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Romans 12:14-16 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Good morning. It is good to be here with you all. For those of you who are newer, my name is Jake Risner. I'm an elder here.
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! And this is my very first sermon. Nonetheless, the Christ family, so prepare for impact.
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My only objective this morning is that we would see the scripture a little more clearly.
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If we walk away with even an ounce of better understanding of what the Lord is communicating to us about himself through this text, praise the Lord. Mission accomplished.
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So I trust that you all have been gleaning from our study in Romans. We are going to continue on into Romans 12, verses 14 through 16.
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So if you would, turn with me there to Romans 12, 14 through 16.
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Our text reads,
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Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
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Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
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This text falls in the middle of Paul's instruction for how the Christians ought to be conducting themselves.
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The ESV puts the header, marks of the true Christian, over these passages.
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So this is particularly within the context of the church, but not exclusively.
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Clay did a great job last week explaining how this chapter starts the practical instruction of self-sacrificial love.
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So to best understand and apply our particular verses, we're going to consider and look back at two specific things within the larger arc of the book of Romans.
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One, the sinful lifestyles present within the church.
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And two, the clarity given to the Jew and Gentile dynamic.
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So looking back at the end of chapter one, we find a host of unchristian behaviors and practices identified among the unrighteous.
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But at the beginning of chapter two, Paul says,
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Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself,
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because you, the judge, practice the same things.
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So Paul establishes that he is privy to this misconduct and the hypocrisy within the church
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and paints the picture of what a selfish, self-seeking congregation looks like.
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But the second contextual item to recall is this Jew-Gentile dynamic.
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The Lord has uniquely used Paul to author this letter.
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As a Jew born in a Roman province, he has dual citizenship.
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He has the cultural credit to speak to both of these people groups, even though he has not yet with them personally yet.
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In his introduction, he is sure to include that Christ is a descendant of David, but that the gospel is for all nations.
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So then that would include the Gentile nations.
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So then throughout the letter, Paul addresses the misunderstandings of the Jews and the Gentiles within the churches of the region.
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The Jews seem to think that they are special because they are the people of God, the ones who received the law and the prophets.
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And the Gentiles seem to think that they are extra special since they got grafted in, despite the Jews being the firstfruits.
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And so Paul gives a lengthy theological address how in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile.
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We are justified through faith alone, and the gospel is for all that would repent and believe, those that confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God rose him from the dead will be saved.
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The ethnic descendants of Abraham were a foreshadow to the future chosen people of the faith.
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In chapter 9, Paul quotes Hosea, a Jewish prophet, in regard to the Gentiles becoming God's people who were not his people.
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Before the foundations of the earth, God chose a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to be his chosen race.
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And this is a glorious reality.
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And with this doctrine, how ought the mixed congregation do community with one another?
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Are the Jews to preside over the Gentiles since they are the chosen people from the Old Covenant?
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Or should the Jews get on board with the Gentiles since they are in Rome?
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Or should they create segregated churches to avoid the dissension?
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What do they do with these doctrines that Paul has laid out?
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As we have read and studied the past couple of weeks, they should be one body.
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Working in unison, being of the same mind in Christ, Christ is the head of the body.
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And additionally, they should not be affiliated with those kinds of sins referenced in chapter 1.
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Envy, strife, gossip, slander, haughty, boastful.
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These are the antithetical prescriptions to what Christ would have his children be and do as they are adopted into the same family.
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Those who act that way presume upon the kindness of God.
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So this contrast, starting in chapter 12, is not only for the Jew to Gentile relationship.
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It is for the member to member relationships within the church.
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But it is drawn out in light of the ethnic differences.
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And so with these things in mind, we're going to look back into our decks.
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If I were to give the note takers an outline, it would be sympathy towards the unsympathetic.
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That's verse 14, sympathy towards the unsympathetic.
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Verse 15, the two-sided coin of empathy.
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And lastly, humility produces harmony.
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And we're going to see through these three verses that the common denominator is an outward, self-sacrificial love.
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So starting in verse 14, we read,
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Bless those who persecute you.
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Bless and do not curse them.
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Paul has uniquely experienced this kind of blessing.
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He was himself a persecutor of the Christians, but he has now been persecuted.
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And so he knows exactly what he's addressing when he gives this command.
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He has been an example of this, sort of blessing your persecutors already.
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And even in his post-conversion humility, he says back in chapter 9,
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I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.
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He has gone from intentionally cursing Christians to now having such a heart for the lost that he would be accursed in their place.
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He doesn't have that authority, but he expresses this heart change from persecutor to persecuted.
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And he knows what it is to suffer the wrath of evil men, yet he contends with the Romans to bless their persecutors.
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Those in Rome, especially the Jews, have already experienced a bit of persecution.
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The Jews are a people accustomed to being taken captive, to being uprooted, turned to slaves, released back to their homeland.
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And over the span of their heritage, they have a lot of persecution represented.
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More relevant to this letter, it is recorded in Acts 2, that Aquila and Priscilla had met Paul and Corinth after all the Jews were commanded to leave Rome under the rule of Claudius.
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They were permitted back in a few years later, but nonetheless, they were driven out for their Christian beliefs.
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And this is a good image for the definition of persecute.
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It means to make, to run, to flee, to put to flight.
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It can have other implications, but it's still in the framework of doing away with a certain people or a certain ideology.
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And perhaps the Jews have had in their mind that their enemies should suffer for the wrongdoing, as would be the case in the Old Covenant law.
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That is, if the chosen people are faithful to God, they would have relief from their enemies.
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Or maybe the Gentile believers have been susceptible to cursing the ones that banned the Jews originally out of brotherly affection.
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Whatever specific reason for their persecution or their cursing, Paul is contending with them that instead of cursing them back, they should bless them.
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The command is not only to endure the persecution or to ignore your persecutors.
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It's a step further than that.
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It's two steps away from the treatment that they have been receiving.
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They are to bless those who persecute them, who don't deserve it.
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The word bless is the same word we get eulogy from.
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It means to praise, to speak well of, to invoke a blessing upon someone.
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In Luke 6.28, amidst the Beatitudes, Jesus says,
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Bless those who persecute you.
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And immediately followed by that, he says,
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Pray for those who abuse you.
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Be reminded of when Stephen was being stoned to death.
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He prayed to God, saying,
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Lord, do not hold this sin against them.
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Or better yet, when Jesus was being executed,
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he says, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
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The goal of Gentiles and Jews is alike,
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to know Christ, to make Christ known to all peoples.
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Even amidst their persecution,
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they are to have sympathy and wish upon all men
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that their souls be turned to God
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in hope and faith that they would be saved.
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This would be a hot topic in the coming years
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when Nero would assume authority
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and literally burn Christians
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to serve as lampposts at his garden parties.
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And thankfully, we serve a God
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who is sovereignly preserving his bride
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so that the gates of hell
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shall not prevail against it.
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In light of this context,
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the Christians in Rome,
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how much quicker should we be
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to bless our persecutors?
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Our suffering is futile
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to what many of our brothers and sisters
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over history,
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and even currently across the globe,
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suffer.
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Ours may look like
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being made fun of at work
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or being ignored
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or belittled at the family Thanksgiving.
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We may not be the popular one
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at the dorms.
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I would not be surprised
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if some of us soon
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are called to suffer more severely.
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I haven't heard of much of that
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in the long ago yet,
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but maybe being fired from a job,
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being sued for what the world
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would call hate speech,
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or failing college courses
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for not submitting to the hive mind
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of the secular world.
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Nonetheless,
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the Christian will be persecuted,
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severe or mild,
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and when we experience it,
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we should bless our persecutors.
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We should pray for their salvation.
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We should see their sin
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ultimately against the Lord.
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When you are persecuted
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for righteousness' sake,
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do not avoid the value
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of persecution
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by cursing those
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who curse you.
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We ought not
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curse our persecutors
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like perhaps the Jews
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were doing in Rome
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as they were driven out
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by the government,
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but we are to bless them.
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And in doing so,
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you will show your persecutor
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there's a greater hope,
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hope in Christ.
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What good would it be
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to suffer for unrighteousness?
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That's no sacrifice at all.
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That's getting what you deserve.
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But if you suffer for righteousness,
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the Lord may use it
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to reveal himself
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to the persecutor,
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and you will be blessed.
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What would our current status be
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if Christ had responded
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with cursing?
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We all,
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before regeneration,
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are called enemies of God,
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and yet while we were still sinners,
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Christ died for us.
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He did not curse us.
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Christ himself became a curse
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so that those who cursed him
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might be blessed.
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Live as holy sacrifices,
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point others to Christ,
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and be sympathetic
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to the unsympathetic.
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Verse 15 is a two-part
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exhortation of empathy.
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Rejoice with those who rejoice
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and weep with those who weep.
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Where Paul was calling
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the persecuted
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to be sympathetic
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to the persecutors,
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now he is calling the church
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to be empathetic.
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Empathetic is to understand
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and to share the feelings
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of another.
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The Jews and Gentiles
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come together
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to form a very diverse church
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with many differences.
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They have different upbringings,
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different culture,
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different expectations.
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They are instructed
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to try and understand
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their brothers and sisters
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who have different experiences
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and predispositions
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so that they can be unified
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as they rejoice
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and as they weep.
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In the previous passage
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in this chapter
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about the church
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being one body
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with different members,
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we read that the Lord
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uniquely gives different gifts
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to different people.
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Across the broader extent
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of the letter,
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the Lord has used
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the Jews and Gentiles
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individually
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to fulfill
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his various objectives.
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the Roman Christians
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need to set aside
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their envy
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and their pride
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from one another
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in order to rejoice
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in the things of God.
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They are on the same team.
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If the Gentiles
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have now received
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the gospel
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that was first presented
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to the Jews,
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that's something
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to praise God about.
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If that means
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that they are grafted
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into the same root
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as the Israelites,
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they should praise God.
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As we spoke earlier,
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the promise of faith
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is not just for those
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of Abrahamic lineage.
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The Gentiles have been welcomed
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into the covenant people
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and this calls for rejoicing.
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It doesn't say it specifically,
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but I assume
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that Paul is addressing
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dividing lines
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on when and how
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to rejoice
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with the other group.
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They may be reluctant
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to rejoice
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with the opposite ethnicity
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and the presumption
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that their own kind
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will fulfill that duty.
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They have their own family
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to do life with.
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Why should I bother?
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Type of mentality.
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But there is
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no other group.
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We are one body.
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There should not be
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cliques or posses
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of people in the church
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such that it would exclude
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rejoicing together.
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It is not wrong
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to have relationships,
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a deeper relationship
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with fewer people,
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but it would be wrong
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for a church culture
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to organize itself
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where the members
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are severed
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from the rest of the body
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such that it would
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exclude rejoicing together.
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And this takes a lot
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of outward
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and selfless thinking.
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If you are jealous
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or envious
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or covetous
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over one another's
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success or blessing,
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you will not be able
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to rejoice
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with one another.
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We have to be
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so content
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in the Lord
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with what He
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has given us
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and namely,
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salvation,
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that when we see
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others rejoicing,
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we can celebrate
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with them.
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We can praise God
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when someone else
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has received something
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that we have not.
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Our hope is in Christ alone,
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not in our comforts,
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not in our family,
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not in our work,
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or our grades,
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or our roommates.
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If Christ is your treasure
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and the church
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is your family,
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rejoice like a family
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when one of their own
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has been blessed.
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There are times,
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however,
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when it is not helpful
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to rejoice
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with those who rejoice.
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Pagans often rejoice.
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The pride marches
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bear many smiles
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and cheers of people
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in complete rebellion
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to our Lord.
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People who worship money
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instead of God
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rejoice when they
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deceitfully make money.
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Pro-choice activists
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rejoice when laws
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are passed in favor
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of murder.
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We ought not
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to rejoice in these things.
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We ought to rejoice
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with the truth
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as Paul says elsewhere.
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Love does not rejoice
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at wrongdoing,
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but rejoices with
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the truth.
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Jesus sets a precedent
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in Luke 10
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of what we should rejoice in
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when he rejoices
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in the Father
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revealing the hidden
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things of the gospel
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to a specific people.
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He commands his disciples
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in that same chapter
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to rejoice
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that their names
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are written in heaven.
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We are also called
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to rejoice in our sufferings
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as suffering presses
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on to hope
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that does not put us
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to shame.
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Luke 15 says
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that there will be
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more joy in heaven
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over one sinner
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who repents
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than over 99
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righteous persons
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who need no repentance.
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So we rejoice
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in the things of God
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and namely
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the Lord reconciling
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sinners to himself
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whether Jew
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or Gentile.
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Isaiah puts it well,
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I will greatly rejoice
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in the Lord.
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My soul
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shall exult
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in my God
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for he has clothed me
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with the garments
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of salvation.
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On the other side
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of the empathy coin
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we are called
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to weep
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with those
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who weep.
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The call is similar
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to rejoicing.
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We must be empathetic.
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We must put ourselves
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in their shoes
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and try to understand
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what they're going through
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and respond accordingly.
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Living in a fallen world
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there will always be
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instances of weeping
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and the Romans
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were not exempt from this.
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As we mentioned earlier
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the Jews within the church
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have already been
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run out of town
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before.
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Rome at this time
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is filled with idols
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and false gods
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and this may cause weeping
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as they watch
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the dying world
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around them
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in rebellion
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to the one true God.
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There could be
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Gentile family members
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that are still
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worshiping these
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false gods.
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Maybe some of the Jews
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are having a hard time
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being second class citizens
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away from their homeland.
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There are various things
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that the Gentiles
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and Jews
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could be weeping about
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that would differ
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from one another
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but they are called
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to empathy
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and not
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tribalism.
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They can't sit around
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as a member weeps
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and ignore it.
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They are called
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to weep
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to feel the pain
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to recognize the hurt
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to get in the trenches
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with them.
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When one member suffers
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the whole body suffers.
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There's no room
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for prideful annoyance
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of another's suffering.
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You don't have to be
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a pastor
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or a counselor
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or to have
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experienced the same
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kind of trial
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to weep
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with someone.
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If you don't have
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the words to say
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just weep.
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Christ again
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is our ultimate
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model and reason
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for this.
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If his spirit
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is within us
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we will walk
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in his ways.
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Christ was a man
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of sorrows
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acquainted with
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deepest grief.
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We do not have
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a high priest
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who is unable
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to sympathize
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with our weaknesses
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but one who
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in every respect
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has been tempted
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as we are
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yet he was
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without sin.
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He was born
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in the likeness
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of men.
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He and his
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loving kindness
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experienced
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what we experience
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as humans.
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During his ministry
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when Lazarus dies
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and some of the
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disciples are sad
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and weeping
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Christ wept.
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He knew that
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he would bring
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Lazarus back to life
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but he stopped
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and he wept
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with his people
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anyway.
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He came to us
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and he got in
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the trenches
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with us.
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He could have
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stayed upon
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his throne
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comfort and
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ease
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but he
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forsook that
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to come and
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bear burdens
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with us
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and we are
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called to have
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that humility
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not to be
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arrogant or
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selfish but to
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go and to
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bear burdens
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with our
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brothers and
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sisters.
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Now Christ's
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mission was
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ultimately to
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bring about
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reconciliation
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not just to
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have the
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human experience
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but he did
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accomplish that
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mission through
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his earthly
19:30
ministry.
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Being as we
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are yet without
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sin he would
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become the
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perfect sacrifice
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on our behalf.
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like rejoicing
19:39
there are also
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things we
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shouldn't weep
19:41
about.
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Godly grief
19:43
or sorrow
19:44
is different
19:44
than worldly
19:45
grief.
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Christians
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grieve when
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we recognize
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that the
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fallen state
19:49
of the world
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is not what
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it's supposed
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to be.
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We see and
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experience the
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thorns wrapped
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around the
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beautiful terrains.
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The ground we
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work has been
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cursed.
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We also see and
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experience spiritual
20:00
thorns wrapped
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around the heart.
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By nature we do
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not seek for
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God.
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we sorrowfully
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battle with
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sin even as
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believers.
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And it can
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grieve us to
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see family and
20:12
friends who
20:14
reject the
20:14
gospel.
20:16
Paul writes
20:16
to the
20:17
Philippians,
20:18
for many of
20:19
whom I have
20:19
often told you
20:20
and now tell
20:21
you even with
20:22
tears walk as
20:24
enemies of the
20:24
cross of Christ.
20:26
Things are not
20:27
how they ought
20:28
to be.
20:29
The result of
20:30
sin causes
20:31
things to be
20:31
bad.
20:32
Work is
20:33
difficult.
20:33
Our bodies
20:34
wear out and
20:35
expire.
20:37
Childbirth and
20:38
child rearing is
20:39
painful.
20:40
Our flesh wants
20:41
to indulge.
20:42
Our emotions
20:43
control us.
20:45
And ultimately
20:45
our hearts are
20:46
wayward.
20:48
When we see or
20:50
experience this
20:50
reality, we
20:51
weep.
20:52
These are
20:52
legitimate things
20:53
to be sad
20:53
about.
20:55
And I want to
20:55
be clear, we do
20:56
not weep as if
20:57
there is no
20:57
hope.
20:57
There will be an
20:58
end to this
20:59
suffering.
21:00
As TJ brought
21:01
up this morning
21:02
at the Lord's
21:03
Supper
21:03
gathering, it
21:05
is not worth
21:05
comparing to
21:06
the glory that
21:06
will be revealed
21:07
to us.
21:09
But it still
21:10
hurts in the
21:10
now.
21:12
And we would
21:12
do well to
21:13
weep with
21:13
those who
21:14
weep.
21:15
The world
21:16
also weeps,
21:17
but it does
21:17
not weep in
21:18
the same way.
21:19
The world
21:20
weeps when
21:21
their flesh
21:21
suffers, when
21:22
they don't get
21:23
their way, when
21:23
their indulgences
21:24
are withheld,
21:26
when good and
21:26
godly moral
21:27
ideologies are
21:29
recognized as
21:30
good.
21:30
as the
21:31
church weeps
21:32
when God
21:33
is not
21:33
honored rightly,
21:34
the world
21:35
weeps when
21:36
God is
21:37
honored.
21:38
And this
21:39
ungodly
21:39
weeping is
21:40
a foretaste
21:41
for the
21:41
unrighteous.
21:42
When God's
21:42
common grace
21:43
and his
21:44
presence is
21:44
withheld in
21:46
hell forever,
21:47
there will
21:47
only be
21:47
weeping and
21:49
gnashing of
21:49
teeth.
21:51
So Paul is
21:52
not committing
21:52
us to weep
21:53
with anyone for
21:53
any reason,
21:54
but we weep
21:56
with those who
21:56
weep in a
21:57
godly way.
21:57
And the
21:58
ethnic differences
21:58
within the
21:59
church of
22:00
Rome there
22:00
should not
22:01
hinder that.
22:04
Moving into
22:05
verse 16.
22:07
Live in
22:07
harmony with
22:08
one another.
22:09
Do not be
22:09
haughty, but
22:10
associate with
22:11
the lowly.
22:12
Never be
22:13
wise in
22:13
your own
22:14
sight.
22:15
We come to
22:16
our final
22:16
point,
22:18
harmony from
22:19
humility.
22:22
The end
22:23
goal, living
22:24
in harmony,
22:25
is insulated
22:26
with ways to
22:26
achieve that
22:27
goal.
22:28
The first
22:28
layer, as we
22:29
just discussed,
22:30
is empathy,
22:31
and now
22:32
secondly, forsaking
22:33
ego and
22:34
putting on
22:35
humility.
22:36
These are the
22:37
means to the
22:38
end of
22:39
achieving
22:39
harmony.
22:41
I want to
22:41
recall back in
22:42
chapters 1 and
22:43
2, at the
22:44
end of the
22:45
number of
22:46
those listed
22:46
sins that
22:47
Paul sums up
22:48
in chapter 2,
22:49
verses 6-8,
22:50
he will render
22:50
to each one
22:51
according to
22:52
his works,
22:52
to those who
22:53
by patience and
22:53
well-doing
22:54
seek for glory
22:55
and honor and
22:56
immortality,
22:56
he will give
22:57
eternal life.
22:59
But for those
22:59
who are
23:00
self-seeking
23:01
and do not
23:02
obey the
23:03
truth, but
23:04
obey unrighteousness,
23:05
there will be
23:06
wrath and fury.
23:09
So also
23:09
remember that
23:10
throughout the
23:11
letter, Paul is
23:12
correcting the
23:13
Jews for
23:13
boasting about
23:14
their heritage,
23:15
and to the
23:16
Gentiles for
23:17
boasting about
23:18
their adoption
23:18
into the
23:19
spiritual family.
23:20
He just
23:22
exhorted them
23:23
to be
23:23
selfless
23:24
with a
23:25
nuance
23:25
towards
23:25
action,
23:26
but now
23:27
he's exhorting
23:28
them to be
23:29
selfless
23:29
with a
23:29
nuance
23:30
towards
23:30
thought
23:31
and
23:31
perception.
23:33
Verse 16
23:34
in the
23:35
ESV
23:35
flows really
23:37
well,
23:38
but it
23:38
doesn't quite
23:38
hit the
23:39
literary
23:40
consonants
23:41
between the
23:42
first sentence
23:42
and those
23:43
latter two.
23:44
I think
23:45
the NASB
23:46
is helpful
23:46
here.
23:48
The NASB
23:49
reads,
23:49
be of the
23:50
same mind
23:51
toward one
23:51
another.
23:52
Do not be
23:52
haughty in
23:53
mind,
23:54
but associate
23:55
with the
23:55
lowly.
23:55
Do not be
23:56
wise in
23:57
your own
23:57
estimation.
23:59
So you
23:59
pick up on
23:59
the thread
24:00
of like-mindedness
24:01
a little more
24:02
with that
24:02
translation.
24:04
And verse
24:04
3 is pretty
24:05
similar.
24:06
I say to
24:07
everyone among
24:08
you not to
24:09
think of
24:09
himself more
24:10
highly than
24:11
he ought to
24:11
think, but
24:12
to think
24:12
with sober
24:13
judgment.
24:14
And the
24:14
word translated
24:15
think there
24:16
in verse
24:16
3 and mind
24:17
here in
24:17
verse 16
24:18
is the
24:19
same root
24:19
word.
24:20
So it
24:20
adds to
24:21
that theme
24:21
of cognition,
24:23
perception,
24:24
wisdom.
24:26
Verse 16
24:26
is not
24:27
saying we
24:27
all must
24:28
have
24:28
perfectly
24:28
uniform
24:29
theology.
24:31
In fact,
24:31
Paul permits
24:32
different third,
24:33
maybe second
24:34
tier issues to
24:34
be present
24:35
within the
24:35
church later
24:36
on in
24:37
chapter 14
24:38
when he
24:38
concludes that
24:38
each one
24:39
should be
24:39
convinced in
24:40
his own
24:40
mind.
24:42
That's
24:43
regarding what
24:43
is clean
24:44
to eat
24:44
and if
24:45
we should
24:46
esteem
24:47
one day
24:47
more
24:47
significant
24:48
than
24:48
another.
24:49
But these
24:50
minds are
24:50
different.
24:51
The one
24:51
in 14
24:52
and the
24:53
one here
24:53
in 12
24:53
are two
24:54
different
24:54
words being
24:54
used.
24:56
The mind
24:56
seen in
24:56
chapter 14
24:57
is the
24:59
same as
24:59
verse 2
25:00
in chapter
25:00
12 when
25:01
we studied
25:02
the renewal
25:02
of your
25:02
mind.
25:03
It is
25:04
more
25:04
specifically
25:04
the
25:05
intellectual
25:06
aspect
25:06
of your
25:09
thinking and
25:10
there is
25:10
room for
25:11
disagreement
25:12
there.
25:12
the mind
25:13
we see
25:14
in chapter
25:14
12 is
25:15
a little
25:15
more
25:15
emotionally
25:16
driven.
25:17
It is
25:17
the
25:18
thoughtful
25:19
expression
25:20
of how
25:20
you feel
25:21
about
25:21
something.
25:22
We see
25:23
it depicted
25:23
when Jesus
25:23
tells his
25:24
disciples that
25:24
he is going
25:25
to Jerusalem
25:26
to suffer
25:27
and die
25:27
and Peter
25:28
rebukes
25:28
him and
25:29
Jesus
25:29
responds
25:30
get behind
25:31
me Satan
25:31
for you
25:33
are not
25:33
setting
25:33
your mind
25:34
on the
25:34
things of
25:35
God
25:35
but on
25:35
the
25:35
things of
25:36
man.
25:37
So
25:37
Peter
25:37
was
25:38
thinking
25:39
emotionally.
25:40
Paul
25:40
in our
25:41
text is
25:41
exhorting
25:41
these two
25:45
different people
25:45
groups to
25:46
have a
25:46
unity of
25:47
spirit.
25:48
Not just
25:49
an intellectual
25:50
common ground.
25:52
That's a
25:53
club.
25:53
We are
25:53
called to
25:54
have a
25:54
thoughtful
25:55
brotherly
25:56
affection for
25:57
one another.
25:58
When you
25:58
consider the
26:00
glory of
26:00
God and
26:01
saving the
26:01
people to
26:02
himself,
26:03
it will
26:03
cause you
26:03
to reflect
26:04
emotionally
26:05
on your
26:06
common
26:06
inheritance
26:07
with your
26:07
brothers and
26:09
sisters.
26:09
there's
26:10
no room
26:12
for
26:12
disagreement
26:12
here in
26:14
our text
26:15
in heart
26:16
or spirit.
26:18
The church
26:18
is a
26:18
people with
26:19
one voice
26:20
that glorifies
26:21
one God.
26:23
We weep
26:23
together,
26:24
we rejoice
26:25
together,
26:25
we endure
26:26
persecution
26:26
together,
26:27
all for the
26:28
sake of
26:28
Christ.
26:30
In
26:30
Philippians 2,
26:31
Paul says,
26:31
complete my
26:32
joy by being
26:32
of the same
26:33
mind,
26:34
have the
26:35
same love.
26:37
That is
26:37
being of the
26:39
same mind.
26:40
That
26:41
objective will
26:42
not be
26:42
accomplished
26:42
if everyone
26:43
is perceiving
26:44
themselves as
26:45
set apart
26:45
from the
26:46
rest.
26:47
If the
26:48
Gentiles or
26:48
the Jews
26:49
think that
26:49
they are
26:49
special because
26:50
they're given
26:50
position within
26:51
the kingdom,
26:52
there can't
26:53
be unity
26:53
or like-mindedness.
26:55
The community
26:56
of believers
26:56
won't function
26:57
well.
26:58
The feet
26:58
of the body
26:59
will be
26:59
stumbling
26:59
over one
27:00
another.
27:01
You can't
27:01
use both
27:02
hands to
27:02
write at
27:03
the same
27:03
time.
27:05
Because the
27:06
task before
27:07
us is the
27:07
same,
27:08
to glorify
27:08
God,
27:09
to know
27:10
Him,
27:11
and to
27:11
make Him
27:11
known,
27:12
there's no
27:12
room for
27:13
solo missions.
27:14
This is a
27:14
team sport.
27:15
God has
27:16
called a
27:16
people to
27:17
Himself.
27:18
If everyone
27:19
is a
27:20
quarterback,
27:20
then who
27:21
blocks the
27:21
quarterback?
27:22
And who
27:22
retrieves?
27:25
We have to
27:25
be more
27:26
concerned with
27:27
the job
27:28
getting done
27:29
than with
27:30
who gets
27:30
the recognition.
27:33
And in fact,
27:33
the text tells
27:34
us to associate
27:35
more with those
27:35
not getting
27:36
recognition.
27:36
whether this
27:38
is associating
27:38
with people
27:39
of low
27:40
state or
27:40
things,
27:41
the principle
27:41
is the same
27:42
way to
27:42
associate
27:43
with the
27:44
lowly.
27:45
Don't
27:45
strive to
27:46
associate with
27:47
the high
27:47
class,
27:47
the ones
27:48
who get
27:48
the spotlight,
27:49
but condescend
27:50
to the
27:50
lowly.
27:51
If we are
27:52
caught up in
27:52
pursuing lavish
27:53
lifestyle and
27:54
high status,
27:55
we end up
27:56
worshiping
27:56
ourselves instead
27:57
of God.
27:59
That disunity
28:00
and selfish
28:00
desire contrasts
28:02
the Lord's
28:03
will for
28:03
unity and
28:04
selfless
28:05
living.
28:05
To quote
28:07
from Philippians
28:07
again,
28:08
verses 5
28:08
through 7
28:09
shows us
28:09
the glory
28:10
in having
28:10
a corporately
28:11
humble
28:11
mindset.
28:13
Have this
28:13
mind among
28:14
yourselves,
28:15
which is
28:15
yours in
28:16
Christ Jesus,
28:18
who though
28:18
he was in
28:18
the form of
28:19
God,
28:19
did not
28:19
count equality
28:21
with God
28:21
a thing to
28:22
be grasped,
28:22
but he
28:23
emptied
28:23
himself by
28:24
taking on
28:24
the form
28:25
of a
28:25
servant.
28:27
This
28:27
like-mindedness
28:28
that we
28:28
have is
28:29
derived from
28:31
and only
28:31
from Christ
28:32
Jesus.
28:33
The Spirit
28:34
of God
28:34
dwells within
28:35
the believer,
28:35
causing him
28:36
to do the
28:37
kinds of
28:37
things that
28:37
Christ does,
28:39
pursue the
28:39
kinds of
28:40
things that
28:40
he pursues,
28:41
because Christ
28:42
stooped down
28:43
to be a
28:43
servant,
28:44
suffering for
28:44
the sake of
28:45
his people,
28:46
we put on
28:47
humility and
28:48
servitude for
28:49
the sake of
28:50
God's glory to
28:51
the benefit of
28:52
the church.
28:54
So finally,
28:55
we see in our
28:55
text that to
28:56
pursue harmony,
28:57
we can't be
28:58
wise in our
28:58
own sight.
28:59
Just because the
29:01
Jews have
29:01
studied the law,
29:02
that doesn't
29:03
mean they
29:03
can't be
29:04
taught the
29:04
spiritual
29:04
things that
29:05
God has
29:05
revealed to
29:06
the Gentiles.
29:08
Conversely,
29:08
just because we
29:09
are not under
29:09
the law
29:10
anymore doesn't
29:10
mean the
29:11
Jews can't
29:11
illuminate the
29:12
beauty of
29:13
God's grander
29:14
arc of
29:15
redemptive
29:15
history throughout
29:16
the Old
29:16
Covenant.
29:17
The individual
29:18
can't be the
29:19
smartest one in
29:21
the room all
29:22
of the time.
29:24
At least they're
29:24
not supposed to
29:25
perceive themselves
29:26
as the wisest.
29:28
Their goal should
29:28
always be God's
29:30
glory and not
29:30
their own.
29:31
When that is
29:33
the true heart
29:34
of the believer,
29:36
it won't matter
29:37
who reveals the
29:38
Lord's will.
29:39
It will mostly
29:40
matter that the
29:41
Lord's will is
29:42
being exalted.
29:44
The mixed
29:45
congregation needs
29:45
to praise God
29:46
in giving insight
29:48
to their brothers
29:48
and sisters of
29:50
the faith,
29:50
regardless of
29:51
their ethnicity.
29:52
The book of
29:53
Proverbs is filled
29:54
with exhortations
29:55
to seek counsel
29:56
outside of yourself,
29:57
and one verse
29:58
that ties particularly
29:58
well into our
29:59
text is a
30:01
Proverbs 11,
30:01
14.
30:02
It says,
30:02
Where there is
30:03
no guidance,
30:04
a people falls,
30:05
but in an
30:06
abundance of
30:06
counselors,
30:07
there is safety.
30:09
Not one of us
30:10
here holds all
30:11
the wisdom of
30:12
God in and
30:13
of ourselves.
30:14
The Lord has
30:15
uniquely and
30:17
preciously grown
30:18
and matured
30:19
some of us at
30:20
different paces
30:21
in different ways.
30:23
He has even
30:24
concealed some
30:25
things from all
30:26
of us.
30:26
So, we
30:28
will never
30:29
know all
30:29
things as
30:30
God knows
30:30
all things.
30:31
In fact,
30:32
from now
30:32
until eternity,
30:33
we will be
30:34
exploring the
30:35
immeasurable
30:35
riches of
30:36
God's wisdom
30:36
and glory.
30:38
So, as the
30:39
creation,
30:39
not the
30:39
creator,
30:39
we need
30:40
humility and
30:40
our self-perception
30:42
to recognize
30:42
only God's
30:43
word is
30:45
all true,
30:46
is all
30:46
authoritative,
30:48
and all
30:49
wise.
30:51
In
30:51
exemplary
30:52
fashion,
30:53
Paul boasts
30:54
in his
30:54
weaknesses so
30:55
that God
30:55
would be
30:55
proven strong.
30:57
He humbly
30:57
exhorts the
30:58
Corinthians in
30:59
1 Corinthians
30:59
chapter 3.
31:00
He says,
31:00
Let no one
31:01
deceive himself.
31:02
If anyone
31:03
among you
31:04
thinks that he
31:04
is wise in
31:05
this age,
31:06
let him
31:06
become a
31:07
fool that
31:08
he may
31:08
become wise.
31:10
For the
31:10
wisdom of
31:11
the world
31:11
is folly
31:12
with God.
31:13
For it is
31:13
written,
31:14
he catches
31:14
the wise
31:15
in their
31:15
craftiness.
31:15
And again,
31:16
the Lord
31:17
knows the
31:17
thoughts of
31:18
the wise
31:18
that they
31:18
are futile.
31:19
So,
31:20
let no one
31:20
boast in
31:21
men,
31:21
for all
31:21
things are
31:22
yours,
31:22
whether Paul
31:23
or Apollos
31:23
or save
31:24
us,
31:24
or the
31:25
world or
31:25
life or
31:26
death or
31:26
the present
31:26
or the
31:27
future,
31:27
all are
31:28
yours and
31:29
you are
31:29
Christ's and
31:30
Christ is
31:31
God's.
31:32
Even the
31:32
apostle Paul,
31:34
well studied
31:34
as a Jew
31:35
and a
31:35
Pharisee,
31:36
miraculously
31:37
saved on
31:38
Damascus Road,
31:40
he was granted
31:40
much spiritual
31:41
authority and
31:42
power.
31:43
He humbly
31:43
confesses that
31:45
even his
31:45
wisdom is
31:45
nothing apart
31:46
from Christ's.
31:47
So,
31:48
in order to
31:48
glorify God
31:49
as a church,
31:49
we must be
31:49
humble in
31:50
recognizing all
31:51
things come
31:52
from him,
31:52
we did
31:53
not create
31:54
ourselves,
31:55
we came
31:55
into the
31:56
word to
31:56
us,
31:56
true wisdom
31:57
that comes
31:58
only from
31:58
the Spirit.
32:01
In closing,
32:02
I want to
32:02
leave you with
32:03
a few
32:03
reflections and
32:04
some encouragement
32:05
regarding
32:07
application.
32:08
the overarching
32:09
instruction is
32:10
to live
32:11
selflessly.
32:13
Remember that
32:14
before salvation,
32:15
you too were
32:16
an enemy to
32:17
God, and
32:19
had it not
32:19
been for his
32:20
grace and
32:20
his mercy,
32:21
you still
32:21
would be an
32:22
enemy.
32:23
So, have
32:24
sympathy for
32:24
your
32:25
persecutors.
32:27
Within the
32:28
church, be of
32:28
the same mind
32:29
in such a way
32:29
that you first
32:30
know what's
32:31
going on in
32:32
the personal
32:32
lives of your
32:33
fellow members,
32:34
and then respond
32:35
accordingly.
32:36
The body of
32:37
Christ does
32:37
not keep to
32:38
itself.
32:39
We care for
32:39
one another.
32:40
We deny our
32:41
own fleshly
32:42
desires in
32:42
order to
32:43
serve one
32:43
another.
32:44
So, do not
32:45
let jealousy
32:46
withhold rejoicing.
32:47
Do not let
32:48
pride or
32:49
insecurity
32:50
withhold weeping.
32:52
In humility,
32:53
strive to be
32:53
of the same
32:54
love with
32:55
people who
32:56
are different
32:56
than you,
32:58
with people
32:58
who wouldn't
32:59
be your
32:59
friend on
32:59
paper, per
33:00
se, but
33:01
are your
33:01
family in
33:02
Christ.
33:04
Lastly,
33:05
consider that
33:05
you are
33:06
created and
33:07
sustained by
33:07
God.
33:08
If you
33:09
have any
33:09
wisdom, any
33:11
wise thought,
33:12
any understanding,
33:13
give God the
33:14
glory.
33:15
In doing so,
33:16
you spur one
33:17
another on to
33:18
love and good
33:18
works as you
33:19
glorify God.
33:22
As a means of
33:23
encouragement, we
33:25
elders have been
33:27
very heartened by
33:28
the way that you
33:28
all serve one
33:29
another in
33:30
humility and
33:31
empathy.
33:32
We see and we
33:33
hear the
33:34
compassion you
33:34
have for one
33:35
another regularly.
33:36
I have
33:37
personally
33:37
experienced the
33:38
rejoicing and
33:39
weeping with
33:39
you all.
33:41
Our sentiment
33:42
is that of
33:42
Paul to the
33:43
Thessalonians
33:44
when he said,
33:45
Now concerning
33:46
brotherly love,
33:47
you have no
33:47
need for anyone
33:48
to write to you,
33:49
for you yourselves
33:50
have been taught
33:50
by God to love
33:51
one another.
33:53
For that,
33:53
and indeed,
33:54
is what you are
33:55
doing to all the
33:55
brothers throughout
33:56
Macedonia.
33:57
But, we urge
33:58
you, brothers,
34:00
do this more
34:02
and more.
34:04
Let's pray.