Romans - Lesson 12

Text

III. Exhortation: The righteousness of God in life- “A living sacrifice”

12:1-15:3

A. The righteous man and his spiritual relationship 12:1-2

Chapter 12

1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed¹ by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God² is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

B. The righteous man and his social relationship 12:3-8

3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;

8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

C. The righteous man and his personal relationship 12:9-21

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. ³

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

20 "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."

21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Thought questions for chapter 12

1. What difference does a person’s attitude make?

1. To God?
2. To the world?

Attitude opens the understanding of the mind to God and enables us to understand others.

2. What characteristics should control the Christian’s life in his service to Christ?

Love, humility, service.

3. Verses 3-8 might be summarized by the word humility. What are the characteristics of a truly humble person?

That person thinks more of (and also about) others than themselves.

4. Verses 9-21 may be summarized by the word love. What is someone like who is filled with love?

Gal 5:22-23; 1Corth 13

e. In which of the following categories do you think the teachings of this chapter best belong? 1. Christian duties 2. Christian privileges 3. Prophecies of the future

Christian duties

f. How do I know that I am thinking correctly about myself (not raising myself up or putting myself down)?

By using common sense… which could also be sound judgment.

For Further Thought

How is presenting your bodies to God a spiritual service of worship? Note: for transformed of verse 2 … see Matt 17:2; Mk 9:2 and 2 Cor 3:18

You are what you do.

How does renewing of your mind happen? See vs. 2

The Spirit of God affects our spirit by leading us into holiness. See Rom. 8:12-17

Make a list of the gifts of grace given in Romans chapter 12

Worship vs 1 Transformation vs 2a Humility vs3

Gifts 6ff.

Remember what Paul said about reigning in life in 5:17. How would you say this chapter expands or explains the meaning of that phrase?

We reign with Christ if we express love.

Which commands in this chapter are easiest for most Christians to disobey?

Pride vs 3 Lack of retribution vss 14, 17, 19 Doing good to enemies vs 20

Doing good for evil received vs 21

How does verse 1 increase our understanding of true worship (see 6:13; 8:13)?

Worship means “to bend the knee”; to submit. The Christian should live a life in submission to God.

Compare verses 4-8 with 1 Cor 12:12-30. What points are found to be in common?

The concept of the body and its individual members having a gift.

When wouldn’t it be possible to live in peace with someone?

When they will not allow peace.

Different gifts see 1Cor 12:4; 1Pet 4:10ff.

1. Prophecy Ac 11:27; 1Cor 12:10; 12:28; 13:2; 14:1, 6, 29, 31

2. Teaching Acts 13:1; Gal 6:6; Eph 4:11; 1 Tim 5:17;

3. Exhorting Acts 15:32; 1Cor 14:3

4. Giving Matt 6:1-3; Phil 4

5. Ruling Acts 20:28; 1Tim 5:17; Heb 13:7, 24; 1Pet 5:2

True love is:

1. Genuine 9a

2. Discerning 9b

3. Fraternal 10a

4. Selfless 10b

5. Practical 11

6. Exuberant 12a

7. Steadfast 12b

8. Prayerful 12c

9. Helpful 13

10. Gracious 14

11. Considerate 15

12. Unifying 16a

13. Humble 16b

14. Does not retaliate 17a

15. Is a peacemaker 18

16. Does not avenge 19-20

17. Is victorious 20

By way of illustration

For worship is a thirsty land crying out for rain,

It is a candle in the act of being kindled,

It is a drop in quest of the ocean, . . .

It is a voice in the night calling for help,

It is a soul standing in awe before the mystery of the universe, . . .

It is time flowing into eternity, . . .

[It is] a man climbing the altar stairs to God. Dwight Bradley

The story goes that one time when Bill Moyers was a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, he was asked to say grace before a meal in the family quarters of the White House. As Moyers began praying softly, the President interrupted him with "Speak up, Bill! Speak up!"

The former minister from east Texas stopped in mid-sentence and without looking up replied steadily, "I wasn't addressing you, Mr. President."

-- The Anglican Digest, Early Pentecost A.D. 1989.

The following words are from an old engraving on a cathedral in Labeck, Germany:

Thus speaketh Christ our Lord to us:

You call Me master and obey Me not.

You call Me light and see Me not.

You call Me the Way and walk Me not.

You call Me life and live Me not.

You call Me wise and follow Me not.

You call Me fair and love Me not.

You call Me rich and ask Me not.

You call Me eternal and seek Me not.

If I condemn thee, blame Me not.

Title: The Believers Study Bible

Copyright: Copyright © 1991 by the Criswell Center for Biblical StudiesSpecial Study Helps, Copyright ©
1991, 1990, 1985, 1983, 1975 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.Electronic Edition STEP Files Copyright © 1998,
Parsons Technology, Inc.

Author:

The Christian Life
Description of the Christian	Result
Presents himself to God (12:1)	Becomes a sacrifice that is living, holy, and pleasing to God (12:1)
Receives transformation by a renewed mind (12:2)	Discovers and displays the will of God (12:2)
Has spiritual gifts according to grace from God (12:6-8)	Uses spiritual gifts as part of Christ’s body (12:6)
Honors civil law (13:1)	Honors God (13:1)
Loves others (13:8)	Fulfills God’s law (13:8)
Pursues peace (14:19)	Serves to edify all (14:19)
Becomes like-minded toward others (15:5)	Glorifies God with others (15:6)

1 Spiritual Renewal

1. Put off the old self Col 3:9-10; Jer 4:14; Hos 10:12

2. Avoid pride Rom 12:3; Prov 16:18; 8:13

3. The mind

Set on the Spirit Rom 8:6

Of Christ 1 Cor 2:16

4. Attitude Phil 2:5; Psa 104:34; 2Tim 2:1-5

5. Meditation Josh 1:8; Psa 4:4; 1:2; 143:5

6. Word of God Lk 8:15; 2 Tim 3:14-17

7. Via the H.S. Titus 3:5; Rom 12:2

8. Thinking Phil 4:8; Prov 23:7

9. Daily 2 Corth 4:16

10. True knowledge Col 3:10; Heb 1:3

2 Will of God

1. Good, acceptable, perfect vs 2

2. Renewed mind and sanctified body vss 1-2

3. Obedience from the heart psa 40:8

4. Everything through Jesus Heb 13:20-21

5. Life for now, give God the future Matt 6:34; Jas 4:13-15

6. Love God more than this world 1 Jn 2:15-17

7. Through prayer Psa 143:10; Matt 6:10

8. Be willing Jn 7:17; Acts 21:14; rom 12:2

9. Not of men 1 thess 2:4

3 Duties to enemies

1. Love them Matt 5:44; Lk 6:27

2. Bless them Matt 5:44; Lk 6:28

3. Do good to them Matt 5:44; Lk 6:28

4. Pray for them Lk 6: 34-36

5. Be kind to them Lk 6:35-36

6. Lend to them Lk 6:34-36

7. Be merciful to them Lk 6:36