Transcript of Epiphany 3 Sermon (Due to construction in the sanctuary we were not able to provide a video this week)
In our epistle today, Paul is not in love with moral actions as He is in love with Christ. Rom 12 is a chapter filled with an appeal for inner transformation through Christ, instead of outer transformation of moral actions. The outward comes through the inward. It is the life of Christ in us that changes us from inside out.
God is more concerned with you realizing His love, and his example through Christ, than a list of moral ‘dos and don’ts’.
When we get to know God, we learn about His character, and IF we are open to receive His LOVE, we experience something SO transforming that starts to show on the outside. Our actions are not a series of rules we follow, but a true manifestation of Christ in us.
So, let’s look at our Epistle reading again, which is in Romans 12. But before we do, let’s look at how the chapter starts. This chapter starts with Paul telling us, in Romans 12:1-2, that we shouldn’t be shaped by the world around us, but actually transformed in our minds.
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. 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.
Our reading continues in verse16:
Never be wise in your own sight. 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. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[i] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
One can read this passage and just think of it as a list of rules to be followed. But, we think there’s something much more profound here. It seems like Paul wants us to look at Jesus as our Rabbi – teacher.
You see, Paul is not merely giving us a set of commands we should try our best, to see if we can get it right. He’s taking us back to Christ and showing us what it means TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
The interest thing is that if you go back and read the passage with Jesus in mind, we will see that everything Paul writes about – Jesus embodied. He did all those things Paul is telling us to do. So, Paul is not telling us to try hard to “copy” Jesus. He’s showing us all that’s available for us in us. Just like Jesus said in John 15 for us to abide in Him – The Vine – in order to give fruit. When you remember that, you can see how it is, by abiding in Him, that we grow in Christlikeness.
So let’s not approach Paul’s teaching as a number of moral commands. Instead, let’s have Jesus in front of us and as the psalmist says: gaze at His beauty. Let’s fall in love with Jesus all over again and again and again. It is in relationship with Him that we grow in knowing Him. And that’s how we become more like Him.
Our scripture today is saying: KNOW JESUS, and learn humility, practice peacemaking, grow to love your enemy…
St. Agustine in his 7th Homily on 1 John said, “Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved.”
Can you see the freedom that comes in this relationship? It’s like when you love your spouse. You don’t do things just because you have to – it is out of the love your experience in that relationship that you move, you act in a way that makes the relationship even more loving.
So, with all that in mind let’s look closely at our passage:
Paul starts to tell us what the actions of one who has been renewed and transformed looks like.
First, in knowing Jesus you will learn humility
Never be wise in your own sight. Rom. 12:16
It’s a pretty high bar, starting with humility. He had said something similar just a few verses previous that we didn’t read today saying in Rom 12:3:
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment,
Was there anyone more humble than Jesus himself? Phil 2:6-7 says, “Who bing in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing taking on the very nature of a servant.”
Again, remember that it is in relationship with Christ that we learn to humble ourselves. When He resides in us, with us, and through us, our mind is transformed then we take on his character. Characteristics like humility.
He goes on to say:
2. Know Jesus and practice Peacemaking.
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.
Less than a week ago we celebrated a man that embodied this biblical mindset, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. The civil rights movement was a non-violent movement taken directly from the pages of Scripture like these.
In the face of mistreatment and injustice those leading the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s did so without violence. Christ also didn’t rise to his own defense.
Isaiah even prophesied about this in saying:
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.Isaiah 53:7
When He resides in us, with us, and through us, our mind is transformed then we take on his character. Characteristics like peacemaking.
3. Know Jesus and grow to Love your enemy
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.”
This is a short sermon, so I’m not going to expand in teachings about the “wrath of God”. But, I want to say this: there was enmity between us and God. Then look at Jesus – that’s how the Father chose to deal with us – in Jesus we see how His love was displayed so completely.
Then Paul exhorts us to Instead of wrath, bring Kindness.
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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This is a direct quote from Prov. 25: 21,22, and is likely a reference in Proverbs to an Egyptian ritual of repentance. By pouring coals over their head they are showing repentance. By feeding and giving drink to your enemy, you are leading them to repentance and the possibility of change.
This fire is a refining FIRE – it is goodness that leads to repentance
When He resides in us, with us, and through us, our mind is transformed then we take on his character. Characteristics like kindness (even to enemies)
So, as you leave today, I pray that you can take a moment to gaze upon God’s beauty and desire the transformation that’s possible through the power of the Spirit in you, because of His love for us.
Amen.