Dynamic Christian Living

Romans 12:1-3, 9-21

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”—Romans 12:21

AFTER the preceding chapters of logical, instructive reasoning, the apostle reaches what may be considered the high point of his argument in the appeal of the first verse of our lesson, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God [presented in the previous eleven chapters], that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

In addressing the elect body of Christ which was being selected from among the Jews and the Gentiles, he is speaking to those who should know what are the terms and conditions upon which God has called them, namely, to suffer with Christ in this present time, in order that they may he glorified and reign with Him in the coming age, to bless the world. These should know the reasons for the sufferings and the character which God would develop in them, and without which they would not be fit for the Kingdom. It is concerning some of these characteristics, necessary to those who would make their calling and election sure, that our present lesson treats.

In verse 9 the apostle exhorts, “Let love be without dissimulation.” He had already explained the necessity for love; but he now puts us on guard against a feigned love, which would only outwardly appear kind and polite. The true spirit of love, the holy spirit, will not be a dissimulating one, a hypocritical one; the love will be genuine, heartfelt as well as expressed. This love is directed toward God and toward all in proportion as they are godlike or striving to be so. It is a love of that which is good, right, pure, true.

“Abhor that which is evil.” The more we learn of the beautiful harmony of heavenly grace and love and the more they become the qualities of our own heart, the more distressing and repugnant will sin and selfishness, “the spirit of the world,” become to us. As holiness and sin are opposites, so our feelings toward these must be represented by the sentiments of love and hatred. Let us therefore cultivate in ourselves an abhorrence for sin, selfishness, impurity and every evil way, and we shall find it easier to cultivate in our hearts the beautiful graces of the Holy Spirit.

“Cleave to that which is good … be kindly affectioned … in honor preferring one another.” The thought is adhere to, be cemented to, that which is good. Another suggestion of the apostle is that we should cultivate among ourselves that kind of affection properly belonging to the family, where the blessing or honor of one member signifies the blessing, honor and advancement of all.

And where that affection exists, it is possible to practice the further exhortation and rejoice more if honor comes to another than if it had come to self. Our hearts should be so unselfish that we would take pleasure in seeing honor and prosperity come to another, and rejoice in it; and so sympathetic that our brother’s failure would cause us as much chagrin as if it were our own. This is the Holy Spirit which unfeignedly rejoices with those who rejoice, and weeps with those who weep.

And so let us carefully examine and apply in our own hearts and lives the further admonitions of the apostle. All of these good qualities are desired and all will be found in tire members of the bride class, transformed into the character-likeness of their Redeemer, their betrothed Bridegroom. But our ability to apply all these exhortations to our own life will depend upon our mind, our will, our heart. It must be not only good, but absolutely perfect. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” They shall be the children of God; they shall be the joint-heirs of the Redeemer.

This purity of heart which the Lord approves and desires might be summed up in the expression, loyalty of heart—loyalty to the principles of truth and righteousness, principles of the divine government—loyalty to God the Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ and to all the members of His body. This perfect heart loyalty is in truth, therefore, love for God and the Redeemer and for the brethren as well as sympathetic love for mankind in harmony with the divine purpose and revelation. The apostle says, “If these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord,” and “so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”—II Peter 1:8,11

There is particular force attaching to this word abound, similar to the expression, “fervent in spirit,” in verse 11 of our lesson. All of God’s people, all begotten of the Holy Spirit, are inspired by the spirit of the Father, the spirit of love, the spirit of justice and loyalty. But how about the degree, the abounding, the having of this love permeate all of life’s affairs? Is it not possible to have a measure of the Lord’s spirit with very little abounding, and hence have merely an, enjoyment of some spiritual things; on special occasions, etc.?

It is the abounding love, the all-pervading influence of our Lord in the life, and in all of life’s affairs that is required of those who would have the abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Messiah, as members of the bride class. If they have this abounding loyalty and love they will be copies of God’s dear Son, the Redeemer; otherwise, they will not. God has predestinated that only such as are copies of His. Son shall have a share in the Kingdom of Messiah. Others may reach, indeed, a secondary place in the great company class, but will never reach the throne and never be members of the bride class.

How important, then, that we discern clearly the necessity for this abounding love, this zeal for God, such as is expressed in our Lord Jesus. “Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”

QUESTIONS:

Is it important for Christians to understand clearly the purpose of the Christian life?

Is it sufficient that Christians merely refrain from doing evil?

What is meant, by all-abounding love?

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