Romans 12:1-8

1-2 3-8

This and subsequent chapters, except the closing and benediction starting in the latter half of 15 to the end, depart from explaining the why and how we are saved and move into how we are to be and act now that we are saved. Practical application on our salvation. Chapter 12 is in two parts, the first from 1 to 8 can be thought of as instructions for the individual saint on how we are to keep ourselves and what to do with the grace that God has given us. 9-21 are more about how we are to act and treat those around us, 9-13 are more about how we are to treat and serve our fellow saints and 14-21 the rest of the world.

1-2

1

After telling all of us the reason we needed a savior, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Who the main driver and facilitator of our salvation is, it is by grace from God as a free gift that we did not and could not earn, in whom we have faith in as our savior and redeemer, by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and telling us the mysteries of how God will keep his covenant with His chosen people the Jews. Paul then changes gears and begins to say, in light of all that he has said so far, he appeals to us, in the KJV it is translated beseech, the Greek word has its root meaning of “to call alongside to help”, he is urging, encouraging or counseling us to live out the remainder of our days as a living sacrifice that is acceptable to God. This verse coming directly after the ending exaltation to God by Paul in 11:36 Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” We are to live out our lives for the glory of God, no longer living for ourselves and our sinful desires, but go out and be doing the will of God for the glory of God alone. We present our bodies as a living sacrifice, no longer are animals killed and offered up to God to cover our sins, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to cover all our sins, and rising again, defeating death so that we may live and emulate our Lord and savior by doing all that Jesus has commanded us to do. A work that is holy and acceptable to God, because our works now are done through the Holy Spirit in us and are for the glory of God.

2

Do not be conformed to this world. We are now new creatures, having died to sin and to our flesh and born again in the Spirit, but we are not in holy places now, we are still in the sin stained fallen world. We are not to do what the world does, talk like the world, think like the world, act like the world, if we do then how can anyone say that we are a new creature if we act like the rest of the dead bodies reeking of sin. We have been transformed, we have been changed, out with the old stony heart that only ever wanted to live for the self, and that made him or herself their own god in their own mind. Our hearts and minds have been renewed, washed clean by the grace of God and now only wants to know God through His scripture, learning it and studying it so we will know what the will of God is, what God has for us and wants us to do. Through the reading and meditating on the scriptures we will learn the will of God and what is good, acceptable, and perfect. We will know what God has said for us, told us and wants us to learn and know, so that we will learn and know God. We should never stop reading and meditating on the bible so that we can grow closer and closer to our God.

3-8

3

Paul speaks from the knowledge and authority that was given to him by the grace of God, sort of repeating and emphasizing the beginning of verse 1 when he appealed to us or beseeched us, God, through Paul, does not want us to become arrogant and think more of ourselves than we should. We are image bearers of God and saved saints and the adopted children of God, but all of what makes us of any worth is from God by his grace, without God and his grace we are just filthy rags that deserve death and eternal damnation in fire. As Paul talks about in the next verses, God has given everyone of his adopted children gifts but we are not to think that our gift from God makes us better than anyone, we need to be sober minded in what God has given each of us, because it is a gift from God and not of our own.

4-5

We are all one heavenly church, we are all one body and Christ is the head of the body, the rest of us that make up the body of the church all have different gifts, and these gifts are from God, all of us has a different function. As in the heavenly church also in the local church, which also has Christ as its head, we all have different God given gifts and functions. We are not all index fingers on the right hand in the body of the church, that body will get nothing accomplished because all you have are fingers pointing but no palms to hold, or arms to move around, no feet to stand on, or legs to move you around. There are many members of the body of Christ, heavenly and locally, and we all have different purposes, gifts and talents that should work together for the good of the church and for the glory of God.

6

Paul lists some of the gifts that God has and does give the body of the church in verses 6-8. The Greek word propheteia can be translated as inspired utterance, which could be revelatory speech, but it can also be translated as speaking forth. In the first century there were some who were gifted with propheteia in that they did prophesy about future events Acts 11:27–28 “Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).” and Acts 21:10–11 “While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”” We believe that this type of prophetic speech was gifted to early foundational Apostles and early members of the church for the foundational beginnings of the church and its initial spread as a sign of its truth, but these gifts, along with biblical speaking in tongues, that is speaking in a language that is not know by the speaker for the aid in spreading the gospel, have ended. But the propheteia of speaking forth and proclaiming God and God’s word is still gifted by God, and this gift is poured out to them in different measures, not all that proclaim God are going to be Charles Spurgeon, Johnathan Edwards, or insert your favorite speaker here, and whatever the measure you have of any of God’s gifts should not lead to thinking more highly of himself than he or she should as verse three said.

7

Paul then lists service, the Greek word diakonia, from which we get the title of the office of deacon. But Paul is not just singling out deacons, anyone can serve the church, in fact the church would not get anything accomplished if no one wanted to serve others, giving rides, making meals, cleaning the building, organizing events, there are so many ways and opportunities for all of the members of the body of Christ to serve God and one another. Then teaching is listed, and not just the pastors are teachers, if we are all doing what Jesus commanded us to do, to go out and spread the gospel to all nations and tongues, we are all called by Jesus to be teachers.

8

Exhortation is the ability to call others to obey the truth of God, both positively and negatively, positively to encourage and comfort those in God’s word and negatively to admonish those who are in sin. Exhortation is different than teaching in that teaching involves the ability to interpret and explain the scriptures while exhortation is encouraging/admonishing others according to the scriptures. We all should contribute cheerfully to the needs of the Church, not just money but our time and efforts cheerfully and generously given for the benefit of the church for the glory of God. The church also needs leaders, not just the Pastor and Elders but those who have a talent for heading up projects or committees, to organize others that are generously giving their time and efforts for the benefit of the body of Christ. Acts of mercy, talking with other saints about their problems, praying with and for them, consoling the ones going through trials and generally having a kind heart and word for everyone, and doing so cheerfully as with all of the gifts from God poured out on His saints, also always utilizing these gifts for the benefit and glory of God above all and not for the purpose of being seen or to be put on a pedestal.