I. Introduction
A. Radical
1. If you grew up in the 80s, the term radical meant cool. Sometimes we’d even shorten that to rad. You wanted to be rad. This might include extra tall bangs, parachute pants, tight roll jeans, mixed tapes, etc.
2. In our modern day, the word has often become associated with more nefarious ideologies.
3. But what is or isn’t radical is often subject to cultural views, beliefs, and other factors.
B. Radical or Normal?
1. As we examine the list in Romans 12:9-21, often referred to as The Marks of a True Christian, we find what the world might consider radical ideas about love.
2. While these attributes might seem radical, Paul presents them as markers of normal Christians.
3. Tonight, let’s examine what radical love looks like.
II. Radical Love
A. Love is a
1. Love is not an option; it’s a .
a. Colossians 3:12-14
b. 1 Corinthians 13:13
2. God is love (1 John 4:7-12), and we need God; therefore, love is a need.
a. We need God’s love.
b. We need to love one another.
c. Jesus described the greatest commandment as loving God and loving others. (Matthew 22:36-40)
3. What does this love look like?
a. Rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep (v. 15).
b. Living in harmony with one another (v. 16).
c. Being humble (v. 17).
4. Love is a need, not just a want, in the church.
B. Love is a
1. Love is not an idea; it’s an .
a. Love is an attitude of the heart displayed through the action of the hands.
b. Jesus didn’t just talk about love; He showed us what it looks like.
c. John 13:14-15, 34-3
d. 1 John 3:18
2. It is interesting how many of the actions listed in Romans 12:9-13 can be connected to 1 Corinthians 13. There is unity in the lists.
|
Theme / Description of Love
|
1 Corinthians 13:4–8
|
Romans 12:9–13
|
|
Sincerity
|
Love “does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.” (v.4–5) – genuine, not self-seeking or showy.
|
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (v.9) – emphasizes authenticity and moral integrity.
|
|
Humility
|
“Love does not boast, it is not proud.” (v.4)
|
“Outdo one another in showing honor.” (v.10) – puts others first.
|
|
Patience and Kindness
|
“Love is patient and kind.” (v.4)
|
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation.” (v.12) – mirrors the endurance of love.
|
|
Unselfishness
|
“It does not insist on its own way.” (v.5)
|
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (v.13) – generosity as an outflow of love.
|
|
Forgiveness and Grace
|
“It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.” (v.5)
|
“Bless those who persecute you.” (v.14, contextually next verse) – similar call to forgive and bless.
|
|
Moral Integrity
|
“Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” (v.6)
|
“Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (v.9) – both connect love with righteousness.
|
|
Faithfulness and Endurance
|
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (v.7)
|
“Be constant in prayer.” (v.12) – perseverance and devotion rooted in love.
|
|
Persevering Service
|
“Love never fails.” (v.8)
|
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (v.11) – active, enduring love in service.
|
|
Community and Fellowship
|
Implied through mutual love.
|
“Love one another with brotherly affection.” (v.10) – direct emphasis on familial love among believers.
|
3. In this chart, every single aspect involves some action motivated by love.
C. Love is a
1. Love is not just an emotion; it’s a .
a. God decided to save us because of His love for us. He chose grace and mercy instead of His wrath.
b. Ephesians 2:1-10
c. He chose to make that plan plain to us.
2. If we love God, we will choose Him. This also means we will not choose those things that are contrary to His nature (…abhor what is evil…).
3. Loving our enemies
a. It is not an easy choice to love our enemies, but it is what we are called to do.
b. Matthew 5:43-48
c. I cannot learn how to love others if I don’t understand God’s love for me. When I begin to understand it, I can extend it to others.
d. Until we understand God’s love for us, we cannot understand the final portion of this text, which reminds us to love even those who do not love us back.
e. Jesus tells us that if we want to be perfect (mature), we will choose to love those who do not love us (Matthew 5:48).
4. Even though it won’t always feel good, if we learn to choose love, we will become more like Christ.
III. Conclusion
A. Radical or Normal?
1. While the world might see us as radicals because of the way we love, that should be okay.
2. Our radical is supposed to show people what the norm should look like.
B. Invitation