One Year Journey Through the New Testament
Romans 12
Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!
Living Sacrifices to God
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(Romans 12:1–2, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- After a long buildup of grace, mercy, law, faith, etc., Paul comes to a place of calling to righteous living built on faith. He calls the believer to live in submission and obedience.
- This passage goes to the very vivid imagery of offering one’s self as a living sacrifice. Sacrifices in the Jewish world of which Paul is a part had to be holy and acceptable to God. Therefore, the Christian must be holy, submissive, and of a pure mind.
- In response, God promises the good, even perfect, will of God for one’s life.
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
(Romans 12:3–8, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul goes further here by emphasizing the need to avoid arrogance and to consider one’s actions and thought soberly, living by faith.
- Paul shifts his focus to the concept of the body of Christ. He highlights the distinctions in the body, where each person has different functions. Yet, we are all members of one another.
- Paul then highlights various gifts that edify the church: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, liberality, leadership, and mercy.
Behave Like a Christian
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:9–21, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul then lifts up the need for Christian behavior.
- Genuine love
- A disgust for evil
- A desire for good
- Affection for the brotherhood
- Deference to others
- Diligence
- Spiritual fervor
- Servant hood
- Hope
- Patience
- Steadfastness in prayer
- Generosity
- Hospitality
- Meekness in the face of persecution
- Empathy/sympathy
- Humility
- Lack of Vengeance
- Honor of Good
- Peaceful
- Help the needy, even your enemies
- Do not let evil win, but defeat evil.
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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.
Devoted To You 