The Power of Grace

 

Romans 12:9-21, the Second Reading appointed for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost in the Year of Matthew, is entitled in the Lutheran Study Bible, "Marks of the True Christian."  I suppose that is accurate enough, however, that title sets up the idea that there are true and false Christians.  We know better.  We are all, as Luther said, simultaneously saint and sinner, that is to say, true and false Christians at the same time.  Perhaps this passage might better be understood as "Evidence of the Power of Grace."  Something to ponder.

(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but are best used with other fine sets of questions available to exegetes.  The intent of these questions is to examine the function of the Word in the text, something fundamental to Law and Gospel preachers.  To understand more about the method behind these questions and Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)  

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  All these verses build on what has been stated prior, which is to say, "You have been flooded with God's love; now pour out that love to others."  The Word here is functioning as a call to obedience.  Calls to obedience are always an invitation to live in response to God's love.  Nothing could be more clear.

2.  How is the Word not functioning in the text?  Neither the Law nor the Gospel are much present in this text.  As stated above, the Gospel, so clearly laid out in earlier chapters, is the basis for the response into which one is invited here.  Also, any notion that these verses are given to prove to us just how far we all fall short of God's expectations must be rejected.  These verses are not the Law, meant to show us our sins and how much we need a Savior.

3.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  These verses can be assumed to have been written to us, the readers.  Paul is addressing Christians.  We are Christians, those who have been saved by grace.  God's power comes to us by this grace.

4.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  Since neither Law nor Gospel is present here, we will have to use some of the language to create our own couplets.  Some ideas:  Cursed/blessed; hungry/filled; overcome by evil/overcome by grace.

5.  Exegetical work:  Paul Achtemeier has an excellent way of understanding how this text functions.  He writes:  "Paul is not giving an inclusive law, complete with casuistic differentiations depending on changing circumstances.  Rather Paul is giving examples of the way grace is to provide the structures for the activities of Christians in their common life with one another within their Christian community. This is the way we are to respond to the grace that now orders our lives (vv.2,21)." (Interpretation series, Romans, p. 198).  He goes on to say that "Paul is not smuggling in the law through the back door, as it were, in his ethical admonitions.  The admonitions are not contrary to grace, they are the response to a grace taken seriously enough to shape one's life accordingly." (Ibid., p. 200). Michael Gorman, in his essay on this text, notes the communal context of these injunctions. He asks the question, "What specifically does ...a Spirit-infused... community look like?"  His answer:  "Fundamentally, it will be Christlike, and specifically cruciform, for each individual and the church as a whole has been co-crucified with Christ and co-raised with him to new life in the Spirit, a life marked by the pattern of cross and resurrection." (Preaching Romans, McKnight and Modica, eds., p.77).  Anders Nygren, in a classic commentary, suggests that this whole passage can be understood as life "in Christ," which, according to Nygren is equivalent to life lived "in love."  He notes the similarity to First Corinthians 13, suggesting a paraphrase as follows:  "Love hates what is evil, but holds fast to what is good.  It loves the brethren, and seeks to outdo them in showing honor.  Love never flags in zeal; it is aglow in the Spirit; it serves the Lord.  It rejoices in hope, is patient in tribulation, is constant in prayer," etc. (Commentary on Romans, p. 425).  Ernst Kasemann agrees:  "Verse 21 takes up again the heading in v. 17a and rounds off the section.  Only love overcomes evil by the doing of good.  This raises again the question whether love is not the guiding idea of the verses." (Commentary on Romans, p. 349).

6.  Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic?  David Buttrick was a champion for the listener.  He insisted that a sermon contain only so many 'moves', that is to say, sections of meaning, lest the listener be left behind.  In a sermon on the way of love, this will be important advice to heed.

Blessings on your proclamation!