1). CHRISTIAN LIVING (12:1-13:14). In this passage Paul calls on God's people so to present their bodies as a living offering to God, through their having died with Christ and risen with Him (Romans 6:1), that they live lives of total purity and goodness. This is then spelled out in detail, first i... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO MAKE REAL IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH THEY HAVE RECEIVED (12:1-15:33). This section moves from the indicative to the imperative. Having outlined the ways of God in salvation: · in applying to His people the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:24 to Romans 4:25),... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO TOTAL CONSECRATION (12:1-2). ‘I therefore plead with you brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be fashioned according to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God has dealt to each man a measure of faith.' The consequence of being transformed by the renewing of our m... [ Continue Reading ]
EACH MEMBER IS TO PLAY HIS APPROPRIATE PART IN BUILDING UP CHRIST'S BODY (12:3-8). In Romans 11:16 God was seen as ministering to His people in establishing and building up the olive tree which represented Messiah and His people, with branches removed or added according to His purpose. Now we see t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.' There is a clear resemblance between this description of God's people as a body, and the description of it as the olive tre... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us.' These gifts are not natural gifts, they are charismata. The naturally gifted may not be spiritual and may become a danger to the church (compare 3 John 1:9). But these are gifts given by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8; 1 Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry, or he who teaches, (let him give himself) to his teaching,' All Christians are to keep themselves to what they do best in accordance with the gift(s) given to them by God. Thus those who serve in the church in different ways are to give themselv... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Or he who exhorts, (let him give himself) to his exhorting, he who gives, (let him do it) with liberality, he who rules, with diligence, he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.' Exhortation and encouragement (not necessarily just in preaching) was a separate gift, as some were enabled by the Holy S... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cleave to what is good.' As befits a depiction of the teaching of Jesus the list commences with the requirement to love truly. We are called on to reveal love in our lives, love for our fellow-Christians, and love for our fellowman, a love that is... [ Continue Reading ]
A CALL TO FULFIL THE LAW OF CHRIST AND OF THE SCRIPTURES. THE WORKING OUT OF LOVE (12:9-21). Having dealt with what was necessary for the edifying and upbuilding of the body of Christ, Paul now turns to what is required of Christians as they live ‘in newness of life' (Romans 6:3). In the terms of ch... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE EXPRESSING ITSELF IN THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS (12:10-13). While the injunctions that follow in Romans 12:10 are not necessarily to be limited to benefiting the family, it is clear that love for our believing brothers and sisters is paramount. They above all will benefit by our tender affection... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another, in honour preferring one another,' With regard to love of our fellow-Christians it is to be a love of ‘tender affection'. This is a word used of strong family affection. As Christians we are members of a family. And we are to show it.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In diligence not slothful (in zeal not flagging), fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' It is necessarily the church which will benefit most by the zeal of God's people in serving the LORD, for their fellow-members are their prime responsibility, but the wider outreach must not be overlooked. Indee... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer,' Having spoken of the upward look (fervent in the Spirit, serving the LORD), Paul now considers the forward look by which Christians remain steadfast in the face of the future, thus maintaining the stability and strength o... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to (pursuing) hospitality.' And as pilgrims on life's journey (1 Peter 2:11) we are to aid our fellow pilgrims en route, as we ensure the meeting of their necessities (food and clothing) where needed, and provide them with hospitality (Matthew 2... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Bless those who persecute you, bless, and curse not.' The first call is to bless those who persecute us, and not to curse them. The first clause basically repeats the teaching of Jesus, where He said, ‘pray for those who persecute you' (Matthew 5:44; compare Luke 6:28; 1 Peter 3:9), where the inten... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMANDS TO LOVE ALL (12:14-18). Having looked at the needs of believers, Paul now turns his attention to the need for those who have experienced the mercies of God to demonstrate love towards all men, including, of course, believers. These injunctions commence with the requirement that we love eve... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.' The Christian should be an expert at getting alongside people in order to share with them their joys and sorrows. Thus he will share in people's rejoicing, and will feel for the miserable in their misery. This is not an excuse for revelling... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Be of the same mind one towards another. Do not set your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Do not be wise-minded in your own conceits.' These three injunctions place great emphasis on how we ‘think in our minds'. They describe an attitude of mind permanently taken up. T... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honourable in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as in you lies, be at peace with all men.' We might summarise these injunctions as ‘seek to get on with people'. The first warns against retaliation. The second requires that we g... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath (of God), for it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, says the Lord.' Paul advises the Christians in Rome, on the basis of Scripture, that they should leave vengeance in the hands of God, Who will surely recompense m... [ Continue Reading ]
“But if your enemy hungers, feed him, if he thirsts, give him to drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” These words are based on Proverbs 25:21, and the first part is certainly indicative of the kind of response urged by Jesus towards our enemies. The idea is that we shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Do not become overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' If a Christian responds to evil by doing evil, he has been ‘overcome by evil'. It has brought him down to the level of the other person. He has been defeated. But if he responds by doing good then he overcomes evil. And not only does he... [ Continue Reading ]