Love
Continuing with this style in the next section, Paul relates more short, individual directives:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
In the previous two sections, Paul gave his Roman readers advice on how to use their gifts publicly and privately among believers. When he now includes advice on how to react to “those who persecute you,” he is obviously moving out into the wider scope of society in general, including the nonChristian element that neither understands nor appreciates Christianity. Altogether, he gives eight positive and negative encouragements:
• Bless those who persecute you;
• bless and do not curse.
• Rejoice with those who rejoice;
• mourn with those who mourn.
• Live in harmony with one another.
• Do not be proud,
• but be willing to associate with people of low position.
• Do not be conceited.
None of the things in this list are possible for unregenerate people in their natural state. The things urged by Paul are decidedly Christian virtues. They are not things done to gain God’s favor. Instead, they are a result of the favor God has already shown in and through Christ to the believer. Recall that the apostle started this chapter by directing his readers to what alone can motivate and produce proper, God-pleasing activity. He urged his readers “in view of God’s mercy” to offer their bodies “as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (verse 1).
None of the virtues urged by the apostle are particularly easy for the Christian. The problem is that the believer continues to be hampered by the old Adam, that evil nature, which clings to the child of God all life long.
Although, as stated above, none of the things directed by Paul are easy for the Christian, an especially difficult virtue is reacting properly to the persecution and opposition that come because of our faith in Christ. And yet Paul says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”