11 So you also must consider yourselves [reckon yourselves] dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
So far - we have
1) - RECOGNIZE we are Sinners, hopeless on our own
2) - RECEIVE our Righteousness & Position thru faith in Jesus Christ
3) - RECKON (put to our account) our New Life in Christ
Next - we have to correctly RESPOND to our New Life IN CHRIST
& Rom 6:13 gives us that RESPONSE13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
The EVIDENCE that we have RECEIVED New Life in Christ
is that we RESPOND - by turning From SIN & Turning To GOD
Remember - we're talking about - HOW to "Walk Like a Christian"
& now we've got;
1) - RECOGNIZE we are Sinners, hopeless on our own
2) - RECEIVE our Righteousness & Position thru faith in Jesus
3) - RECKON (put to our account) our NEW LIFE in Christ
4) - RESPOND correctly - by choosing God over Sin
BUT - HOW do we RESPOND correctly ?
Even ROM CH 7 says
there's NOT ENUF TRY in us - to be able to RESPOND Correctly
But then - just when we think we're SUNK
Paul reveals one of the most powerful truths for a Christian to know in all of the Bible
He tells us in ROM CH 8 - how to LIVE in the SPIRIT
Rom 8:5-6 - ESV5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
To Live in the Spirit - we must SET our MINDS on the Spirit
If we Set our Mind on the things of the FLESH
we will bring DEATH into our lives
If we Set your Mind on the things of the SPIRIT
we will bring LIFE & PEACE into our life
BUUUTTTTT . . . HOWWWW !!!
How do we set our Minds on the things of the Spirit
to the extent that we CRUCIFY the Flesh
& LIVE according to the Spirit
& THAT question we answered - in our 2-Part Msg
BE TRANSFORMED - from Rom 12:1-2 (Get it)
Rom 12:1-2 says (very clearly) - OUR PART is;
1) Surrender our lives completely to God (in every area)
2) Renew our Minds
3) Conform our Wills to His
& remember Rom 12:1-2 - is the FOUNDATION
for everything else taught in the remainder of Romans
So get that Two Part Msg - "BE TRANSFORMED" - & listen
OK - NOW here’s what we've got - Leading up to today's message
1) - RECOGNIZE we are Sinners, hopeless on our own
2) - RECEIVE our Righteousness & Position thru faith in Jesus
3) - RECKON (put to our account) our NEW LIFE in Christ
4) - RESPOND correctly - by choosing God over Sin
5) - LIVE according to the Spirit, by;
a) SURRENDERING our lives completely to God
b) RENEWING our Minds
c) CONFORMING our Will to His
& (believe it or not) the foundation
of all this TRANSFORMATION in our lives is;
1) DAILY WORSHIP - in every area of our lives
2) DAILY WORD - consuming it, & applying it
3) DAILY PRAYER - constant intimate communion with God
THAT is actually (truly) the RECIPE for our Transformation
Man . . . THAT is quite a REVIEW
& THAT - is Actually the PROCESS of becoming
what was called in the 1st century - a Little Christ
which was originally a DEROGATORY term
But from that term - we got our word Christian
which means LIT - Little Christ
& what our message today is about
is WALKING like a Christian (a little Christ)
But - but before we could talk about "Walking like a Christian"
We had to be REMINDED of the MIRACLE
of HOW God makes us - a Little Christ
That's why we did the Review
Now - as a LAUNCH-PAD to "Walking Like A Christian"
we've got to read Rom 12:1-2
This is where "Walking Like a Christian" starts
Rom 12:1-2 - ESV1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
a) SURRENDERING our lives completely to God (living sacrifice)
b) RENEWING our Minds
c) CONFORMING our Will to His
So that we can - "Walk Like a Christian"
So - REMEMBER - Today's msg is not about trying harder
to make yourself a “better person”
Today's Msg is about what it looks like
when we are being TRANSFORMED into "Little Christ's"
When we are "Walking like a Christian"
Now (finally) our text today is broken down into TWO Major Areas;
1) How we are to Walk - toward those INSIDE the church
2) How we are to Walk - toward those OUTSIDE the church
Vs's 9-13 - is How it looks, when we are "Walking Like a Christian"
toward those INSIDE the church
Rom 12:9 - ESV
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
After all that TRANSFORMATION - the first sign of
Walking like a Christian inside the church - Is LOVE
But this is NO LOVE like WE know it in OUR own Nature
this is the AGAPE love of God
This is the UNCONDITIONAL - SACRIFICIAL love of God
that Rom 5:5 says has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us
& the 1st sign of "Walking Like a Christian" (inside the church)
is making sure we have GENUINE AGAPE love
which means LIT - WITHOUT HYPOCRICY
& then the rest of V.9 - is actually written
as an EXAMPLE of that Genuine AGAPE Love
Let your AGAPE love be Genuine - BY
Hating what is EVIL, & Holding Fast to what is GOOD
The FIRST sign of "Walking Like a Christian"
Is Genuine AGAPE LOVE !
& the SECOND sign - of "Walking Like a Christian"
INSIDE the church - is - - - LOVE !!!
Rom 12:10 - ESV
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
#2 - "Walking Like a Christian" INSIDE the church
is again - about LOVE
But here it's a DIFFERENT word for love
THIS word for Love - comes from the GK word STORGE
which is the LOVE of a FAMILY
This is the POWERFUL love of a family
that's meant to be an UNBREAKABLE BOND
NO MATTER WHAT - FAMILY is FAMILY
& NOTHING breaks that BOND
& here God calls us to love one another in the church
with that same type of Love
Which is why V.10 says
Love one another with brotherly affection
That is - the Love of FAMILY
& then the end of the VS is again
an EXAMPLE of Loving one another with that FAMILY love
The ESV says
Outdo one another in showing honor
The NIV translates it
Honor one another above yourselves
This is how we should LOVE one another - as FAMILY
NEXT - In Vs's 11 & 12 - Paul stresses FIVE ATTITUDES
that mark the WALK of a Christian - INSIDE the church
In Vs.11 - the Primary Subject - is actually at the END of the sentence
which is - Serve the Lord
& the 2 attitudes before it
are HOW we are to Serve the Lord
Rom 12:11 - ESV
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
In Serving the Lord - DO NOT be slothful (lazy) in your ZEAL
Remember from our last Msg
the word "ZEAL" means - be Passionate - take it Seriously
& here the Word says - do NOT BE LAZY
in our Passion (zeal) for Serving God
& then also - we are to be 'Fervent in spirit'
& this phrase can actually be translated two ways
Be fervent in your Own "attitude" (spirit) - OR
Be fervent in the power of the Holy Spirit
Either way - the word FERVENT means LIT - TO BOIL !!!
& I think that gets the thought across perfectly
So - Don’t be LAZY in your PASSION
& BOIL in your Attitude - to Serve the Lord - - (man, I like that)
V.12 continues the attitudes that mark the WALK of a Christian
INSIDE the church
& v.12 can be seen as a CONTINUATION
of HOW we are to Serve the Lord (from v.11)
Rom 12:12 - ESV
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
These are absolute CRITICAL signs of the "Walk of a Christian"
because they are so Contrary to the World
Our HOPE is in Jesus Christ
& in THAT Hope we can ALWAYS REJOICE
& when we do - We are an Example & an Encouragement
to others INSIDE the Church
& ALSO - when we are Patient in Tribulation
STEADFAST in the Storm - not Wavering
Trusting that God will absolutely bring us thru - to HIS Glory
THAT is a Very Powerful mark - of "Walking Like a Christian"
& lastly in this verse is - be "Constant in prayer"
it means to be - "Constant in prayer"
Which is another Very Powerful mark - of "Walking Like a Christian"
In SERVING the Lord - we are to be;
Passionate (Zealous)
Boiling (Fervent)
Rejoicing (in Hope)
Patient (in Tribulation)
Constant (in Prayer)
WOW - - THAT is a HUGE calling - Isn’t it ?
I CAN'T DO THAT !!!
The ONLY way this can ever happen in our life is;
1) - RECOGNIZE we are Sinners, hopeless on our own
2) - RECEIVE our Righteousness & Position thru faith in Jesus
3) - RECKON (put to our account) our NEW LIFE in Christ
4) - RESPOND correctly - by choosing God over Sin
5) - LIVE according to the Spirit, by;
a) SURRENDERING our lives completely to God
b) RENEWING our Minds
c) CONFORMING our Will to His
& THAT - is the ONLY way we will EVER be able to truly
"WALK LIKE A CHRISTIAN"
OK - there are two more TRAITS here
of "Walking Like a Christian" INSIDE the Church
Rom 12:13 - ESV
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
A BIG part of "Walking like a Christian" is GIVING
both financially, and giving of yourself
& I promise you - Miracle's occur when Christians GIVE
The only way this church
can continue to meet the needs of the saints,
both here in Nuevo & beyond - is for Christians to GIVE
& honestly - in difficult economic times (like these)
Christians often stop giving
But God's Word promises you & I - if we will GIVE - He will provide ! that's one of the clearest promises in all of the Bible
In order to "Walk Like a Christian" - we are called to GIVE
AND - to show hospitality - which means to care for strangers
which is also GIVING or ourselves
OK - that ends the EVIDENCE LIST
of "Walking Like a Christian" INSIDE the church
& now starting in V.14 - We see what it looks like to
"Walk Like a Christian" OUTSIDE the church
Rom 12:14 - ESV (walking OUTSIDE the church)
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Sometimes it seems this applies to those INSIDE the church
But that's not how it's supposed to be
We are supposed to be persecuted from those outside the church
& when we are - we are to BLESS those who persecute us
Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5:44)
44 . . . Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
& that sounds just CRAZY enough to be a TESTIMONY
& a WITNESS to the World, doesn't it ?
Which is exactly the point of "Walking Like a Christian"
OUTSIDE the Church
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them
I think that's pretty clear - - AND By The Way
it can also be used (if needed) INSIDE the church
Next - in Vs's 15 & 16 Romans tells us we are
to live in harmony with those around us
The Primary Subject here, is at the beginning of V.16
so let's look at that first
ROM 12:16(A) - ESV
16 Live in harmony with one another. . . .
Now - this may sound STRANGE
when applied to those OUTSIDE the Church
but this is a difficult phrase in the GREEK to translate
In the simplest language it means - GET ALONG with others
More Directly - it means;
Don’t be ABRASIVE to those Outside the church
DON'T OFFEND unbelievers, with your attitude
Remember - the Only people Jesus was ABRASIVE & OFFENSIVE to
were Religious Leaders !!
so now that we understand the Primary Subject
these 2 verses fall right into place
Rom 12:15-16 - ESV
Rom 12:15-16 - ESV
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.16 Live in harmony [get along] with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
I believe these are incredible EVANGELISM SECRETS
Have EMPATHY with those around you (rejoice & weep)
Don’t be HAUGHTY - Don’t be PROUD
Be HUMBLE, associate with the lowly
& please - don’t be a "KNOW IT ALL"
THAT - is a GREAT WAY - to "Walk Like a Christian"
toward those OUTSIDE the Church - Isn’t it ?
Continuing what it LOOKS LIKE to "Walk Like a Christian"
OUTSIDE the church
Rom 12:17-18 - ESV
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Again - these are - Incredible - Effective - Real Life
EVANGELISM techniques
In regard to those OUTSIDE the church;
DO NOT repay Evil for Evil
STOP & THINK, & DO what is HONORABLE
As much as depends on you - LIVE PEACABLY with all
& what an incredible tool we would be in the hand of God,
if we were to WALK this way
in regard to all those OUTSIDE the church
THIS is "Living in the Spirit" - AND "Walking Like a Christian"
V.19 continues this same thought
Rom 12:19 - ESV
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
If someone OUTSIDE the church REALLY does you wrong
ZECH 2 says - he who touches YOU, touches the apple of HIS eye
& the Lord says to you
"it's OK, I've got this one, I can take care of it"
SO - - - LET HIM !
Continuing this Radical thought in the next Vs
Rom 12:20 says - ESV
Rom 12:20 - ESV
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
This is actually a quote from PROV 25
& the "Prevailing Interpretation" has to do with
bringing a sense of REMORSE, and possibly even REPENTANCE
upon your enemies head - FOR HIS GOOD
The other interpretation is - this is
the Burning Coals of God's JUDGMENT
EITHER way - We are to be KIND, & even sacrifice,
for our enemies
& we are to let God take care of the rest
OK - Now - finally
How to "Walk Like a Christian" to those OUTSIDE the church
is SUMMARIZED in our last Vs today
Rom 12:21 - ESV
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I don’t know how we could better SUMMARIZE
what it looks like to "Walk Like a Christian"
to those OUTSIDE the church
THIS is a great SUMMARY statement
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
What a Great & Practical Section of what it LOOKS LIKE
when we "Walk Like a Christian"
both INSIDE & OUTSIDE the Church
But to close - let's be reminded - the ONLY way this NEW LIFE
can actually become a daily part of our lives
Is to:
1) - RECOGNIZE we are Sinners, hopeless on our own
2) - RECEIVE our Righteousness & Position thru faith in Jesus
3) - RECKON (put to our account) our NEW LIFE in Christ
4) - RESPOND correctly - by choosing God over Sin
5) - LIVE according to the Spirit, by;
a) SURRENDERING our lives completely to God
b) RENEWING our Minds
c) CONFORMING our Will to His
THAT is HOW - we can "Walk Like a Christian"
both INSIDE & OUTSIDE the Church
NOW - Let's go be TRANSFORMED,
into WALKING Christians
Let's Pray