Romans 12:9-16
Observe:
This section is entirely made up of imperative commands. The key word is love since most of the other commands are about how to practically live out that love. There are some contrasting imperatives but they mostly serve to clarify each other.
Interpret:
Paul is explaining how to live in community. He just finished saying that we are all one in Christ even though we have different gifts. We should use those gifts for the good of the Body and, judging from the flow of the passage, the way we do that is in love that is active. He then tells the reader what active love looks like.
In light of the whole book, Paul would say that it was impossible to live this love out in community without faith (we are justified by faith and live by faith). This is consistent with the message of the whole Bible - yes, we bear responsibility to act out what we believe but it is impossible unless Christ is living in us through faith (John 15). If this is true, then Paul is really shaping the growth (or fruit) that one should see in Christian community by providing some parameters or markers for it.
Application:
If I don't see this kind of fruit in my life, it is evidence that I do not have Christ living through me in faith. I know that I try so hard to be perfect: the perfect youth pastor, the perfect husband, the perfect Christian, the perfect driver. Just yesterday, upon running into the back of the car in front of me, I got really frustrated and angry. I want to blame someone or something else (and, honestly, her tail lights were not working properly) so that I can maintain my perfect driving record. There is a car currently sitting in the parking lot with a bashed in hood to remind me that I am not perfect. Hopefully I can learn that lesson in my spiritual life as well: I need the life of Christ living in me to produce fruit. I can do nothing apart from him (I think there's a verse that says something about that...)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
i agree the key word here would have to be love, it also paints a picture of what we as christians should be doing on a day to day basis, loving one another.
yes paul is teling us how to live in community but it also tells us how we are to be towards those who do not know Christ.it shows us what a loving person would be like.
and to apply this to our lives is very relevent. i believe that when we do even just a few of these things poeple can see a loving person, yet we should strive to live out all that is said here. and like you said jer, we are all not perfect, but we still need to stiuve for it day to day.
Post a Comment