Imagine Sunday after church that we stuck around and ate something light and spent the afternoon fellowshipping, having fun together on the grounds, and visitors staying around with us and realizing, “Hey… I don’t have this in my lonely life. I want this.”
I can’t think of a member of this church whose heart doesn’t heat up at the thought of such an experience.
The Late Dr. James Montgomery Boice was an amazing figure in 20th Century. 
I can’t think of a member of this church whose heart doesn’t heat up at the thought of such an experience.
He was pastor for three decades of the historic 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
He was Ivy League Educated. He served as an editor under the great Carl F.H. Henry in the early days of Christianity Today. He was a conference speaker, author, and scholar.
I read this week where he wrote, “The contemporary church will never have the power of the early church until today’s Christians love one another as a close-knit family.” (See Romans commentary on Romans 10.)
What is striking about that statement is that you can come from a loveless and hateful family background and
still understand what Boice means by that statement.
Ever seen a close-knit family?
Not the Corleone family.
Not the Brady Bunch, the Seavers, whatever pretend family comes to mind.
Ever seen a big family with impenetrable loyalty, love, and honor?
People will be drawn to them. People will envy and criticize them in jealousy.
Do we love one another like this? Is there a deep love and enjoyment of each other because of Jesus?
Do you ever wonder why we sometimes struggle to advance the gospel?
In Romans, Paul wrote to this congregation in Rome to advance the gospel among them and the nations.
He wanted to get them united in their identity in Jesus and in their mission for Jesus.
Romans 12 v 10 (CSB) says, Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
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The key idea here is this. - Your love for Jesus will show in your love of His blood-bought people.
Imagine a few fictional folks in your mind who make up the church.
- Brother Billy Babble
- Sister Sally Salty
- Brother Dennis Depressed
- and Sister Nelly Needy
Billy is difficult to converse with because his conversations tend to be mostly unengaging and lack stimulation. You don’t perceive him as beneficial to your personal growth and self-esteem.
Sally is often unhappy. She is not very uplifting but rather draining. She comes across as grumpy and disinterested. You don’t perceive her as valuable to your personal growth and self-esteem.
Dennis is coming through a season of prolonged suffering, and he is struggling to see hope. His slump is not attractive to you. -You don’t see him as valuable to your personal enhancement and self-esteem.
Nelly is pretty much always in crisis, and she doesn’t always make wise choices, but they are hers, and she needs a lot more attention based on her maturity. -You don’t see her as valuable to your personal enhancement and self-esteem.
I forgot to mention Cal & Cathy Convenience. The members who show love when someone cooler/wealthier /, or more interesting is not available for them to spend time with.
Also, don’t forget Vick and Valarie Validation; they are not happy unless you make them feel loved by praising them and treating them as your greatest friend.
At one point or another, we have been these people. What do you do with these people? Do you respond based on how they make you feel or on how Jesus sees them?
Notice how the CSB gives attention to the actual adjective inserted here that other translations do not hit as clearly.
The adjective deeply refers to the sort of nurturing love that parents have for their children.
Frank Thielman notes that the term was used for the instinctive nurture that animals gave to their offspring,
and so it could carry the connotation of instinctive love.
The way a parent instinctively loves a child in danger and goes to their rescue is how we should feel about members of our own church.
Paul seems to emphasize the inwardness and authenticity of the virtues that
he admonishes the Roman believers to display.
Paul is talking about the kind of love that allows for weaknesses and imperfections, communicates,
deals with problems, affirms others, and has a strong commitment and loyalty to others.
Such a bond will hold any church together no matter what problems come from without or within.
(See The Life Application Commentary)
Doctors have tests and gauges to assess our health.
Our love for one another is a test that indicates how full our hearts are with the love of Jesus.
Do you realize sometimes we are also are quite difficult? Not everyone is a fan of our moods, expressions, attitudes, constant “insights” and commentary, but they show us love?
Some of you need fellowship so much more. You are killing your walk because you only make use of the church in a minimalist way. You don’t use your gifts, but you are atrophying on the side. Your misery is increasing because you keep cutting yourself off from fellowship.
Perhaps you are not forgiving, and the only person it hurts is you.
Members in a local church, do not forget that you are under oath. You promised to love one another by the grace of the Spirit in your church covenant.
What is going to change in you today?
Your love being absent and mine are really saying where we are with Jesus.
Where this kind of love is, we will find empowered evangelism!
John 13 v 34-35 (CSB) says,
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
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