Overview of Romans 12
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Romans: Overview of Romans 12
Lesson # 394
Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 12:1.
This evening we will present an overview of Romans chapter 12, which begins the sixth major section in the book of Romans, which concludes in Romans 15:13.
First six sections of the book of Romans: (1) 1:1-17: Introduction and Presentation of the Theme of the Epistle (2) 1:18-3:19: Both Jew and Gentiles are in need of the righteousness of God (3) 3:20-5:21: How to receive the righteousness of God (4) 6-8: How to live in the righteousness of God (5) 9-11: God’s righteousness is vindicated in His relationship to Israel (6) Romans 12:1-15:13: The righteousness of God manifested through believers in Jesus Christ.
In Romans 12:1-15:13, Paul discusses God’s righteousness being manifested in believers in the local assembly (12:1-21) and by their dedication to God (12:1-2) and in their use of their spiritual gift (12:3-8) and in the sincerity of their love for each other (12:9-21).
In Romans 13:1-14, Paul teaches his readers that the righteousness of God is manifested in the believer’s conduct in relation to civil government (13:1-7) and towards the unbeliever (13:8-10) and their conduct in view of their eschatological confident expectation (13:11-14).
In Romans 14:1-15:13, the apostle Paul instructs his readers that the righteousness of God is manifested in their conduct in relation to Christian freedom.
He instructs them to not judge each other in relation to eating and drinking and teaches them the principle of Christian freedom (14:1-12) and exhorts stronger believers to not put up stumbling blocks for weaker believers by what they eat or drink and exhorts them to walk according to the principle of love (14:13-23).
He closes this section by prohibiting selfishness and challenges them to imitate Christ (15:1-13).
This evening we will present an overview of Romans chapter twelve, which deals with how the righteousness of God is manifested in the life of the believer both in his or her relationship to the body of Christ and the unbeliever.
This chapter deals with the transforming power of the gospel in the life of the believer who has been justified through faith alone in Christ alone.
It deals with the Christian way of life.
The call to action that appears in Romans 12:1-15:13 is based upon Paul’s teaching in the first eleven chapters.
The first section appears in Romans 12:1-2, which addresses the Christian’s attitude towards God.
It deals with how to worship God in a manner, which He will accept.
Worship is adoring contemplation of God as He has been revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Person of Christ and in the Scriptures and is also the loving ascription of praise to God for what He is, both in Himself and in His ways and is the bowing of the soul and spirit in deep humility and reverence before Him.
Warren Wiersbe defines worship, “Worship is the believer’s response of all that they are –mind, emotions, will and body-to what God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience and its practical side in objective obedience to God’s revealed will. Worship is a loving response that’s balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better” (Real Worship, 26).
Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
This passage is a call to service.
The purpose for which the believer has been purchased out of the slave market sin is to serve the Lord and other members of His body and not self.
The Lord Jesus Christ served us by redeeming us and by redeeming us, we as His purchased possession, have been given the opportunity and the privilege of serving Him who is now our Master.
The believer must function according to the love of God in order for his Christian service to be acceptable to God (Galatians 5:13-14).
The only service that God the Father will accept and reward is that which is performed by means of the Spirit of God and the Word of God (Philippians 3:3).
The manner in which the believer is to not only love God but also serve Him is with his entire being (Deuteronomy 10:12).
Christian service is directed toward both God and man with the former (serving God) acting as the motivation for the latter (serving man) (Eph. 6:5-9).
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
This passage is a call for a transformation to Christ-like character.
The section that appears in Romans 12:3-8 deals with Christian humility and service through the function of spiritual gifts.
Verse 3 addresses the necessity of humility for productive Christian service.
Romans 12:3, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
Verses 4-8 address the importance of believers operating in their spiritual gifts, which are assignments of position in the body of Christ.
Therefore, it deals with Christian ministry.
This section instructs the church in Rome that there is a diversity of gifts in the body of Christ.
Romans 12:4-8 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith. If service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Every believer has been given a spiritual gift for the purpose of serving other members of the body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10).
The distribution of spiritual gifts was authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of His strategic victory over Satan at the cross during the dispensation of the hypostatic union, however, the actual appointment of the believer’s spiritual gift is made by God the Holy Spirit as per 1 Corinthians 12:11.
Spiritual gifts are assignments of position within the body of Christ.
Identification of one’s spiritual gift is a direct result of spiritual growth which can only be achieved through the consistent and persistent learning and applying of the Word of God which in turn enables the Holy Spirit to identify for you, your spiritual gift.
Romans 12:9-21 deals with the manifestation of God’s righteousness in the life of the believer.
Romans 12:9-10 deals with the believer functioning in the love of God with regards to his or her relationships with other believers.
Romans 12:9-10, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”
In Romans 12:11-16, Paul gives his Christian readers in Rome some practical advice, which will promote unity in an experiential sense among Christians.
Romans 12:11, “Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:12-13, “Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”
Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:16, “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
Then, in Romans 12:17-21, Paul addresses the Christians’ attitude and conduct towards the unbeliever.
Romans 12:17, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.”
Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.”
Romans 12:20, “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”