Romans 12:3-8

The Christian Life as a Joint Effort

Prop: Glorify God in your living.

[1] God is teaching us to be humble (v. 3)

[2] God is teaching us to be participants (vv. 4-5)

[3] God is teaching us to be authentic (vv. 6-8)

[1] God is teaching us to be humble (v. 3)

Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

[TEXT]

For. Once again, an establishment of the principles based upon the previous passage. The reason for presenting your bodies as a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice is grounded in humility.

Grace. Just as in salvation, the focal point of the Christian life is grace. Grace when you were converted, and grace as you are being sanctified. Salvation was monergistic, sanctification is synergistic.

Given to me. The verb used is in the passive tense, which indicates the fact that in our salvation, we are completely passive. Grace is something given, actively by God, and received, passively by the Christian.

Paul makes a standard appeal to his apostolic authority with regard to his admonition.

Galatians 2:8–9“(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”

Paul was well aware of this great grace of God. Remember his life in Acts 8? What drastic changes are made when one repents of their sins and turns to Christ.

to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. Based upon these truths, that we are saved by grace alone and passive in that transaction, Paul calls for mutual humility amongst brothers and sisters in Christ.

“To think… more highly” ὑπερφρονέω is synonymous with being haughty, or prideful, to be conceited, to be arrogant, to be overly proud, to think highly of oneself. It has a “hyper” prefix on it taking it to a higher degree than mere pride.

This specific word is only used here in the NT. As in Romans 11, we are not to presume upon our status as those saved by Christ as if we were active in that transaction. It was solely by God’s ineffable grace that we are saved.

Romans 11:20“That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.”

Romans 11:25“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

Scripture speaks specifically against this idea of pride and boastfulness in the Christian life. It has no place.

Proverbs 16:18“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

James 4:6“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

Galatians 6:3“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Rather, the Christian life should be full of humility as exemplified by Christ.

Matthew 18:1–4“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Philippians 2:3–8“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Humility is evidence of one truly converted. Pride is selfish, humility is selfless. Be like Christ.

Not only are we to exercise humility as a result of the grace which is given to us but also to think with sober judgment.

sober. Sober refers to being able to think correctly, or to have an element of sanity. This is always part of the doctrine of the Christian life. Paul writes in his pastoral epistles to Timothy of the necessity for all people groups in the church to exercise sobriety.

1 Timothy 2:9“likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,”

Titus 2:2 “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.”

Titus 2:6“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.”

Titus 2:12“training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”

Finally, Paul begins to lean in on the fact that all of us will be in different stages of the Christian life. As we progress and mature in Christ, we work toward the goal of Christ-likeness. This obviously looks different in the lives of a new convert rather than one who has lived 20-30 years.

Unfortunately, however, we rarely see a distinction. Many Christians acts as if they were just saved by depriving themselves of the bread of life and only drink the spiritual milk. They do the bare minimum for God’s glory. Many acts as though they had only been living the Christian life when they have been Christians for 30 years.

Nonetheless, Paul assures each Christian that we are to walk humbly and with sober judgment according to the gift of faith God has given to us.

Assigned. Assigned is more accurately translated as “distributed or divided.” God has divided these various gifts amongst the body. Now, everyone, in terms of salvation, receives the same gift of faith which produces believe and repentance.

Paul is not talking about saving faith. Rather, he is talking about the way in which God has distributed a working faith after one is converted.

[DOCTRINE]

Sovereignty in salvation.

We see behind the veil of the Christian’s practical living, the doctrines of grace, the five points of the Synod of Dordt, exercised.

T - man is completely unable to be active in his own salvation. Again, Paul uses the passive tense as the recipient of God’s grace. We know this to be true as Paul has labored our inability and utter depravity in Romans 1.18-3.24.

Scripture also points to our inability to come to God. Ephesians 2:1–2“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—”

Jesus Himself exhorts, John 3:3“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” There is no ability left in man to come to saving faith in Christ apart from the operation of the Triune God.

U - God’s grace is on full display in his sovereign predestination and election, the second reason why we are passive in salvation. What was Paul’s main argument from Romans 9-11?

L - God’s grace is on full display in his effective, definite, and purposeful atonement on behalf of those whom God the Father has given to God the Son. We ought not think highly of ourselves, but are to put on the mind of Christ. Why? Because of his perfect work upon the cross on our behalf.

I - God’s grace is on full display in his effective work in bringing His own unto salvation. We often place the Spirit as the forgotten member of the Trinity. But He is likewise God. And God mightily moves in us through the Spirit in our conversion.

P - God’s grace is on full display in his infallible assurance that those whom the Father gives to Christ shall never be snatched out of His hand. These are promises of Jesus. Any system of religion which violates the perseverance of the saints comes from the pits of hell. Jesus Himself bought you.

[USE]

Use 1. God’s grace encourages humility in action.

Parents, this is a great encouragement to hold yourself in a humble esteem with your children. You are role models. You are to model humility in your family life.

Children, boys and girls, this is likewise a call to you to exercise humility in your classes, in the sports you play, between your siblings.

Workers and laborers, this is likewise a call to be humble in your employment. It is not to boast or hold yourself in high regard but to submit to your bosses and to exercise godly living.

Use 2. God’s grace provides sanctified judgment.

Our culture is very anti-judgmentalism, which is ironic, because the very institutions which tell you not to be judgmental will judge you. Jesus tells us to judge according to the judgment with which we ourselves will be judged.

Our judgment is to be a sanctified judgement.

Use 3. God’s grace produces fruit in keeping with repentance.

Use 4. God’s grace is continually applied in the life of believers.

There is not point of sanctification where you arrive. In justification and conversion you are instantly and irrevocably transformed from a child of wrath and the devil to a child of the Triune God. Yet, we have to realize that we need God’s grace continually in this Christian life.

Glorify God in your living.

[1] God is teaching us to be humble (v. 3) and [2] God is teaching us to be participants (vv. 4-5)

[2] God is teaching us to be participants (vv. 4-5)

Romans 12:4–5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

[TEXT]

Everyone has different and distinct roles in which they participate in the joint effort of the church. Think about a basic infantry battalion. The entire unit is not made up of riflemen alone. There are heavy weapons teams, snipers, mortar men, forward observers, medics, squad leaders, platoon leaders, supply and logistics, intelligence, planning, and so on. All of these work cohesively as one unit to fight against the enemy.

In the same way, the Christian life is marked as that which is unified amongst its different parts and roles. Here, Paul is highlighting the fact that because of your union with Christ, abstaining from the wickedness of the world, we are to function and be joint participants for the sake of the Gospel.

The word used for “members” is a similar word used for a musical part, as in a symphony. If you have ever listened to a professional pianist alone, they sound amazing. Our own pianist for example sounds incredible alone. And many Christians do wonderful work by themselves. But when Shin works together with an entire orchestra, the fullness of the sound is even more prevalent.

So it is with our Christian life, as we are all playing together in one large, multiethnic, multicultural setting where we proclaim God’s glory together. This is what Paul has in mind, that each of us, though different, work in unison as one body.

This is precisely what Paul alludes to in his first epistle to the Corinthians. Brief exegesis of 1 Corinthians 12.

1 Corinthians 12:4“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;” And you remember how he likewise delineates between the various kinds of gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:12“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” ,

1 Corinthians 12:27“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

[DOCTRINE] Union with Christ

The focus of this passage, in verses 4-5 is not so much the gifts, but our union with Christ.

Ephesians 4:15–16“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Christ is the chief cornerstone, as Paul will say elsewhere, and we are the meticulous building blocks upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Just as in a building, there are many different parts to its construction, without which, the entire thing would lose its structural integrity and perhaps fall.

[USE]

Use 1. Union with Christ promotes our mutual service in the advancement of the Gospel.

Use 2. Union with Christ promotes our distinct roles within the church.

Look back to 1 Corinthians 12. We have all been given roles whereby we glorify God in them. And the union with Christ has solidified those role. He Himself is the giver of all we need.

Use 3. Union with Christ promotes a godly and distinct model for how the family life is to be structured.

Ephesians 5:25–28“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

Glorify God in your living.

[1] God is teaching us to be humble (v. 3), [2] God is teaching us to be participants (vv. 4-5). and finally, [3] God is teaching us to be authentic (vv. 6-8)

[3] God is teaching us to be authentic (vv. 6-8)

Romans 12:6–8 “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

[TEXT]

You can see that Paul is emphasizing the fact that all of us according to the grace given to us have different gifts. Like our salvation, these gifts are distributed to us by God.

How many of you have seen, or even taken part of a “spiritual gifts inventory/exam?” Gifts cannot be determined by a man-made exam. I fully grasp and understand the benefit and importance; however, God is the one who gives these. And when you are gifted something, you receive an internal call by the power of the Holy Spirit, and an external call/verification by those around you.

Another aspect of our gifts is probably overlooked in the passage. Paul says, “Let us use them.” Gifts are meant to be used for the edification of the church. They are not to be stored and hidden for ourselves. We treat spiritual gifts, often, like we do the gifts we receive from loved ones, they are only for us and no one else.

Many of you children who have siblings as they are beginning to grow and mature in Christ, often shout “mine” when playing with a toy. We instinctively do not want to share, due to the nature of our hearts. Yet, with spiritual gifts, they are not necessarily ours, they are given by God to be given back to Him in service of His own church.

[DOCTRINE] - The Nature of the Church

Here, Paul uses seven different gifts, all with a particular end, or goal in mind. Namely, doing it with joy, humility, and for God’s glory.

Prophecy

Now, during the Old and New Testament era, prophecy had two different meanings. We often take the “predicting the future” notion of prophecy, or fore-telling, run with it, and never look back. And this is certainly one of the meanings. God, gave prophets and apostles, particular gifts during the spread of the Gospel as ordained by Jesus Christ, for a particular age.

The more common type of prophecy is forth-telling, or uttering forth God’s will. This aspect of prophecy continues, as the canon of the Scriptures is closed. Hebrews 1:1–2“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

God does not need to give us “new revelation” we have the fullness of revelation before us in the person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul even alludes to the fact that these miraculous gifts will cease in 1 Corinthians 13:8“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”

Unfortunately, the charismatic movement, which springs its roots from paganism and mysticism, and is diametrically opposed to the truths of Scripture has attempted to reinvigorate this idea of prophecy in terms of predicting the future. Fortunately for them, we are not in the OT administration of the Law where all of them without exception would have been stoned to death for all of their false prophecies.

Regardless, the charismatic movement is one of the largest growing heretical movement in evangelicalism that denigrates the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Scriptures for the sake of private revelation, which is never verified. Many of you, I am sure, are familiar with Bethel Church in Redding CA and their Hogwarts-esque school.

It may sound a bit harsh but I would challenge any of you to look at some of these so-called ‘prophets’ and judge the accuracy of their prophecy and the fruits that they are bearing, or lack thereof, to decide for yourself. If anyone says they have a fresh word from God, you can give them the Southern rebuttal of “bless your heart” and point them to the Scriptures.

You cannot buy spiritual gifts. You cannot learn spiritual gifts. These are given to God by His own grace and for the benefit of His people. Proclaiming God’s Word is done in proportion to one’s faith, meaning, they have been tested and shown resolve for their teachings abilities in proclaiming God’s Word faithfully, and accurately.

Service

Service is the second of the seven gifts and is derived from the same word where we get “deacons.” Now, this is not saying that all of us without exception are deacons, official officers ordained in the church. Rather, it speaks of service in general. We serve, because God has served us.

Teaching

In the same way, those who have been gifted with the ability to teach ought to teach with precision and accuracy. Just as in service, the backdrop is doing it with humility and for God’s glory.

The word for teaching is the same word for a first-century Christian instructional and catechetical book known as the didache. The didache was rooted and grounded in the teachings of Christ and the Apostles as they received manuscripts. Likewise, our teachings should be Christ-exalting and Christ-centered.

Exhortation

Exhortation has a wide breadth of meanings behind it. It means to urge, to exhort, and to comfort. We see this with the preaching of God’s word. The preached word is a message of urgency. If you are an unbeliever, you are destined to hell and the wrath of God. If you do not repent, the moment you die, you are instantly judged and are recipients of God’s wrath.

Jonathan Edwards in his famous tract, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” provides two analogies for the sinner. The first relates to God’s own wrath. The sinner is like one standing in an open field. God has nocked an arrow to his bow and has fully drawn it back. It is as if his fingertips are nearly ready to release the string and deal a deathblow to the sinners heart.

The second, Edwards relates a sinner like a spider on a thin web over a large pit of fire. Each day of your life you reject the Triune God, you plunge deeper into the pit. The web of string is waiting for that final snap, and the point of no return to eternal punishment. There is urgency in the Gospel call.

There is also comfort. Many of you should find comfort in the message of the Gospel each Sunday it is preached. What is your only comfort in life and death?

“That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me, that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him.”

And the aim of one who exhorts is translated as “in his exhortation” but is really pointing to this very comforting aspect. It provides comfort to you O weary Christian that God is with you every step of the way and he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Generosity

Probably one of the most difficult aspects of man’s desire to serve God is giving up their money. We like our money because we earned it, right? It is all our? Yet I would ask, who placed you in the job you are in? Who set your life in a course to bring you to financial prosperity? You may argue, ‘I am not prosperous, I barely make ends meet,’ yet you are far more prosperous than anyone living in a third world country.

And so we hold our finances near and dear to our hearts. It is all mine, we declare. But is it? Is not every good and perfect gift coming from our heavenly father above? We always want the church to grow and expand but we never want to put in the financial effort to assist that effort.

Yet our giving is not under compulsion. There is not mandated 10%, unless you want to follow the accurate depiction of the OT and give between 25-30%. We are to give cheerfully and with generosity.

Generosity is translated here and in other places as with liberality. We see this in 2 Corinthians 8:2 as Paul praises the churches for their giving, writing, “for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.”

2 Corinthians 9:11“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

And the aim or result of this, 2 Corinthians 9:13“By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,”

God loves a cheerful giver who gives back what was given to them.

Leadership

Leadership is not necessarily referring to church leaders. It is a leadership in various ways. It is more frequently used in the pastoral epistles as Paul writes to Timothy and Titus. However, it also encompasses the essence of leadership.

How is one to exercise leadership? The ESV translates the word as “zeal” which can also be translated as “diligence, willingness, eagerness.” It is not the same word used for the Jews who had zeal without knowledge. Rather, this zeal is an extraordinary commitment to civic and religious responsibility which is intertwined with moral excellence.

In the household, the husband is to be the spiritual leader of the family. You are to lead your family with diligence, willingness, with an extraordinary commitment to moral excellence. It is a sad state in the church when men forgo their duties and responsibilities as leaders of the house and then wonder why their household is in shambles.

It is an ever greater state of sadness when a man willfully chooses sports, friends, clubs, hobbies, or work, to take precedence over their family. Not only is it sad, but it is a sin to neglect the obligation set forth by the Lord.

And so it is in the church and the benefit of believers that leaders are to do so by demonstrating authentic conversion.

Mercy

One who is merciful is being a representative of the genuine effect God has placed on their lives. Paul uses the same word for mercy as He did with God’s electing love in Romans 9.15-16, 18; 11.30, and so on. It is related to the mercy God has for us, while we were still sinners sending His only Son on our behalf.

How are you to exercise mercy? With cheerfulness. Not by creating a big fuss about being merciful, but doing it with joy. Cheerfulness is doing it with gladness and wholeheartedness.

[USE]

Use 1. Authentic Christianity is exercising one’s spiritual gifts for God’s glory and loving one’s neighbor.

We really see the two greatest commandments summed up in the life of a Christian. You are to do these things without grumbling, disappointment, sadness, or reluctancy, but you are to do it with joy and a God-glorifying mentality.

Likewise, these spiritual gifts are exercised toward one another. They are gifts of love in serving one’s neighbor.

Use 2. Authentic Christianity is a progressive work.

You should not think, however, that you are going to exercise your gifts with elite precision and accuracy. You need to remember that this is all a progressive work. Rely upon the Holy Spirit to be your guide.

Use 3. Authentic Christianity is a life-long endeavour.

The race set before you is a race of endurance. You do not sprint when doing any type of endurance running, or else you are completely gassed and unable to finish. Many quit the Christian life because they are ill-equipped to remember the life-long endeavour.

How then is our faith bolstered? We embrace the ordinary means of grace. The preaching of God’s Word, when we sit and here from Christ Himself through the preacher properly exegeting God’s Word, is what equips us to run with endurance.

If you have ever seen marathon runners, there are always these water stations set up along the route. The Word, sacraments, and prayer, are those weekly pit stops where we rest from the normal running and partake of God’s grace whereby He communicates to us all of the blessings of redemption.

Paul is giving us the foundation for the newness of life that we share in our union with Christ. It is all to God’s glory and for the love of our neighbour.