Romans 12: The Gospel of Grace & Christian Service
Application: The student will examine his responsibility to live a separated life and influence others to do likewise.
IN TODAY’S CHAPTER WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE WERE SAVED FOR GOD’S HOLY PURPOSE AND WE WERE CHANGED INTO A NEW CREATURE TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN OUR LIVES.
THERE ARE SOME REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR NEW LIVES AND THOSE DEFINE WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN AFTER SALVATION AND JUSTIFICATION.
THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE A MAJOR PART OF OUR SANCTIFICATION UNDER THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE.
THESE ARE GROWING IN HOLINESS, USING THE GIFTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND WALKING IN LOVE FOR THE REST OF OUR MORTAL LIVES.
HERE WE BEGIN THE STUDY OF THE FINAL DIVISION OF ROMANS.
THE 1ST EIGHT CHAPTERS WERE DOCTRINE.
THE NEXT 3 CHAPTERS WERE DISPENSATION OF DOCTRINE.
THE FINAL CHAPTERS ARE DISCUSSING CHRISTIAN DUTY.
NOW THE APOSTLE PAUL ASKS HIS READERS TO DO SOME REALISTIC CONSIDERATION OF HOW THEY HAVE APPLIED SPIRITUAL TRUTH TO THEIR LIVES.
HE BESEECHES THEM TO SHOW THEIR DEVOTION TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL BY PRESENTING THEIR BODIES IN APPRECIATION AS “LIVING SACRIFICES” TOWARD THE GOSPEL.
IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS PAUL HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT THE BODY IS THE AGENT OF SIN, BUT NOW HE TEACHES THAT IT IS TO BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF HOLINESS, WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO THE FATHER.
HIS MESSAGE IS THAT WHEN WE ARE FULLY SURRENDERED TO GOD, WE SHOW THAT SURRENDER BY REMAINING IN THE WORLD BUT USING OUR LIVES AS A FAITHFUL WITNESS.
HE TELLS THE ROMAN CHURCH MEMBERS THAT THIS EVALUATION OF THEMSELVES WILL COME FROM A RENEWED MIND WHICH WILL DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AS A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION THROUGH GRACE REVEALED IN FAITH ALSO BRINGS GIFTS TO EACH BELIEVER.
WHILE HE DOES NOT DETAIL THESE GIFTS, HE DOES SEEM TO SAY THAT THESE GIFTS ARE TO BE USED FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST AND TO FAIL TO USE THE GIFTS LESSENS OUR DEDICATION.
IN REMINDING US OF THE CHANGED CONDUCT, PAUL IS NOT EXPRESSING ANOTHER SET OF RULES APART FROM THE LAW.
HE HAS CONSISTENTLY TAUGHT THAT WE ARE NOT TO WORSHIP RULES AS DO THE JEWS, BUT ARE TO SIMPLY RECOGNIZE THE GIFT GIVEN AND USE IT FOR GOD’S PURPOSE & GLORY.
IN THIS CHAPTER WE ARE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TOP OF THEOLOGY PAUL PROVIDED IN CHAPTERS 8-11 AND ARE WALKING INTO THE EVERYDAY DUTY OF BEING A CHRISTIAN.
VERSES 1-2 DESCRIBE OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.
PAUL BESEECHS US, MEANING TO EARNESTLY BEG US BY THE MERCIES OF GOD TO ENTER INTO THE STATUS OF LIVING SACRIFICE TO THE LORD.
WHEN HE SAYS WE ARE TO PRESENT OURSELVES, HE MEANS YIELDING OURSELVES WHICH IS THE WAY OF CONSECRATION OF OURSELVES TO THE LORD.
IN 1ST COR 6:20 HE FURTHER TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO GLORIFY GOD IN OUR BODY WHICH IS NO LONGER OURS BUT BELONGS TO THE LORD AFTER SALVATION.
IN VERSE 2 WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WE ARE TO “BE TRANSFORMED” NOT TO EXPECT TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES, BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS.
OUR BODIES, OUR MINDS, AND OUR SPIRITS, ARE TO ALL BE DEDICATED TO HIS SERVICE IN THE GIFTS WERE HAVE RECEIVED.
TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS IS BOTH GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND IS PLEASING TO HIM.
ESSENTIALLY PAUL IS SAYING HERE TO LIVE BY OUR OWN INVITATION HYMN AND TO TRULY MEAN IT WHEN WE SING
“I SURRENDER ALL”.
NOW IN VERSES 9-21 PAUL EXPRESSES HOW THE BELIEVER IS REQUIRED TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS EVIL AND IS TO CHOOSE THE GOOD.
HE BEGINS BY SPEAKING OF OUR RELATION TO OTHER BELIEVERS BEING IN LOVE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY.
HE USES A VERY STRONG WORD IN COMMANDING US TO ABHOR EVIL AND AN EQUALLY STRONG WORD TO COMMAND US TO CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD.
ABHORING EVIL MEANS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. IF WE FIND EVIL WITHIN OUR ASSEMBLY WE ARE NOT TO FAIL TO SAY SO AND BRING IT TO THE ELDERS FOR REMOVAL OF IT.
CLEAVE IS THE SAME CONCEPT MEANING AS WE FIND GOOD IN OUR ASSEMBLY WE ARE TO BE WELDED TO IT HELPING IT TO GROW AND BEAR FRUIT.
SOME SPECIFIC DETAILS ARE NOW GIVEN BY PAUL IN ORDER TO ASSURE HIS MEANING OF THESE THINGS:
KINDLY SHOW AFFECTION WITH BROTHERLY LOVE
BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT, SERVING THE LORD.
REJOICE IN HOPE
BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATION
CONTINUE FULLY IN PRAYER
GIVE HELP WHERE NEEDED
BE HOSPITABLE
BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, CURSE THEM NOT
SHARE OTHER’S JOY AS WELL AS THEIR WEEPING
BE OF ONE MIND, DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD
BE NOW WISE IN YOUR OWN OPINIONS ONLY
DO WE NOTICE HERE THAT PAUL IS REMINDING BELIEVERS OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
IN THE 5TH BLESSING IN MATTHEW 5:38-48.
THERE IS TO BE NO VENGENCE OR GRUDGE AGAINST OUR OWN PEOPLE AS ORIGINALLY TAUGHT IN LEVITICUS 9:18.
JESUS SAID THERE IS TO BE NO BITTERNESS OF HEART AGAINST OUR OWN AS WE ARE TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WITH THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF OUR LOVE.
JESUS ALSO TAUGHT THERE IN MATTHEW 5:3-12 THAT WE ARE TO REJOICE UNDER PERSECUTION, BEING WILLING TO SUFFER IT FOR HIS NAME AND GREAT WILL BE OUR REWARD IN HEAVEN FOR LIVING THIS WAY.
PAUL’S COMMANDS HERE ARE DIRECT ECHOES OF THE TEACHING OF THE LORD ON THE MOUNTAIN SERMON.
IN VERSES 19-20 PAUL REMINDS THAT VENGENCE BELONGS TO GOD, NOT TO MAN.
FEED OUR ENEMY IF HE HUNGERS, GIVE HIM DRINK IF HE THIRSTS.
DOING SO WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.
FINALLY THE COMMAND GIVEN IN VERSE 21 SUMMARIZES THE TEACHING BY SAYING WE ARE NOT TO BE OVERCOME WITH EVIL, BUT TO OVERCOME IT WITH GOOD.
IN GALATIANS 5 PAUL COMMANDS IN VERSE 16 THAT WE ARE TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND THEREBY WE WILL NOT FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH.
HE ALSO SAYS IN VERSE 25 IN GALATIANS THAT WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT IF WE INTEND TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.
WHEN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS OPERATING PROPERLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR EVIL, DIVISION, AND CONFLICT IS AVOIDED BY THE BLESSING OF COOPERATION THROUGH LOVE.
EVIL WILL PERSIST AGAINST US AND OUR CHURCH.
OUR SPIRITUAL GOODNESS MUST PREVAIL AND WE ARE NOT TO USE EVIL BACK AGAINST THOSE WHO BRING EVIL UPON US.
DEALING WITH THESE HARDSHIPS CAN BE AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT CHRISTIAN CHALLENGES.
OUR POSITION IS NOT TO BE SEEKING TO GET EVEN BUT TO LOVE MORE.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS BUT WE ARE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS AND WE KNOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF JESUS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARLY GIVEN.
EVIL WILL BE PUNISHED BUT WE ARE NOT TO BECOME THE PUNISHER.
A RENEWED MIND RESPONDING IN THIS RENEWED WAY WILL REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD.
THERE IS SPECIAL TENDERNESS IN PAUL’S REMINDER OF HOW WE ARE TO LIVE AND RESPOND.
THE TRUE BASIS OF THIS NEW WAY OF LIFE AS DESCRIBED BY PAUL IS THE EXAMPLE JESUS SET FOR US BY HIS LIFE.
WHILE WE ARE NOT DIVINE AND OUR HUMAN REACTION MAY NOT ALWAYS BE AS GENTLE AS HIS WAS, OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME MORE LIKE HIM, MORE CHRISTLIKE.
THIS GOAL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OTHERS IN THE PROCESS OF OUR SANCTIFICATION, REMEMBERING THAT IT IS FOR THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF OUR WILL CLOSER TO HIS WILL.
