Romans 12

Source of image: http://chrisedmondson.blogspot.com/2011/01/romans-righteousness.html

(1) *And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to **give your ***bodies to God. Let them be a ****living and holy *****sacrifice -- the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

• *And so (therefore) goes back to 8:39 (chapters 9-11 are an interruption in the main thought of Paul).
  • Romans 8:39: Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• **give is paristemi in Greek, frequently translated "yield" and is used in Romans 6:13:
  • Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, GIVE yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.
• ***bodies: He means not just our physidal bodies, but everything we are.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23: Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
• ****living: Christ does not want a service of death or inactivity. He wants us to LIVE for Him!
  • The radical muslims have suicide bombers - they are dead sacrifices to their god. Our God wants LIVING sacrifices!
  • Two biblical examples that will help us understand “living sacrifice”:
    1. Isaac - Genesis 22. Abraham sacrificed his only son Isaac. Don't forget that Isaac had a part too, Isaac willingly put himself on the altar and would have died in obedience to God’s command, but the Lord sent a ram to take His place. Isaac died to “self” and when he got off that altar he was a living sacrifice, to the glory of God.
    2. Jesus Christ actually died as a sacrifice, but rose again, today in heaven. He is our living sacrifice.
• *****sacrifice is an offering made to God as an atonement for sin. In the case of the first-fruits, etc., it was set apart to the service of God; and he who offered it released all claim on it, and submitted it to God, to be disposed of at his will. This is the offering which the apostle urges the Romans to make: to devote themselves to God, as if they had no longer any claim on themselves; to put His will for our lives above our wills, desires and pleasure. After all, who knows best what to do with our lives - we with limited foresight or He who sees the future?
• 1 Peter 2:5: And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.
• A dead sacrifice is of no earthly or heavenly good to the Father, but the "living sacrifice" is how we live our lives each day of our lives. It is shown in the words we say and the kindness that we show one another Those words and acts become our living sacrifice unto the Lord. To be holy and acceptable unto God can only come by our individual study of His Word, and knowing exactly what is acceptable to Him.
• The point is that we are guilty of sacrilege when we relapse into uncleanness. The question in the minds of many is what is "uncleanness" or what is "purity". As our children watch our actions, not just our words, do they see purity, things to admire and imitate, or do they see hypocrisy?
• Most believers don't even get to this point. They are saved and stuck - is that you? You'll never have victory in the Christian life if you've never completely given yourself up to God as a living sacrifice. Yet there are few people who get to verse 1, but there are fewer people who ever get to verse 2, the transformed mind.

(2) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this *world, but let God **transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

• Phillips Transliteration: Stop being poured into the mold by the external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind.
• *world - Greek aioni (age, eon):
  • The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind.
  • Christians should not conform to the standards, habits, styles, clothing, words, speech, manners, feelings, goals, etc., of this age. The world, some of our friends, co-workers, relatives and even loved ones want us to "fit in" and not stand out as "different" and "odd". Peer pressure is not just a problem for kids, it's also a problem for adults.
  • The one that sets the standards of this world is the prince of this world, Satan.
• **transform: metamorphoo. “transform” means “transfigure.”
  • It is the same Greek word from which we get our word “metamorphosis.”  For example, it is like when a caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
  • 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV): And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being TRANSFORMED into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
  • Matthew 17:2 (KJV): And was TRANSFIGURED before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
    • The Shekinah Glory did not shine on Him; it shone THROUGH Him. He is Himself light and glory; and what the disciples saw was just a glimpse of His uncreated glory, shining from within His whole being.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17: What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
  • Galatians 6:15: It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people.
  • Ephesians 4:24: You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness -- righteous, holy, and true.
• The chameleon changes color very easily for purposes of protection. Some Christians are very skillful in adapting themselves to whatever situation they happen to be in. “When in Rome do as the Romans do,” "Everybody's doing it". When an unbeliever watches or hears you, can he or she tell whether you're "different or are you living like everyone else?
• A question to ask is, “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?”  A thermometer “conforms” to the world around them.  A thermostat “controls” the world around them.  (Source:  Jon Curson.)

(3) As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be *honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

• *honest: Most think more highly of themselves than they really are - by seeking out someone worse and saying, "Well, I'm so much better than Joe - he sleeps around, gets drunk in front of his kids and calls his ex-wife names. I'd never get drunk in front of my kids - just at the bar or a party. My kids don't know what I do - I'm a good father!"
• Luke 14:7-11: When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: "If you are invited to a wedding feast, don't always head for the best seat. What if someone more respected than you has also been invited? The host will say, 'Let this person sit here instead.' Then you will be embarrassed and will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! "Do this instead -- sit at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, 'Friend, we have a better place than this for you!' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored."

(4) Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,

(5) so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

• Ephesians 5:30: And we are his body.

(6) God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.

• Notice the diversity of gifts. Not all of them are intellectual talents. Traits of personality are included - generosity, hospitality, sympathy and so forth. So often we overlook that kind of gift. If a person is gifted with a winsome personality, if he has the power to sympathize with others, let him use those gifts for Jesus Christ.

(7) If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.

• Galatians 6:10: Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

(8) If your *gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

• *gift:
  • Notice that there are seven gifts mentioned.
    1. Prophesy:
    • The word “prophesying” literally means “to shine forth”.  It is as if one turns on a light in a dark room and illuminates the room.  The most important aspect of prophesying is to make God’s word “shine forth.”
    2. Serving others
    3. Teaching
    4. Encourage
    5. Money
    6. Leadership ability
    7. Showing kindness
  • 1 Corinthians 12:7-10: A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he gives the gift of special knowledge. The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
  • 1 Corinthians 13: If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear. Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear. It's like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. There are three things that will endure -- faith, hope, and love -- and the greatest of these is love.
  • Ephesians 4:11: He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

(9) Don't just pretend that you *love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.

• *love: True love seeks only the best for its object.
  • Here is one of the greatest secrets in marriage!
• God hates sin?  He loves the sinner but He hates sin.  What does sin do to the sinner?  It destroys him.  It hurts him.  God cannot love sinners and not hate sin.  We should hate evil not because it punishes us.  We should hate evil because we love Christ.  Why?  What did our sins do to Christ?  It crucified Him.  If you love Christ, you must hate sin.

(10) Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

(11) Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

• Colossians 3:22-24: You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.

(12) Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

(13) When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

• Hospitality meant more in those days than now because men traveling were more dependent upon it. If a Christian came from another town, believers in that town would see that accommodations were afforded him. They would provide entertainment for overnight. They would open their doors to entertain him even though it meant real sacrifice.
• Hebrews 13:2: Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

(14) If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.

(15) When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.

(16) Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

(17) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

• One has to remember that our lives are a public witness.  Yes, our private life should be pleasing to God as well, but this verse is a reminder that people watch our behavior.
• Hanging on to pain keeps us from forgiveness. Not forgiving leads to bitterness which leads to anger which leads to hatred which leads to vengeance - pay back. Which only leads deeper into a downward spiral of pain and vengeance.

(18) Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.

• Note the words “as much as possible”. It is absolutely impossible to live at peace with some people. If a man denies the virgin birth of our Lord, His deity, His atoning work on the cross and His bodily resurrection, then we must defend the faith. To compromise in such matters is to deny Him. But let us remember to hold the truth in love. How else shall we win those to Christ with whom we contend for the faith?

(19) Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord.

• Deuteronomy 32:35: I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.'
• Do you remember Joseph? Sold into slavery by his own brothers. Carried off to Egypt and sold to Potiphar by his cousins the Ishmaelites. Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife while doing what was right. Thrown into jail. Forgotten by his fellow prisoner - a man he tried to help. When his brothers came to Egypt looking for food, Joseph was in control of their destiny which was an opportunity for vengeance. He could have done anything to them and there was nothing they could have done to him. As his brothers are lying prostrate on the ground in total abject surrender to Joseph, what did Joseph said? Joseph told them, "Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:19-20)

(20) Instead, do what the Scriptures say: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you."

• Proverbs 25:21-22: If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.

(21) Don't let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.

NOTES:

• Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.
• Disclaimer: Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at romansoverview.blogspot.com/2012/12/romans-references.html
• Index to all our studies are at http://oakview-bible-fellowship.blogspot.com/