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Romans 12
In all of his letters, Paul concludes with a list of practical duties based on his discussed doctrines. In the Christian life, doctrine and duty always go together. What we believe helps to determine how we behave. It is not enough for us to understand Paul's doctrinal explanations. We must translate our learning into living and show by our daily lives that we trust God's Word.
The key idea in this section is relationships. The term "relational theology" is relatively new, but the idea is not new. If we have a right relationship with God, we will have a right relationship with the people who are a part of our lives.
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4:20).
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD (12:1-2)
This is the fourth "therefore" in the letter. Romans 3.20 is the “therefore" of condemnation, declaring that the whole world is guilty before God.
Romans 5:1 is the "therefore" of justification, and Romans 8:1 is the "therefore" of assurance.
In Romans 12:1, we have the "therefore" of dedication, and it is this dedication that is the basis for the other relationships that Paul discussed in this section.
What is true dedication? As Paul described it here, Christian dedication involves three steps.
(1) You give God your body (v. 1).
Before we trusted Christ, we used our bodies for sinful pleasures and purposes, but now that we belong to Him, we want to use our bodies for His glory. The Christian's body is God's temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
because the Spirit of God dwells within him (Rom. 8.9).
It is our privilege to glorify Christ in our bodies and magnify Christ in our bodies (Phil. 1:20-21).
Just as Jesus Christ had to take on Himself a body to accomplish God's will on Christ, we must yield our bodies to Christ so that He might continue God's work through us. We must yield the body’s members as "instruments of righteousness" (Rom. 6:13) for the Holy Spirit to use in doing God's work. The Old Testament sacrifices were dead sacrifices, but we must be living sacrifices.
There are two "living sacrifices" in the Bible, and they help us understand what this means.
The first is Issac (Gen. 22);
the second is our Lord Jesus Christ. Issac willingly put himself on the altar and would have died in obedience to God's will, but the Lord sent a ram to take his place.
Issac "died" just the same, died to themself, and willingly yielded himself to the will of God. When he got off that altar, Isaac was a living sacrifice to the glory of God.
Of course, our Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect illustration of a living sacrifice because He died as a sacrifice in obedience to His Father's will. But He arose again. And today, He is in heaven as a living sacrifice, bearing in His body the wounds of Calvary.
He is our High priest (Heb. 4:14-16) and our Advocate (1 John 2:1) before the throne of God.
The verb "present" in this verse means "to present once and for all." It commands a definite commitment of the body to the Lord, just as a bride and groom commit themselves to each other in their wedding service.
Is this a once-for-all commitment that determines what they do with their bodies?
Paul gives us two reasons for this commitment: (1) it is the correct response to all that God has done for us—"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God" (italics mine); and (2) this commitment is our "reasonable service" or our "spiritual act of worship." This means that every day is a worship experience when your body is yielded to the Lord.
(2) You give God your mind (v. 2a).
The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind (see Eph. 4:17-24; Col. 3:1-11). This word transform is the same as transfigure in Matthew 17:2. It has come into our English language as metamorphosis. It describes a change from within. The world wants to change your mind, so it exerts pressure from without. But the Holy Spirit changes your mind by releasing power from within. Suppose the world controls your thinking, You are a conformer if God controls your thinking. You are a transformer.
God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God's Word, memorizing it. and making it a part of your inner being. God will gradually make your mind more spiritual (sce 2 Cor. 3:18).
(3) You give God your will (v. 26).
Your mind controls your body, and your will controls your mind. Many people think they can control their will with willpower, but they usually fail. (This was Paul's experience as recorded in Rom. 7:15-21). It is only when we yield the will to God that His power can take over and give us the willpower (and they won't power!) that we need to be victorious Christians.
We surrender our wills to God through disciplined prayer. As we pray, we surrender our will to God and pray with the Lord, "Not my will, but thy will be done." We must pray about everything and let God have His way in everything
I have tried to begin each day by surrendering my body to the Lord for many years. Then, I spend time with His Word and let Him transform my mind and prepare my thinking for that new day. Then I pray, yield the day’s plans to Him, and let Him work as He sees best. I especially pray about those tasks that upset or worry me—and He always sees me through.
To have the right relationship with God, we must start the day by yielding our bodies, minds, and wills to Him.
Introduction to Romans 12:3–13:4: A Call to Service and Responsibility
The Book of Romans, written by the Apostle Paul, is a profound theological letter that systematically lays out the Christian faith. It is divided into two main sections: the theological foundation (Romans 1–11) and the practical application (Romans 12–16). To understand Romans 12:3–13:4, it is essential to grasp the context and themes leading up to this point.

Summary of Romans (Chapters 1–11)

Sin and the Need for Salvation (Romans 1–3): Paul begins by addressing humanity's universal sinfulness, emphasizing that both Jews and Gentiles fall short of God's glory and are in need of salvation.
Justification by Faith (Romans 4–5): The solution to sin is justification by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul highlights Abraham as an example, showing that righteousness comes through faith, not works. This justification brings peace with God and the assurance of salvation.
Sanctification and Life in Christ (Romans 6–8): Paul explains the believer's new life in Christ, where sin no longer has dominion. Through the Holy Spirit, believers experience sanctification, the process of being made holy. He assures us of the inseparability of God’s love and our ultimate glorification.
God’s Plan for Israel (Romans 9–11): Paul addresses God’s sovereign plan for Israel and the Gentiles, emphasizing that salvation is available to all. He concludes this section with a doxology, marveling at the depth of God's wisdom and mercy.

Transition to Romans 12: Practical Christian Living

Having established the theological foundation, Paul shifts to practical application in Romans 12. He calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices (12:1) and to be transformed by renewing their minds (12:2), setting the stage for Christian service, unity, and relationships.

Teaching on Romans 12:3–13:4

1. Service in the Church Through Spiritual Gifts (Romans 12:3–8):

Paul reminds believers to think soberly and humbly, recognizing their place in the body of Christ. Each believer is uniquely gifted by God to serve the local assembly. These spiritual gifts—whether prophecy, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, or mercy—are to be exercised faithfully and for the edification of the church.
Key Principle: Unity in diversity. The church is one body with many members, each playing a vital role in the health and mission of the assembly.

2. Christian Conduct in Love (Romans 12:9–21):

Paul outlines how believers should live in genuine love, serving one another and even responding to enemies with kindness. He encourages qualities such as hospitality, humility, and patience in tribulation, while rejecting vengeance and overcoming evil with good.
Key Principle: The believer’s life is marked by selfless love and a commitment to peace, even when dealing with a hostile world.

3. Responsibility Toward Government and Society (Romans 13:1–4):

Paul emphasizes the Christian’s responsibility to submit to governing authorities, recognizing that they are ordained by God for order and justice. Believers are to respect and honor these authorities, fulfilling their civic duties as a testimony to their faith.
Key Principle: A good relationship with the world includes obeying laws and contributing to society as God’s representatives.

Themes in Romans 12:3–13:4

Assurance of Salvation: Believers, grounded in the assurance of their salvation, are called to respond by offering their lives in service to God and others.
Unity in the Church: Spiritual gifts are given to build up the local assembly, reflecting the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.
Christian Responsibility: The Christian life extends beyond the church. Believers are called to love sincerely, live peaceably, and maintain a godly testimony in the world.

Conclusion

Romans 12:3–13:4 challenges believers to live out their faith in practical ways. Whether through serving in the church with their spiritual gifts or maintaining a good relationship with the world, their lives should reflect the transformative power of the Gospel. This teaching serves as a reminder that salvation is not only about personal assurance but also about being an active participant in God’s kingdom and a light in the world.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BELIEVERS (12:3-16)
Paul was writing to Christians who were members of local churches in Rome. He described their relationship to each other in terms of the body’s members. (He used this same picture in 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:7-16.)
The basic idea is that each believer is a living part of Christ's body, and each one has a spiritual function to perform; each believer has a gift (or gifts)
to be used for building up the body and perfecting the other members. In short, we belong to each other, minister to each other, and need each other.
What are the essentials for spiritual ministry and growth in the body of Christ?
Honest evaluation ( 3),
Each Christian must know his spiritual gifts and ministry (or ministries) he is to have in the local church.
It is not wrong for a Christian to recognize gifts in his own life and the lives of others. What is bad is the tendency to have a false evaluation of ourselves.
Nothing causes more damage in a local church than a believer who overrates himself and tries to perform a ministry he cannot do (Sometimes the opposite is accurate, and people undervalue themselves. Both attitudes are wrong.)
The gifts that we have came because of God's grace. They must be accepted and exercised by faith. We were saved "by grace, through faith" (Eph. 2:8-9), and we must live and serve "by grace through faith."
Since our gifts are from God, we cannot take credit for them. All we can do is accept them and use them to honor His name. (See 1 Cor. 15:10 for Paul's testimony about gifts.)
Belittled his gifts and would not use them, the other man continually boasted about gifts he did not possess. Actually, both of them were guilty of pride because they refused to acknowledge God's grace and let Him have the glory.
Moses made a similar mistake when God called him (Ex. 4:1-13). When the individual believers in a church know their gifts, accept them by faith, and use them for God's glory, God can bless them extraordinarily.
Faithful cooperation (w. 4-8).
Each believer has a different gift. And God has bestowed these gifts so the local body can grow balanced. But, each Christian must exercise his or her gift by faith. We may not see the result of our ministry, but the Lord sees it, and He blesses us. Note that "collaboration" (encouragement) is just as much a spiritual ministry as preaching or teaching. Giving and showing mercy are also essential gifts.
To some people. God has given the ability to rule or administer the church’s various functions. Whatever gift we have must be dedicated to God and used for the good of the whole church.
It is tragic when any one gift is emphasized in a local church beyond all the other gifts. "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all woken of mirages? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" (1 Cor. 12-29-30).
The answer to all these questions is no. For a Christian to minimize the other gifts while he emphasizes his gift is to deny the very purpose for which gifts are given: The benefit of the whole body of Christ.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given foe the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7 mr).
Spiritual gifts are tools to build with, not toys to play with or weapons to fight with. In the church of Corinth, the believers were tearing down the ministry because they abused spiritual gifts. They were using their gifts as ends in themselves and not as a means toward the end of building up the church.
They so emphasized their spiritual gifts that they lost their spiritual graces! They had the gifts of the Spirit but were lacking in the fruit of the Spirit —love, joy, peace, etc. (Gal. 5:22-23).
Loving participation (w. 9-16).
Here, the emphasis is on the attitudes of those who exercise the spiritual gifts. It is possible to use a spiritual gift in an unspiritual way. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 13, the New Testament’s great "love chapter.”
Love is the circulatory system of the spiritual body, which enables all the members to function in a healthy, harmonious way. This must be an honest love, not a hypocritical love (Rom. 12:9), and it must be humble, not proud (Rom. 12:10).
"Preferring one another" means treating others as more important than ourselves (Phil, 2:1-4).
Serving Christ usually means satanic opposition and days of discouragement. Paul admonished his readers to maintain their spiritual zeal because they served the Lord, not men. The Christian cannot permit his zeal to grow cold when life becomes difficult. "Be joyful in hops. patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom. 12:12 rv).
Finally, Paul reminded them that they must enter into the feelings of others.
Christian fellowship is much more than a pat on the back and a handshake. It means sharing the burdens and the blessings of others so that we all grow together and glorify the Lord. If Christians cannot get along with one another, how can they ever face their enemies? A humble attitude and a willingness to share are the marks of a Christian who, indeed, ministers to the body. Our Lord ministered to the ordinary people, and they heard Him gladly (Mark 12:37).
When a local church decides it wants only a particular type of people, it departs from the Christian ideal of ministry.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD (12:17-21)
The believer who seeks to obey God is going to have enemies. When our Lord was ministering on earth, He had enemies. Some enemies opposed their work no matter where Paul and the other apostles traveled.
Jesus warned His disciples that their worst enemies might be those of their household (Matt. 10:36). Unfortunately, some believers have enemies because they lack love and patience and not because they are faithful in their witness. There is a difference between sharing in "the offense of the cross" (Gal. 5:11; 6:12-15) and being an offensive Christian!
The Christian must not play God and try to avenge himself. Returning evil for evil, or good for good, is the way most people live. However, Christians must live higher and return good for evil. Of course, this requires love because our first inclination is to fight back. It also requires faith, believing God can work and accomplish His will in our lives and those who hurt us. We must give place to "the wrath"— the wrath of God (Deut. 32:35).
"Don't do it. If you defend yourself, then the Lord can't defend you. Leave it in His hands." My friend followed that wise counsel, and the Lord vindicated him.
The admonition in Romans 12:20 reminds us of Christ's words in Matthew 5:44-48. These words are easy to read but challenging to practice.
Indeed, we need to pray and ask God for love as we try to show kindness to our enemies. Will they take advantage of us? Will they hate us more? Only the Lord knows. Our task is not to protect ourselves but to obey the Lord and leave the results with Him.
Paul referred to Proverbs 25:21-22 as he urged us to return good for evil in the name of the Lord. The "coals of fire" refer perhaps to the shame our enemies will experience when we return good for evil.
As children of God, we must live on the highest level-returning good for evil. Anyone can return good for good and evil for evil. The only way to overcome evil is with righteousness. If we return evil for evil, we only fuel the evil. And even if our enemy is not converted, we have still experienced the love of God in our hearts and have grown in grace.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE STATE (13:1-14)
God has established three institutions:
the home (Gen. 2:18-25),
the government (Gen. 9:1-17),
and the church (Acts 2).
Paul was writing to believers at the very heart of the Roman Empire. The great persecutions had not started but were on the way. Christianity was still considered a Jewish sect, and Rome approved the Jewish religion. But the day would come when it would be challenging, if not impossible, for a Christian to be loyal to the emperor. He could not drop incense on the altar and affirm, "Caesar is god!" Today, we have people who teach riot and rebellion in the name of Christ! They would have us believe that the Christian thing to do is to disobey the law, rebel against the authorities, and permit every person to do that which is right in his own eyes. Paul refuted this position in this chapter by explaining four reasons Christians must be subject to the state’s laws.
(1) For wrath's sake (v. Romans 13:1-4
Romans 13:1–4 KJV 1900
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
It is God who has established the governments of the world (see Acts 17:24-28).
This does not mean that He is responsible for the sins of tyrants, but only that the authority to rule comes originally from God. It was this lesson that Nebuchadnezzar had to learn the hard way. (See Dan. 4, especially w. 17, 25, 32.) To resist the law is to resist the God who established government in the world, which means inviting punishment.
Rulers must bear the sword; that is, they can afflict punishment and even take life.
God established human government because humankind is sinful and must have some kind of authority over us. God has given the sword to rulers and, with it, the authority to punish and even to execute.
Capital punishment was ordained in Genesis 9:5-6 and has not been abolished. Even though we cannot always respect the person in office, we must respect the office for God-ordained government.
On more than one occasion in his ministry. Paul used Roman law to protect his life and to extend his work. The centurions mentioned in the book of Acts appear to be men of character and high ideals.
Even if government officials are not believers, they are still the "ministers of God" because He established the state’s authority.
(2) For conscience's sake (w. 5-7).
We move a bit higher in our motivation now. Any citizen can obey the law because of fear of punishment, but a Christian should follow because of conscience. Of course, if the government interferes with conscience, then Christians must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
But when the law is correct, the Christian must abide by it to maintain a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:5. 19: 3:9: 4:2; Acts 24:16).
The United States Government maintains a "Conscience Fund" for people who want to pay their government debts and remain anonymous.
When conscience begins to work, we cannot live with ourselves until we have made things right.
Romans 13:7 commands us to pay what we owe: taxes, revenue, respect, loner. If we do not pay our taxes, we depart from the law, the officials, and the Lord. And this cannot but after the consequence of the believes. We may not agree with all that is done with the money we pay in uses, but we dare not violate our conscience by refusing to pay
For Jesus’ sake (m: Romans 12: 8-10
Romans 12:8–10 KJV 1900
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Paul enlarged the tide of responsibility by treating other people besides government officials. "Love one another.”
Christ gave to us (John 18:34); when we practice being lovers, there is no need for any other laws because love covers it all. If we love others, we will so in gain dem.
This explained why the Ten Commandments were not referred to often in the New Testament.
The Sabbath commandment is not quoted in any Epistles; we do not live under the Bows as believers. We live under grace. Our motive for obeying god and helping others is the love of Chile in our hearts.
Does "owe no man anything" refer to any debt?
Some people believe that it does, and that it is a sin to have a debt. J. Hudson Taylor, the godly missionary to China, would never incur a debt, basing his conviction on this venue. Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher, had the same conviction.
However, the Bible does not forbid borrowing or legal financial transactions that involve interest. What the Bible does forbid is the Charging of high interest, robbing the poor: and failing to pay ones debts(see Ex. 22:25-27
Matthew 25:27 and Luke 19:23 indicate that banking and investing forr gain are not wrong: Certainly, no one should get into unnecessary debt or sign contracts he cannottos maintain. "Thou shalt not steal."
But to make Romans 13.8
Romans 13:8 KJV 1900
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
the human heart Because the heart of humankind is sinful, god established government. But laws cannot change the heart; humankind's heart is still selfish and can be changed only by the grace of God.
(4) For Jesus' sake (w. 11-14).
We have come a long way in our reasons for obeying the law: from fear to conscience to love to our devotion to Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on the imminent return of Christ. As His servants, we want to be found faithful when He returns. The completion of our salvation is near! The light is dawning! Therefore, be ready!
Paul gave several admonitions in the light of the Lord's soon return.
The first is, "Wake up!" Relate this with 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and also Matthew 25:1-13. The second is, "Clean up!" We do not want to be found dressed in dirty garments when the Lord returns (1 John 2:28- 3:3). The Christian wears the armor of light, not the deeds of darkness. He has no reason to get involved in the sinful pleasures of the world. Finally, Paul admonished, "Grow up" (Rom. 13:14). To "put on" the Lord Jesus Christ means to become more like Him, to receive by faith all that He is for our daily living. We grow on the basis of the food we eat. This is why God warns us not to make provisions for the flesh. If we feed the flesh, we will fail, but if we feed the inner being the nourishing things of the Spirit, we will succeed.
In other words, a Christian citizen ought to be the best citizen.
Christians may not always agree on politics or parties, but they can all agree on their attitude toward human government.
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