Paul opened his message in Chapter 12 with a clear call to live a sacrificial life and moves to the crucial thought that we be not conformed to this world.

2 Timothy 4:3 NKJV

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

Once we see the magnitude of what Christ has done for us and the responding desire we should have in our service to Him Paul answers the question of....

Who am I (My Identity in Christ)

One night while Mark was driving with his wife he did what many of us do.... he zoned out and began to have a time of fellowship and worship with God. During that time Mark began to think of Who he was, just a boy from Alabama to just call up to God whenever he wanted, from the middle of nowhere, and expect God to hear him?

Mark immediately was struck with the thought that though he was a new creation, more than a conqueror... that he also was no more than grass, that is rises up and is gone in a day.

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt? Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You are

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns

Most Christians who dig deep into their Christianity have similar moments when it becomes overwhelming clear that God has done something beyond amazing in their lives and it becomes equally clear that they are beyond undeserving. Those are the moments that go on to define how we live within that understanding. May my service to God be in relation to what God has done for me in spite of who I am.

Paul not only has considered this in his own life but writes to the Church at Rome so that they also may have a clear understanding of who they are.

Paul begins this portion of Chapter 12 with a call to Diversity

A big word in our society today but definitely not used as Paul is using it here.

In our society diversity calls for a equal balance between men and women, between young and old and between the multiple skin colors that make up America.

Paul however is calling us to recognize who we are now that we have, as verse 1 says, “presented our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”.

Paul thought it so important this diversity that he spoke of it in three separate epistles.

Ephesians, 1 Corinthians and in our Passage today Romans 12:3-8

In the 1 Corinthians passage he even warns of not having this diversity.

1 Corinthians 12:14–17 NKJV

14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

But the real thrust of that passage comes in the the next verse

1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

“each one of them”

So lets read what Paul has to say

Romans 12:3–8 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.

Paul opens his declaration of who we are in Christ with this warning

A. Not to be high minded due to the position he has called us into.

1. Paul makes it very clear that “In Christ” there are no levels

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Think of Hinduism

Lowest Cast (Actually Outcast or not in a cast (Untouchables): Beggars, Homeless, Lowly dirty jobs

Sudra: Common People and Servants

Vaishya (Vii see Ya): Merchants and Landowners

Kshatryia (Sha tri a): Warriors and Kings

Bhramin (Bra min): Priest and Academics

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Fatalism (no chance to change your level)

In Christ there are no levels and all are called to an equal service within separate positions

This implies rightly that we are all called into Godly service.

Paul does this by himself prostrating himself before the grace that has called him to the position of leadership and authority he holds.

Paul finds within his authority no room to allow himself to be above any other believer.

Heres how he said it to the young Pastor Timothy

1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

2. But what we do have, how we serve is by our “measure of faith”

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This isn’t saying to the most faithful he gives the loftiest positions.

This isn’t saying that to the most qualified He gives the most visible offices.

Likewise it doesn't mean the more menial responsibilities are of lessor importance.

It means that your faith is the inlet by which God raises you to His purpose. In laymen’s terms..... its not about you.

So the first quality of a persons identity in Christ is.....

A. Not to be high minded due to the position he has called us into.

B. That we act as one body

Romans 12:4–5 NKJV

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.

1. One Body (Unique)

In 1 Corinthians and Romans the human body is used as an illustration of the corporate life of Christians. How the very group of all believers should appear.

But in Colossians and Ephesians the idea is carried farther.

2. In Christ

In these later documents emphasis is laid on the relation which the church, as the body, bears to Christ as the head.

In them there is no possibility of an ordinary member of the church being compared to the head, or to part of the head

These passages go even further to stress the unbreakable dependence of the body to the head

3. In Christ alone

The body doesn’t function apart from a relationship with God

But also the dependence we have of each other

So the first quality of a persons identity in Christ is.....

A. Not to be high minded due to the position he has called us into.

B. That we act as one body

C. That we exercise our individual gifts

Look at the gifts listed.

Prophecy (Divine Teaching)

Ministry (Full range of all ministering)

Teaching (A lessor style of teaching)

Exhortation (Speaking to that which has been taught)

Giving (Benevolence)

Leadership (From your own house to the Church house)

Mercy (One that is good at building unity)

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So we began with the attitude to be held within our diversity (not high minded)

Then we looked at the picture of our heavenly diversity (Contained within One body)

But here we see the function of our diversity

1. There is only one body and we see no room for abnormalities (Paralysis) within the body nor do we see and body part that is unused.

2. There is a purpose in their use

a. God commands

b. God receives the Glory