The Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 19
Special English Version
Righteousness Applied to Daily Living
Reading Assignment: Romans 12
Introduction
You have arrived at an entirely different section of Romans. In Romans
12-15, we shall see righteousness in its practical applications.
Chapters 1-8 were devoted to Doctrine. Chapters 9-11 were devoted to Dispensation.
Chapters 12-16 are devoted to Duty.
Years ago a man said to me, “Don’t preach doctrine. Doctrine is not
practical.” My answer was and is “Every doctrine of Scripture has
a practical application when properly taught.” The Christian life cannot
be lived or understood properly without a good understanding of doctrine.
So in this, and in the remaining lessons of our study of Romans, we shall be
looking at Paul’s penetrating and perceptive view of the practical aspects
of Christianity.
Importance of this Lesson
- In this lesson, we are going to take a close look at Romans 12:1-8.
- The
importance of this section is revealed in two great facts.
- First, it
contains the most tender and most reasonable request to live a
separated, devoted life.
- Second, it clearly explains the method
for serving the lord effectively.
The Lesson
I. PAUL’S REQUEST FOR CONSECRATION – Romans
12:1
- Paul ended the argument. The case is closed!
Now he presents the application of doctrine to duty and life. Remember,
doctrine should never be cold.
Doctrine should never be only impersonal or separated from life or
only theory. When doctrine is understood in the right way and taught
correctly, it always has a meaning for Christian living.
- I beseech
you – Here is the most tender request for devotion
to God that we can find anywhere. Here the great apostle Paul desired
his readers to surrender their all to Christ. Paul himself had applied
the meaning of these great doctrines to his life.
- Paul requested.
He did not command. Surrender to Christ must always be voluntary.
- The desire of Paul is also the desire of the Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit also requests our devotion.
- …therefore, brethren… – The therefore undoubtedly
refers back to Romans 1-8 where we have seen God’s grace
in justification, His power in sanctification and His promise for
future glorification.
- The knowledge of great doctrinal truths forces
on us a tremendous responsibility.
- Sound doctrine, when we understand
it and put it into practice, always results in holy living.
- …by the mercies of God… – Who can count them? The
Hebrew word has no singular. God’s mercies are limitless. God
is called “the Father of mercies” (2 Corinthians 1:3).
- Here, without a doubt, Paul was referring to the mercies he
wrote about in Romans 1-8. Even in the fact of our sin and guilt,
He called
us, clothed us with His righteousness, declared us justified and
free of all condemnation. He redeemed us from the curse of the
law. His
Holy Spirit gave us power. He chose us and planned for us to become
like His
Son. He made us equal inheritors with Christ. He promised us future
glory. He said He would never separate from us, but promised that
He would always
be present with us.
- If such mercies do not excite you, you must
be made of stone.
- …that ye present your bodies… – To this we
should say “Here am I Lord. What do you want me to do?”
- This
is the picture of a volunteer, who presents himself willingly
to serve his country.
- Grace does not command. Grace begs and
looks for volunteers.
- God not only wants you, He wants and
needs your body. Remember Romans 6:13 speaks of the parts of
our body as instruments (actually,
weapons)
of righteousness.
- …a living sacrifice … – This seems to be
a contradiction. People killed animals and laid them on the altar
as sacrifices to God.
But here God wants us as a living dead thing!
- When an Israelite
offered up a sacrifice to God, the animal no longer belonged to
him. It then belonged to God. God could
do with it as He
would. We should do the same with our bodies!
- Yet we are to be
alive! A living sacrifice! …DEAD indeed unto
sin, but ALIVE unto God through Jesus Christ… (Romans 6:11).
While on the altar of sacrifice I must be a burning, living testimony
of God’s
saving grace and power. Truly a living dead man!
- …holy, acceptable unto God… – When the
Jews offered lambs to God these lambs had to be without defect
(Exodus
12:5). We,
also, are to offer God our best! Our best years, abilities,
talents, mind and time, our youth, our health, and our strength.
No Christian
can ever give more and should never give less than his best
to God. Our highest aim should be to please God rather than
man.
- …which is your reasonable service… – The word “reasonable” is
best translated “spiritual” and/or “intelligent.” In
other words, Paul was talking about service for Christ that
was spiritual and intelligent. It was not outward and empty
ceremonies. Refer to Romans
7:25, …with the mind I myself serve the law of God….
It is right and reasonable to give to God that which we owe
to Him.
II. NOT CONFORMED BUT TRANSFORMED – ROMANS
12:2
- And be not conformed to this world…(or
age) – Christians
must not be like the people in the world. Conform means to put on the
form of something else, or adopt the living style of another person.
- Jesus said, ye are not of the world, but I have chosen
you out of the world… (John 15:19).
1 John 2:15 says, Love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world….
- As Christians we are only “strangers
and pilgrims on this earth.” We
are passing through on our way home. Note 1 Peter 2:11.
- Christians
must not love the world. They must not adopt the proud way of
living like the world. They must not live empty lives like
the world. They must not enjoy the sinful pleasures and life style
of this
world. This world loves sin. Satan has blinded their spiritual eyes
and they have rejected Christ.
- Even in Paul’s day, the “world” had
a different way of living.
- …but be ye transformed… – The word translated “transformed” is
most unusual. It is the same as the English word “metamorphosis.” It
was used of Christ when He was “transfigured” on the
mountain and his face was changed. Christ was changed before Peter,
James, and
John and for a very short time he appeared as He will look when
He comes again.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, But we all, without a
veil over our faces, will see the glory of the Lord as in a glass
(mirror). God
will change
us into the same image as Christ’s, from glory to glory,
even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Rather than living like the
world,
God wants
to change us to be like Christ in this present evil world.
- But how? …by the renewing of your mind… Our minds are
completely renewed by the “renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus
3:5) and by “thinking on the things” that are true, honest,
just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy (Philippians
4:8). The word “mind” relates not only to the intellect,
but to the soul, the whole inner man. When God is in control of your
mind, He is in control of you.
- …that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God…. Christians have an enormous privilege and responsibility
to show the world that which God approves.
- We should so live in such
a way that the world will know that to us the will of God is good,
acceptable and perfect.
- To prove means to show the world that this
is true. May God help us to do just that.
III. PAUL’S PLAN FOR ADMINISTRATION – Romans
12:3
- The important thought here is that all of us should
be clothed with humility. No man is …to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think…. What we have or what are, we
owe to the grace of God. Never approve of thinking yourself to be
better than someone
else.
- …I say, through the grace given to me... – God blessed
Paul with a special revelation of the grace of God. God gave Paul authority
as a chosen apostle to manage that grace. Read Acts 9:15-17 and Ephesians
3:1-12.
- …think soberly… – Seriously, sincerely, as we
reflect on the grace God gave to us.
- …God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith… – Whatever
degree of faith we have is a precious gift from God. God gave it to
us. In this connection you should read Ephesians 4:7 and
1 Corinthians 12:11.
IV. DIFFERENCE IN THE GIFTS – Romans
12:4-6
- The main thought in these three verses is the
difference in gifts. We should be thankful for the difference in
gifts in the body of Christ
today.
- Right here, stop long enough to think about the entire passages
of Ephesians 4:7-16 and
1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
- For as we have many members in one body, and
all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body
in Christ, and every
one members one of another. Here Paul compared our physical body to
the church.
- This was Paul’s first mention in Romans of this remarkable
doctrine concerning the Body of Christ. God chose Paul as the only
one, from among
all the apostles to teach this doctrine (Colossians 1:24-25). Read
also Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:16; 3:6.
- While our bodies are made up
of many parts, they all function together. No part can say to another, “I
have no need of thee.” Read
1 Corinthians 12:14-20. In the same way the church, the true body
of Christ, lives and works together in love and agreement.
- One
must always remember when Paul wrote about the Body of Christ,
he did not mean a denomination or an organization. He meant every
person who had truly been born again
(John 1:13, 2 Peter 1:4) and had been baptized into Christ by the
Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 12:13).
- Having then gifts differing according to
the grace that is given to us…
- This passage and Ephesians
4 and 1 Corinthians 12 clearly teach that every member of the
body of Christ has some gift from God.
God gives
it to us “severally as He will” (1
Corinthians 12:11) and “according to the measure of the
gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7).
- We must use any gift
God has given to us …according to
the proportion of faith. Remember, faith is also “measured” out.
No one should worry himself concerning the gifts others have.
Everyone
should
concentrate on making the best use of the gifts God gave him.
V. MAKING THE BEST USE
OF GIFTS – Romans
12:7-8
- The main idea here is usefulness. Making
the best use of our God-given gifts.
- Paul listed seven special
gifts here.
- Prophecy – I feel certain that here Paul means prophecy
or forthtelling (giving out the Word of God) rather than foretelling
(telling
the future).
1 Corinthians 14:3 states that prophesying is “speaking
unto men, to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” As
for foretelling, the word of God is complete. Everything has
been foretold.
- Ministry – There was trouble in the early
church because serving the needs of others was neglected. While
the Apostles gave
themselves
to “the ministry of the Word,” others were appointed
to serve to the daily needs of the saints (Acts 6:1-4). Some
Christians are gifted
wonderfully with this grace. Their special gift is to comfort
and care
for the needy. Too often, this gift is sadly neglected.
- Teaching – God
has not given everyone the special ability to teach others in
the way of the Lord or to intelligently explain
the Bible.
We should be glad for those in our midst that have such ability.
- Exhortation – Teaching is directed primarily to the mind.
Exhortation is to the heart and will. Paul instructed Titus to “exhort
and rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15). To Timothy,
Paul wrote “these
things teach and exhort” (Exhortation tries to persuade
believers to obey the teachings. 1 Timothy 6:2). Exhortation
is the gift of
persuasion.
- Giving – The word “simplicity” is
better translated “with
liberality.” Another thought is found in Ephesians 6:5,
where the same word is translated “singleness,” meaning “singleness
of heart, as unto Christ.” In other words, the gift of
giving should be used with generosity and with loyalty in your
heart to
God. To the
Corinthians, Paul wrote that giving should be done cheerfully,
not by giving as little as you can or because you are forced
to give
(2 Corinthians
9:6-7).
- Ruling – Those who manifested the grace and maturity
to exercise authority were appointed as elders and bishops to
rule
in the church.
To the Thessalonians, Paul wrote “know them which labour
among you, and are over you in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians
5:12). To Timothy, he wrote, “Let the elders that rule
well be counted worthy of double honor” (1 Timothy 5:17).
Deacons and elders were to rule their children and houses well
(1 Timothy 3:4,12). Those who had this gift
were to use it with zeal or careful attention, with humility,
verse 3, and certainly not like lords over “God’s
heritage” (1
Peter 5:3).
- Mercy – with cheerfulness. Many people say
these words refer to believers who feel called to give themselves
to visiting
the sick.
All of us who have experienced God’s mercy should gladly
show mercy toward others. Whatever mercy we show, we should show
it with
a happy
face and a joyful feeling.
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