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).

1. 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):

1. Present your bodies a living sacrifice to God (1 Cor.3:16-17); 6:20)
2. Make the body holy (v. 1; 2 Cor. 7:1)
3. Make self acceptable to God (v. 1)
4.  Render reasonable service (v. 1)
5. Be not conformed to the world (v.2)
6. 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

1. God (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:35; Rom. 5:8)
2. Abraham (Gen. 20:14-18)
3. David (1. Sam. 24:17; Ps. 35:12-14
4. Elisha (2 Ki. 6:22-23
5. Jesus (Lk. 23:34)
6. Stephen (Acts 7:60)
7. Paul (Rom. 9:3; 10:1)