Romans 12: 1-8

Leading Bible Study Notes on (September 26, 2018)

Leading Bible Study Notes on (September 26, 2018)

Introduction

Quick recap

From Chapters 1-11, Paul exhaustively and methodically explained that we have all sinned, Jews and Gentiles alike in their respective different ways, with the law or without the law. We all need salvation. Salvation comes from justification by faith (i.e. the grace of God) (1:17; ) and the gospel of Jesus Christ (1:16), the power of God to salvation.

NKJV

8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Now Paul followed-up by explaining to those Christians in the church of Rome from chapters 12-15 how to live this new life after receiving salvation by faith, firstly as a Servant, then Citizen and Fellow Christians. It is not only appropriate during his days of severe persecution but relevant to us as well, probably even more so in a politically correct society.

Chapter 12-15 Outline

Chapter 12 - Christian Servant

Chapter 13 - Christian Citizenship

Chapter 14 - Christian Brothers dealing with various practices

Principle of Liberty (tolerance)

Principle of Love (care)

Examples of Christ (obedience)

Chapter 15 - Conclusion

Tonight we are focusing only verses 1-8, covering a number of basic and key instructions from Paul. Let us all work together to try and understand Paul’s message.

Romans 12:1-8

Read vv 1-8 first.

NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

2 Do not conform 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.

3 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 faith God has distributed to each of you.

4 For 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, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Tonight I propose that we break these into 3 sections: verse 1, 2, 3-8.

A. Believers are to dedicate themselves to God. (1, 2)

Let us first Re-read verse 1 in two versions including one version in AMP.

NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

羅馬書 12:1 CUNP-神

“所以，弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。”

AMP

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.”

Living Sacrifice

The term "living sacrifice” really stood out in this verse. This is a unique term Paul created and not used anywhere in the Bible.

Question: What is your interpretation of Paul’s meaning of this term?

This is very helpful for us to have a good general overall concept of this phrase. But to fully appreciate Paul’s plea, let us examine some of the words more closely:

Paul also used the words surrounding the term:

bodies

The Greek word used here, sōma, refers to the entire person.

present your bodies

dedication all of yourselves.

Question: ‘Offering your bodies’ - Does it mean we have to be a Catholic Priest or nun dedicating our lives to the church?

Answer: Some may consider that that being a Catholic priest or nun would be the bodily sacrifice required. Do you think that is Paul’s meaning of living sacrifice.

holy

Indicates that the sacrifice is set apart for God,(sanctified) and also holy (cleansed). In the ot, such terminology is associated with worship in the tabernacle and temple (; ; ). Is this too high a standard for us?

Jesus required us:

'Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’

acceptable

meaning well pleasing to God

reasonable

The Greek word used here, logikos, often translated translated as “reasonable” or “proper,” indicating that it is the only logical thing for you to do, after all Christ died for our sins. The word however can mean “spiritual,” suggesting worship that involves the heart and mind in contrast to physical offerings and sacrifices. indicating worship that reflects a correct understanding of the gospel message and a rational response to it. It also might mean “true,” implying that worship is appropriate for those with a renewed mind ().

service

The Greek word used here, latreia, commonly refers to priestly duties in the temple (, ). Believers do not operate in a physical temple but are themselves God’s temple (). They offer themselves because God has made them a holy priesthood (, ).

sacrifice

Question: What is a sacrifice in OT time?

Answer: The dictionary defines sacrifice as “anything consecrated and offered to God.” So, under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of animals in the temple----- it’s a life paid for human sin. This is done once a year at the Passover. Such a sacrifice is costly—but second-hand and dead.But these were just a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Quiz: When was the first sacrifice in the OT?

Answer: After man sinned, God made clothing to cover man’s sin. ()

Question: What were the purposes of OT sacrifice?

Answer: To pay for our sins; to remind us of our sinful nature; the need for our repentance and forgiveness from God; keeps us humble; to sanctify ourselves and be holy (High priest and offeror)

Question: What are the essentials of the sacrifice?

Answer: The first born, perfect (without blemish), best, living 'clean' and 'acceptable' animal, personally also with humility, sanctified, forgiveness or without grudge against some one and a cheerful heart.

(NKJV)

[So let] each one [give] as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

NKJV

'Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. '

1 Chronicles 16:10 NKJV

10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

1 chronicles 16:

NKJV

Question: Is there a need for the sacrifice now?

10 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 尋求耶和華敵人, 應當心中歡喜

尋求耶和華敵人應當心中歡喜

Question: Is there a need for the sacrifice now?

Answer: No, because of His ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. The Old Testament sacrifices became obsolete and are no longer of any effect (, , )

 NKJV

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

,

"Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin......by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,"

Question: If Jesus already died for our sins, why then did Paul asked us to offer sacrifice again?

Answer: It is no longer a dead sacrifice but a live one. We are living under grace - hence by the mercies of God. Note also that this is not a once a year offering! Not once a week to the church! A real tall order!

Question: "What then does it mean to be a living sacrifice?"

Answer: Paulʼs admonition to the believers in Rome was to sacrifice themselves to God, not as a sacrifice on the altar, as the Mosaic Law required the sacrifice of animals, but as a living sacrifice. As believers, how do we consecrate and offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice?

Paul explained this in

NKJV

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

living sacrifice

It is therefore a sacrifice with the whole body, spiritual and physical, all the time, holy, acceptable to God, offered willingly, and the best you can offer to God. In fact, Eugene Peterson explained this very well in plain language in the Message.

The Message

'So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

I was pondering for a illustration of offering your bodies as a living sacrifice when David came for fellowship last week (19 September 2018) half his normal size. David is truly taking into his heart to offer his physical body, the temple of God as a living acceptable sacrifice. I am sure he does the same with his spirit, soul and mind.

During the days of Jesus on earth, 3 men wanted to follow Him. Jesus said a few things appearing to be irrational and radical. It is a good illustration of a renewal of your mind.

Do you remember what did Jesus said to them?

NKJV

First man

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Second man

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Third man

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

These are the problems:

The problem with us

The first man was really looking for blessings, fortunes, health, trouble free and all the goodness, similar to the wealth preaching taught these days. Jesus said there is nothing physically you can gain from following Me.

The second had his priority wrong. It is only right to bury you father, but if you are not ready to make Jesus your priority, do not pretend you are following Him.

The third man said he wanted to follow Jesus, but his heart is till with the matters of the world. He looked back as the wife of Lot and his heart will be hardened.

Jesus summarised it in the following passage:

Luke 9:23 NKJV

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

This following verses from Psalm summaries what we need to do:

Palms 143:8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Living sacrifice is a tall order. How can we ever do that? Paul gave us some further tips on how once you decided to offer yourself as a living sacrifice. The following verse () helps us to understand.

Question: How well do you know God’s will for you? How often do you ask God about His will for you and nothing happened? If you receive a message or a vision, how do you know it is true and will become true?

Transformation and Renewal

Read

NKJV

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。

'that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.'

Peter 1:13-16

'Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”'

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (TEV).

Paul reminded us of his own struggle in

“I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (, TLB).

'But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. '

NLT, second edition

“Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace”

Conformed

suschematizo (ssos-khay-mat-id-zoe) Strong’s #4964. Compare “scheme” and “schematic” Refers to confirming oneself to the outer fashion or outward appearance, accommodating oneself to a model or pattern. suschematizo occurs elsewhere in the NT only in , where it describes those conforming themselves to worldly lusts. Even apparent or superficial conformity to the present world system or any accommodation to tits ways would be fatal to the Christian life.

The world is defined for us in as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All that the world has to offer can be reduced to these three things. The lust of the flesh includes everything that appeals to our appetites and involves excessive desires for food, drink, sex, and anything else that satisfies physical needs. Lust of the eyes mostly involves materialism, coveting whatever we see that we donʼt have and envying those who have what we want. The pride of life is defined by any ambition for that which puffs us up and puts us on the throne of our own lives.

Transformation - Renewal of your mind

“renew” is to “renovate” implying a restoration into freshness or to an original state. It intimate the potential of redemption’s power to reinstate features of God’s original intention for humanity and a recovery of many potentialities of the human mind and soul as designed before the Fall. The ‘mind’ constitutes the intellect or understanding, but also includes all that is described in the word “mind-set” that is the feelings and the will. Being “transformed” by the renewal of the mind indicated a literal ‘change in the form or formulas of thoughts or being.” This describes redemption’s provision of power to install godliness in us --- a power that transforms 1)our thoughts, which lead to formulating 2) our purposes, which proceed to dictate our actions; and thus 3) our actions become character-determining habits, shaping the life and setting the course or the future. The path to godly living is not complicated, nor is it energised by the flesh, but it does call the believer to willing submission to the Father’s provision and ways.

Paul warned Christians: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world” that are usually selfish and often corrupting. Wise Christians decide that much worldly behaviour is off-limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our mind: “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed (see 8:5).

Eugene Peterson’s translation is a good reminder for us:

The Message

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.’

Following habitual ways are natural. In fact Sir Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion made it clear. “Every object will remain in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces acting on it.” He was right not only on physical laws, he was right also on spiritual laws.

Question: Please therefore share with us some examples in your life (recent ones would be ideal) what you can do so to change you life through renew of your mind and not conforming to this world.

Question to ponder: Is there any relationship between ‘transformation and renewal of your mind’ and ‘born again’ that Jesus told Nicodemus?

First man

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Second man

59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Third man

61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Question: We know Jesus' offering on the cross but did Jesus offer any living sacrifice?

Answer:

“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” ().

'And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.' ()

B. To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective duties. (3-8)

Body of Christ

Read

NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Key words

think of himself more highly (Pride)

12:3 Healthy self-esteem is important because some of us think too little of ourselves; on the other hand, some of us overestimate ourselves. The key to an honest and accurate self-evaluation is knowing the basis of our self-worth—our identity in Christ. Apart from him, we aren’t capable of very much by eternal standards; in him, we are valuable and capable of worthy service. Evaluating yourself by the worldly standards of success and achievement can cause you to think too much about your worth in the eyes of others and thus miss your true value in God’s eyes.

Question: How do you deal with pride?

7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;

do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonour the name of my God. ( )

A measure of faith (3)

Question: Is it not ‘justification by faith’ be given to my own credit that I choose to believe?

Answer: No. Even faith is given to us by grace!!!

Question: Question: How do you have faith? Where does faith comes from?

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. - NASB

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. - NASB

Paul is more emphatic: He said that even your faith is grace. Every believer is given a measure of faith! Faith was given to us by God - His grace.

Question: I thought some Christians have more faith than others? What does this mean?

Answer： Think again if you believe you have more faith than any one else. How often some are accused for lack of healing because of the lack of faith!!!

Question: Can you and how you can lose your faith? What would cause the lose of faith?

Possible answers: Shame usually after sin, persecutions, sickness, hopelessness, desperation, isolation

Question: Can you and how do you increase your faith?

Luke 22:32 NKJV

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

luke 22:

Question: Who is the father of faith?

Answer: Abraham ()

Question: How much faith do we need for a miracle?

Answer: as small as a mustard seed ()

Question: What is the difference between belief and faith? Or is there any difference at all?

Answer:

Belief – An opinion or judgement in which a person is fully persuaded.

Faith = ( Belief × Action × Confidence )

“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” ()

Putting It All Together

So now you can see how belief and faith are interrelated. The difference between the two is subtle. But understanding it makes things that Jesus said like in above make a whole lot more sense.

When we believe the truth with enough confidence to take action we exercise faith. And it doesn’t take much of that faith to see huge things happen, even miraculous things.

And you can see where unbelief, that is believing things that aren’t true – believing lies – completely clogs up the working of our faith. Unbelief prevents us from ever seeing the miraculous in our lives.

Too often we spend time and energy trying to increase our faith when Jesus said that’s not really our problem. We pray and plead with God, begging him to give us more faith.

Building Your Faith Is Simpler than You Think

But our problem is really with unbelief, not a lack of faith.

24 Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." - NASB

The good news is that we can change our unbelief into belief. It’s really a fairly simple, straight forward process. We just need to become more fully persuaded of the truth instead of the misconceptions and lies that we are currently holding on to.

The more we expose our minds to the truth, the more we become persuaded and convinced of that truth.

And the best way to expose our minds to the truth is to study the Bible. The more time we spend exploring the truth of the Bible, the more our minds become convinced of that truth.

The more firmly convinced of the truth we become, the more confident we’ll grow.

Then it won’t be long before we find ourselves doing things differently, acting in more faith.

Do you want more faith? Then invest more time reading, studying, and thinking about the Bible. You’ll find your faith will just grow as a result because you will change your beliefs.

Mark 9:29 NKJV

29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

mark 9:

In some manuscripts, fasting is omitted.

James 5:13–18 NKJV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Actions:

Sing psalms

Elders to pray and anoint with oil

Prayer of faith

Confess trespasses to one another

Pray fervently for one another

Body (4-5)

In vv12:4, 5 Paul uses the concept of the human body to teach how Christians should live and work together. Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ (see ; ).

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” NLT “弟兄們，我藉我們主耶穌基督的名勸你們都說一樣的話。你們中間也不可分黨，只要一心一意，彼此相合。 " 哥林多前書 1:10 CUNP-神

John 17:11 NKJV

11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

john

Question: What was Paul after by using the body of gifts?

Answer: Unity of Christians.

Question: Do we have this problem in churches today? How would you deal with this?

Body of Seven gifts enumerated (not exhaustive)

Question: How many gifts were enumerated by Paul? Are they exhaustive? Why not?

12:6 God gives us gifts so we can build up his church. To use them effectively, we must (1) realize that all gifts and abilities come from God; (2) understand that not everyone has the same gifts; (3) know who we are and what we do best; (4) dedicate our gifts to God’s service and not to our personal success; (5) be willing to utilize our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding back anything from God’s service. God’s gifts differ in nature, power, and effectiveness according to his wisdom and graciousness, not according to our faith. Our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what Christ has given us.

Question: Why one cannot have all the gifts?

12:6-8 Look at this list of gifts and imagine the kinds of people who would have each gift. Prophets are often bold and articulate. Servers (those in ministry) are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who show kindness are caring people who are happy to give their time to others. It would be difficult for one person to embody all these gifts. An assertive prophet would not usually make a good counselor, and a generous giver might fail as a leader. When you identify your own gifts (and this list is far from complete), ask how you can use them to build up God’s family. At the same time, realize that your gifts can’t do the work of the church all alone. Be thankful for people whose gifts are completely different from yours. Let your strengths balance their weaknesses, and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies. Together you can build Christ’s church.

prophecy

Question: Can any one prophecy?

Anyone speaking with divine authority--whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future--was termed a prophet (). “Prophesying” in Scripture is not always predicting the future. Often it means preaching God’s messages () or inspired teaching (as in ).

Cheerfulness

hilarotes (hil-ar-ot-ace) Stong’s #2432; Compare “hilarious” and “hilarity”. Graciousness, joyfulness, gladness, benevolence, amiability, cheerfulness, gaiety, affability. In primitive lands Bible translators define hilarotes as “The heart is laughing and the eyes are dancing”. The word was often used for the cheerful demeanour fo those visiting the sick and infirm and of those giving alms. The person who exhibits hilarotes is a sunbeam lighting up a sick room with warmth and love.

Question: What are your gifts?

Chapter 12 Outline

A. Believers are to dedicate themselves to God. (1, 2)

B. To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective duties. (3-8)

C. Exhortations to various duties. (9-16)

D. And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence. (17-21) A.