ROMANS
12
PRACTICAL
DOCTRINES; The Gospel applied (Rom. 12:1-15:12) I. Consecration the foundation of
practical Christianity (6:1-23: 8:1-13; Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 3:5-10).
- I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God
{tender compassions} that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. { tender
compassions); are now to bring themselves to God instead of sacrifices to the
altar, as of old. They are now to be
wholly the Lord’s as were the former sacrifices.} Rational worship, because
performed with the heart, mind and soul of intelligent beings, and is in
contrast to the worship of idols of Rom. 1:25]
[15
commands about body:
1. Yield to
God (12:1; 6:13-20)
2. Make it
living sacrifice (12:1)
3. Make it
holy (12:1; 1 Cor.3:17)
4. Make it
accepted of God (12:1)
5. Make it full of light (Mt.6:22)
6. Reckon
it dead to sin (6:11)
7. Reckon
it alive to God (6:11)
8. Refuse
its slavery to sin (6:12)
9. Mortify
its deeds (Rom. 8:13)
10. Refuse
to defile it (1 Cor. 3:17)
11. Make it
fit temple of Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:13-20)
12. Make it
free from fornication and only for the Lord (1 Cor. 6:13-20)
13. Glorify
God in it (1 Cor. 6:20)
14. Keep it
in control (1 Cor. 9:27)
15. Put off
its sins (Col. 2:11)}
2. And be not
conformed to this world{to conform to another’s example}; but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. {Do not
pattern after this age or to the times, (note Heb. 1:2) transformed or
transfigured by a supernatural change, (as in Mt.17:2; Mk. 9:2; Rom 12:2;2 Cor. 3:18; ) This change is by a renewing of
the mind or spirit(v.2; Tit.3:5.Cp. 2 Cor. 4:16;Col. 3:10; Heb. 6:6; Eph. 4:23;
that which has reached its end: nothing more to complete it.}.
6 things that constitute the acceptable and
perfect will of God (12:1-2):
- Present your bodies a living sacrifice to God (1
Cor.3:16-17); 6:20)
- Make the body holy (v. 1; 2 Cor. 7:1)
- Make self acceptable to God (v. 1)
- Render reasonable service (v. 1)
- Be not conformed to the world (v.2)
- Be transformed from the world (v.2)
II. Body of Christ and spiritual gifts (1 Cor.
12:1, refs.)
- For I say through the grace given unto me {refers to Paul’s
apostleship by the grace of God} to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of
faith {not to be conceited and self-important, but to make a sane view of
himself}.
- 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.{Paul comparing the body of Christ to a human body
(1 Cor. 12:12-28).
- Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given to us, whether prophecy [Speaking to men to edify and exhort
them, (1 Cor. 14:3-6), let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
{this refers to spiritual gifts of (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31) they are given and
to be exercised according to grace and the measures of faith (v.3, 6).}
- Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he
that teacheth, on teaching;
{service rendered by a deacon (1 Tim. 3:8-13; note Mt. 20:26){the teacher was
an instructor of others};
- Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: {entreaty Gr.
Parakaleo, to call aside} {to make an appeal to by way of exhortation,
entreaty, comfort or instruction (Acts 4:36; Heb.10:25) he that giveth {This
refers to the rich that give help to others (2 Cor. 8:2; 9:11-13)} {do not give with outward show or pride,
(Cor. 1-12, 8:2, 9:11,13; 11:3; Eph.6:5; Col.3:22)} let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth
{Gr.proistemi, the leader, pastor, superintendent; the one over any
business of the church(v.8, 1 Th. 5:12; 1 Tim.3:4, 5, 12;5:17; Tit. 3:8, 14), with
diligence {Gr. Spoude, haste (Mk.6:25); diligent (Rom.12:8;
Heb.6:11; 2 Pet.1: 5; Jude 3); earnest (2 Cor. 8:16); carefulness
(2 Cor. 7:11); he that sheweth mercy {The sick-visitor and
charity-worker must be cheerful and sympathetic}, with cheerfulness.
Twenty
commands regulating Christian brotherhood
- Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good.{Gr. Anupokritos, undisguised,
a real thing(2 Cor.6:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim.1:5; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet.1:22); {hate,
detest and loathe all evil} ; {be cemented or glued to the good}
10.Be kindly
affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring
one another;{ love with brotherly affection} {be forward to honor others};
11. Not
slothful in business; fervent in spirit {never be lazy, slothful and
careless} {maintain zeal to the boiling point}; serving the Lord {put your life
into service for God whether or not you receive personal gain and applause}
12. Rejoicing
in hope {let your hope be a joy to you} patient in tribulation { show
patience in all your troubles}; continuing instant in prayer {live in
fervent prayer to God};
13. Distributing
to the necessity of saints {contribute to needy saints}; given to
hospitality {make a practice of hospitality};
14.
Bless them which persecute you; {bless your habitual persecutors} bless and
curse not;
15. Rejoice
with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep {show genuine
compassion for others};
16. Be of
the same mind one toward another {live in harmony and of one accord}; Mind
not high thing, but condescend to men of low estate {associate with humble
and godly people going through life with as little show and parade as
possible}; Be not wise in your own conceits {do not be self conceited
and vain};
Seven
commands regulating Christian conduct to the world (v. 2; Jn. 15:18; 1 Jn.2:15;
Jas. 4:4)
17.
Recompense to no man evil for evil {never payback evil for evil to any
man} Provide things honest in the sight of all men.{do not live beyond
your means};
18. If it
is possible, as much as lieth in your, live peaceably with all men {as
far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men};
19. Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves; but rather give place unto wrath: for it
is written , Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord {let others
inflict vengeance} {give room for the civil laws to be enforced and officers to
do their duty. If they are unfaithful and oppressive let the righteous judge
take care of them}l
20.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirst, give him
drink {In view of the fact that God was good to you when you were his enemy
(Rom.5:7-8), you should likewise treat your enemies, with goodness. You will thus make them feel a burning sense
of shame (Pt. 25:21-22)}
21. Be
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good { Never let evil get the better of you; get the
better of evil by doing good.
7 duties to enemies
l. Love
them (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:27)
2. Bless
them (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:28)
3. Do good
to them (Mt. 5:44)
4. Pray for
them (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:28)
5. Lend to
them (Lk. 6:34-36)
6. Be kind
to them (Lk. 6:35-36)
7. Be
merciful to them (Lk.6:36)
7 examples of loving enemies
- God (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:35; Rom. 5:8)
- Abraham (Gen. 20:14-18)
- David (1. Sam. 24:17; Ps. 35:12-14
- Elisha (2 Ki. 6:22-23
- Jesus (Lk. 23:34)
- Stephen (Acts 7:60)
- Paul (Rom. 9:3; 10:1)
