Real Faith, Real Ministry, Real Fruit.

I saw a meme this past holiday that was meant to warn children who were going to the rural homes not to play carelessly with animals. In the short video, a young man is seen playing a head butting game with a sheep which, characteristic of sheep, steps back and gives the young man a serious head butt. The caption on the video is ‘things are real’. I think reality does not hit us in easy times, but when pain, hard work, difficulty sets in things become ‘very real’.   In Christian life however, the faith is very real no matter where you are. Romans 12 shows us this reality by calling believers to sacrificially demonstrate real faith, real service and real fruit.

Real Faith.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) 

Paul shows Roman Christians that they are to be like an offering on an altar – a body given up to flames like a burnt offering on an OT altar. Their bodies are to be a living sacrifice – holy and acceptable to God, for this is their true act of worship. No longer then are they to be conformed to the patterns of this world but are to be transformed by the renewing of minds so that they may discern (and consequently do) the will of God is – the good, perfect and acceptable will.  Like the Romans, real faith in Christ will be demonstrated in true sacrificial living. There is a sense in which our lives will be abandoned at God’s altar. For this is our true act of spiritual worship. We are no longer to conform to worldly patterns but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 Real Ministry 

Paul moves on to tell the Romans that God has given them gifts such as faith, belonging in the body (church family) and ministries to serve in. Each of these gifts are to be deployed in a particular way to serve the wider
body – let us use them he says in verse 6b. The one with prophecy (proclaiming the gospel) in proportion to faith, service, teaching and exhortation, contribution with generosity, leadership (administration) with
zeal, Acts of mercy with cheerfulness.  Gifts are not for showing off but for showing up

Like one body, the many parts are for serving the Lord and one another.

Real Gospel Fruit

The next section then details what living in faith looks like. It is easy to imagine that fruit is only seen in others but here, Paul shows us that fruit will first need to be seen in the believer. What does a life lived as a living sacrifice look like?  We shall divide up these marks into 3 categories – Heart issues, which mainly address our attitudes, Head issues which mainly address our reasons and Hand issues which mainly address our call to action.

Heart (Verse 9- 15)

1. Genuine love. Abhors (hates) evil and holds fast to what is good. (v9-10). We are to love one another with brotherly affection and showing honour.
2. Sincere Joy. Rejoice in hope, (v12) rejoice with those who rejoice
3. Sincere fellowship with others in the body. Weep with those who weep. (v15)
4. Patient in tribulation.
5. Persistent in prayer
6. Overcoming evil with good (v21). Blessing those who persecute us not cursing. (v14)

Q: How genuine is your love for the brethren? What might you need to work on in 2024?

Head (Verse 16 – 18)

• Harmony in peace with all men, as far as it depends on us. (v16,18)
• Humility.  Not haughty (proud) but rather associate with the lowly. (v 16b). Not wise in own sight. (conceited). We listen to the counsel.
• Honorable. We are not repay evil for evil but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all. We are not to avenge for ourselves but leave vengeance to God.

Q: How well is your mind renewed by the gospel? What might you need to turn away from and leave behind in 2023? Please write down 2 -3 areas that you need the Lord to help you in 2024.

Hands (Verse 11, 13)

• Zealous– Do not be slothful but be fervent in spirit – serve the Lord. (v11)
• Generous. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (v13).

Application Questions: How zealous are your hands for the Lord’s work. Are there areas where you may have been slothful in 2023? How different will be this year be? Please write down 2 -3 areas where you might need the Lord to help you to do more of or less of next year.

Conclusion

Paul concludes in v 21 by stating that we are not to be overcome by evil but rather to overcome evil with good. We live in a broken world and, 2024 will be marked by brokenness, sin and difficulty. Our call then is to consistently demonstrate a real faith, in a real ministry with real fruit.