- I think this follows 9-11 because of the comments regarding the branches being broken off. In other words, we talked about the impartation of righteousness, but the Jews failed, so how could the Gentiles fail. What should be the difference?
Rom 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to
God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing
and perfect will.
- Romans 7 describes a way between two forces, what or who are they?
- The old nature or the flesh
- The mind controlled by the Spirit
- To make sure you win a war, what should you have? Larger forces
- How do these verses help us to understand how to wage that war?
- We need renew our mind, so that we have better forces
- How do we renew our mind? Garbage in, garbage out. We need to be in the Word
Rom 12:3-8 (NIV) For by the grace given me I say to every one of
you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has
given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form
one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts,
according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it
in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership,
let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
- First step is to renew our mind. Second step is to renew our attitude. What is the problem here?
- Pride, thinking more highly of yourself, considering your gift too highly
- The Jews saw themselves as superior. This led to thinking their nation was better than all the rest; they were smarter than everyone else; they were more blessed than everyone else; they were more righteous than everyone else …
- What is the proper attitude for the Christian?
- Not to take the position of a "worm," but "to think of yourself with sober judgment"
- Knowledge -- wrong view is that I know the bible better so I am better. Knowing the bible is good if it renews your thinking and changes your life, but not in the letter of the law sense, in the spirit of the law
- Lifestyle -- wrong view is that since I do or don't do certain things I am better
- Our gift is not any more important than any other person's gift
- To exercise our gift with a right attitude. Notice the emphasis not on the "work" but on the attitude in the "work" -- generously, govern diligently, cheerfully, needs of others, serve, faith, encourage, teach ...
Rom 12:9-16 (NIV) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling
to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one
another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful
in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony
with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of
low position. Do not be conceited.
- Independent of our individual gifts, we all have a requirement to each other. How are we treat each other?
- Sincere love. Opposite is saying one thing but thinking another. Would also include gossip about the other person
- Hate evil, cling to good from the perspective of the individual's life. This is not a call to judgment since we are also called to love one another
- Devotion to one another in brother love. This is a sincere concern for the other like one sees in a family
- Example: Mother who believes her son is innocent no matter what he has done is an extreme and incorrect view, but there is a similarity in that our first thought must be to assume the best about our brothers and sisters
- Zeal issue. A lot of people go through the motions. How do you not lose zeal?
- Develop a vision for the world and disciple making
- Get involved in a ministry
- Give time and money to ministries making an impact in the world
- Pray for other missionaries on a regular basis
- As long as our time and money is focused on our personal lifestyle we will never developed the zeal that is exhorted in this passage
- Not enough time to talk about:
- Blessing others, not cursing them
- Rejoicing and mourning which emphasizes having compassion and understanding the person. Sometimes we are so interested in what we have to say we don't think about what the other person REALLY needs to hear or needs to feel
- Harmony -- don’t get dragged into things that split the body
- DON’T BE PROUD -- Israel's main problem. As a nation and as a people, thinking they were more important than others
Rom 12:17-21 (NIV) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful
to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as
it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my
friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to
avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- I think the previous verses have been focused on our witness / lifestyle among believers. Now, Paul discusses our witness among unbelievers
- There is a truism of life: Someone will do evil to you
- You have a choice:
- 1) to do evil back,
- 2) to sit and stew and get bitter,
- 3) forgive, forget, and love
- We are called "to do what is right in the eyes of everybody"
- Another truism of life: Someone won't like you
- Our choice:
- 1) get angry,
- 2) take revenge,
- 3) forgive, forget and love
- We are called "to live at peace with everyone"
- Actually, God can deal with those who do evil or show contempt toward you
- One, it is God's judge
- Two, it will be more constructive
- Three, it will be more painful
- We are called to overcome evil with good
Rom 13:1- 7 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing
authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who
rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and
those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror
for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from
fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4
For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he
does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to
bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to
the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of
conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's
servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe
him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then
respect; if honor, then honor.
- We do have a responsibility to the state, our nation
- Paul groups all nations in this category (includes Rome especially considering the intended audience)
- For us, Paul groups all Presidents (Nixon, Clinton, Obama, …) in the category of "established by God"
- In England, Henry VIII used this verse to become head of the church and the state
- We would still be required to obey his rules in regard to earthly authority
- In regard to morality, the apostles made it clear that God's rules come first
- Incidentally, failure to follow the law is legitimate reason to suffer
- On the subject of abortion, there is a difference between a government that permits abortion and a government that requires abortion
- I think we would have moral justification to disobey a gov't that required abortion
- Our responsibility (and this is not to avoid suffering only but also an issue of conscience, i.e., our submission to God (vs 12:1))
- Pay our taxes -- don't cheat
- Pay our bills -- don't lie
- Pay honor -- don't be insincere
Rom 13:8-14 (NIV) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the
continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has
fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery,"
"Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"
and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule:
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has
come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now
than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost
here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about
how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
- I think this next section continues the civil responsibilities. The first issue is what?
- Not to have debt
- I think this is an unpaid bill, not meaning to secure a bill
- Clearly, debt with interest (time paid purchases) are very poor financial habits
- Appreciating items, such as a house, may be reasonable
- Necessary items, such as a car, is another argument. Car payment becomes a rental price for a vehicle
- Credit cards bills, I strongly urge against, unless the entire balance is paid off every month
- All the commandments are summarized in one rule: "love your neighbor as yourself," why?
- Love does not harm
- Application of the "letter of the law" can be used to hurt people
- Love fulfills the law (just like Jesus did when he completely carried out the law)
- Finally, we are nearing the end times (which is also the time of apostasy). The daytime will be the millennial kingdom, but for now we live in the darkness
- Darkness includes orgies (sexual sins of all kinds), drunkenness, dissension, jealousies, etc
- In contrast, we are clothe ourselves with Christ
- Not how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature
- The obvious counter is how to gratify the new mind, the renewing of the mind which started chapter 12
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