Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Romans Session 16 - Supernatural Living 12:9-13:7





The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now in a detailed study of Paul's epistle to the church in Rome. These are the notes for Session 16.

Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles, his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct detestable theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.

Beginning with chapter 12 Paul spends the rest of his letter talking about what could be called “the normal Christian life”, and this normal Christian life is really nothing short of supernatural! Paul will demonstrate that when a believer gives himself or herself fully to God and then, in the power of the Spirit, lives out in experience what's already true of him or her positionally and actually, the result is staggering, mind-boggling.

Click below to read my notes.

For an audio recording of the session click on the YouTube icon.

After 11 chapters of rich theological truth, Paul spends the balance of his letter to the Romans explaining how these doctrines should look in a believer’s daily life. This is a repeated theme in Paul’s writings, we’ve seen it in our studies of Galatians, and Ephesians Theology can never be divorced from life; it always has practical ramifications and implications.

         

We can look at the rest of this letter as what can be called “the normal Christian life”, and this normal Christian is really nothing short of supernatural! Paul will demonstrate that when a believer gives himself or herself fully to God and then, in the power of the Spirit, lives out in experience what's already true of him or her positionally and actually, the result is staggering, mind-boggling.


This kind of life is so different from the world that it’s like a bright neon sign.            

         

Christians who are living sacrifices in the service of God are godly, not worldly; transformed, not conformed; humble, not proud; helpful and generous, not stingy; unified with others, not divided from them; loving, not hypocritical and hateful; other-centered, not self-absorbed; enthusiastic, not blah; forgiving, not vengeful.


Quick Review


Romans 12:1‭-‬8 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.


—Believers are called to devote or offer themselves completely and unreservedly to the Lord. This is the only way we can honor God with our unredeemed bodies.

         

In light of all God has done for us, this is what we should do for Him.

         

The Greek term is the source of the English term “metamorphosis”; the meaning is to change in appearance (because of the inner changes that have and are taking place).

         

renewing of your mind —to be made new in the way one thinks by being saturated with the Word of God and controlled by the Spirit of God 


—the exercise of sound judgment measure of faith 


—the correct proportion of the spiritual gift needed to fulfill one’s role in the body of Christ many members … one body 


—The Church is a unified diversity.

         

         

Love Like A Christian


Romans 12:9‭-‬16 NKJV Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.


Christians are like a family. So we should love each other. The Greek word for this kind of love is ‘agape’. This is the love that God has for us. So this love benefits everyone. Paul gives a list of brief rules. Christians should do these things. Their actions will show that their love is real. There are 12 different rules.


Verse 9


Romans 12:9 NKJV Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.


1. Love must be sincere, not hypocritical. The word is a translation of the Greek word. It means that a person is not pretending or acting. People used that Greek word to describe an actor in a play. The actor hid his real character behind a mask (cover) on his face. Christians must not be like actors. They must not merely pretend to love each other.


2. Hate everything that is evil. Love everything that is good. Sin should disgust us. A Christian should confess his sin to God. And that Christian should pray for God’s help, so that he does not sin in the same manner again. Instead, that Christian should try to do the things that please God. Christians must desire greatly to love all good things.


Verse 10


Romans 12:10 NKJV Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;


3. Love other Christians, like brothers and sisters. They should look after each other like sisters and brothers.


4. Christians must give honour to other people. Christians should not insist on their rights. They should not want thanks and honour for themselves. They should be humble and they should give honour to other people.


Verse 11


Romans 12:11 NKJV not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;


5. Christians must work hard in their service for the Lord. They must use all their energy in the battle on God’s side.







Verse 12


Romans 12:12 NKJV rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;



6. Hope, patience and prayer. A Christian needs to be patient when he suffers in the present. He must continue to pray on behalf of himself and other people.


Verse 13


Romans 12:13 NKJV distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.


7. Share with people who are poor. In the first church in Jerusalem, the Christians gave to anyone who needed help.


Acts 2:44‭-‬45 NKJV Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.


Acts 11:29‭-‬30 NKJV The Christians in Antioch sent gifts to Jerusalem when there was not enough food for the Christians there.


Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.


Christians should continue to act in the same manner today.


8. The writer to the Hebrews said, ‘Do not forget to entertain strangers. Some people did this. And they did not even know that angels were their guests’ (Hebrews 13:2).


Verse 14


Romans 12:14 NKJV Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.


9. Paul was saying the same thing that Jesus said 


Luke 6:27‭-‬28 NKJV “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.


To bless and to pray for enemies is the evidence of Christian love.


Verse 15


Romans 12:15 NKJV Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.


10. Sympathise with other people. Christians should share other people’s joys and pains. Christians should care about other people. And Christians should look after other people.


Verse 16


Romans 12:16 NKJV Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.


11. Christians should live in agreement with each other. This does not mean that they must always have the same opinions. But they should work together with the same purpose. They all should serve Christ. 


Romans 12:16 NKJV Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.


12. Christians must not judge other people by their wealth or by their important position in society. They must not be too proud to be friendly with poor people. Christians should be friendly with people whom the world considers unimportant. Jesus was not afraid to be in the company of those whom other people did not approve of. 


That’s the 12 rules that Paul gives to show that Christians love like God loves.


Christian attitudes towards enemies 



Romans 12:17-21 (NKJV)17  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.18  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.19  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.20  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  


Verses 17-18 Christians must refuse to do what is wrong. But they must also show that their actions are good. They must do everything possible to encourage peace. 


It may not be possible always to live in a quiet manner. Enemies may oppose Christians, even when the Christians are behaving well. And sometimes it is right for Christians to protest against wicked acts. A Christian should protest if other people are suffering rather than himself. But the Christian must do everything possible to avoid quarrels.


Romans 12:19-21 (NKJV)19  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.20  Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  


Verses 19-21 A Christian must not attack back when someone has hurt him. Paul gives three reasons why.


1. Only God has the right to punish actions. Paul uses words from Deuteronomy 32:35. 


Deuteronomy 32:35 (NKJV)35  Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.' 


Today law courts have the responsibility to show God’s wrath.


Romans 13:4 (NKJV)4  For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 


In the end, God himself will show his fair judgement.


Romans 2:5-10 (NKJV)5  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,6  who "will render to each one according to his deeds":7  eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;8  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,9  tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;10  but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 


2. If an enemy receives kindness, he may be sorry for his actions. He may change his ways.  Hot coals’ means that the enemy will be very ashamed.



Proverbs 25:21-22 (NKJV)21  If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;22  For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.


3. A Christian must not hate someone who hates him. Such behaviour only makes the situation worse. And a Christian who hates is not behaving in the proper manner. A Christian should show love, not hate. The enemy will have succeeded if the Christian starts to behave in a wicked manner. Evil deeds cannot defeat someone who is evil. Instead, Christians overcome evil powers when they do the right things. They do the things that God wants them to do. And that is the only way to defeat sin.


A Christian’s Duty To The State


The monumental miracle of salvation impacts every relationship of the believer. In chapter 12 which we just finished Paul first talks about our relationship to God.  When we are saved, our initial response should be to fully present our “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is [our] spiritual service of worship” as it said in Romans 12:1.


Next we talked about our relationship in the body of Christ with our brothers and sisters that was in 12:3–16, and we just finished talking about the Christian’s relationship even with enemies(vv.             17–21).


Now in chapter 13 Paul focuses on the need to have the right relationships in the world. First, we must be subject to,            demonstrate respect for, and pay taxes to the governing authorities. Secondly, we must love our neighbors and live holy lives that stand out against the dark backdrop of a world without God.


So let’s get at it;


Romans 13:1‭-‬7 NLT Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.


Paul may have had several reasons to write about Christians’ duty to the state.


1. The Jews hated to pay taxes to the Romans who had occupied their country. But Paul was teaching the Christians not to oppose the government.


2. Paul believed that the state existed to protect its citizens against attack and crime. The state punished people who did wrong acts. And it rewarded people who did the right acts. Paul himself had received protection from angry Jews (Acts 18:12-16).


Here is an occasion of government protection when Paul was in Corinth


Acts of the Apostles 18:12‭-‬16 NLT But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.” But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom.


There was the time of the riot when he was in Ephesus Acts 19:23-38.


Then the time that he was arrested in Jerusalem Acts , but let’s read a few verses 24-29.


3. The state gives benefits, which its citizens enjoy. Paul was able to travel on good Roman roads on his journeys to preach the gospel.


4. Those who govern are God’s servants.


 Daniel 4:17 NLT For this has been decreed by the messengers ; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”


Let’s talk about this in light of what government from ancient time up to even today has done to and against Christian.  For example;

A few years after Paul wrote this letter, the Roman government began to really persecute Christians. The Romans were very cruel and the Christians suffered greatly. Many Christians died during those troubles. The Christians who lived in Rome suffered especially.


Jesus had explained how they should behave in such situations 


Luke 21:12‭-‬19 NLT “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers.  But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,  for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!  Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you.  And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.  But not a hair of your head will perish!  By standing firm, you will win your souls.


Paul told the Christians to respect and to obey the rulers. Christians should try to be ideal citizens. They should pay the taxes and they should obey the law. They should even consider their rulers to be God’s agents on earth.


Of course, the Christians should not obey the laws that insult Christ, or order you to worship someone or something us them not to tell people about Christ. We should obey all the laws that did not oppose the Christian faith.


Bible Study Audio





Saturday, December 19, 2020

Romans Session 15 The Future Of Israel Cont'd Romans 11:25-36 And Supernatural Living 12:1-8




The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now in a detailed study of Paul's epistle to the church in Rome. These are the notes for Session 15.

Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. Unlike with some of Paul’s other epistles, his purpose for writing Romans was not to correct detestable theology or rebuke ungodly living. The Roman church was doctrinally sound, but, like all churches, it was in need of the rich doctrinal and practical instruction this letter provides.

In this session we finish Paul's answer to the question of the Jews position with God. Do the Jews still have a unique place in God's plan of redemption given the fact that Gentiles can now become part of God's family by faith and not by obedience to the Law? Paul's answer is that the Jews still have a place in God's family the same way that the Gentiles do by faith. God's promise to the Jews is answered in their Messiah, Jesus Christ.

After Paul answers the question as to the future of Israel he moves on to the kind of the lives that those who have been declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, should live through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Click below to read my notes.

For an audio recording of the session click on the YouTube icon.


The Future For Israel

Romans 11:25‭-‬36 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Concerning the gospel they  are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they  are  beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are  irrevocable. For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord ? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.


Romans 11:25‭-‬27 NKJV For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”


Verses 25-27 Paul tells his Gentile brothers and sisters about God’s future plan for the Jews. 


Paul told the Gentiles not to ‘become proud’,‘Do not become wise in yourselves.’ Paul says that the Jews will not always oppose God. When the full number of Gentiles has come into the kingdom, God will determine when that will be perhaps it will be after the gospel is preached everywhere and everybody has had an opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior nobody but God knows.   God will save all Israel just like he saved the Gentiles through faith in Jesus.  This does not mean that every natural descendant of Abraham will be saved.  . 


They will know God’s kindness because of Christ.


As a whole, Israel has experienced a hardness of heart concerning Jesus. They do not see him as the promised Messiah. They are relying on the Law and what they do for God to be right with Him instead of relying on His grace. It appears that for the most part they have missed out on the long awaited Messiah. However Paul explained earlier in this passage that there was currently a remnant of Jews saved by grace. Jews, who saw Jesus as the Messiah, and have put their trust solely in him.

Romans 11:5 NKJV Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Paul went on to explain that their rejection of Jesus blessed the entire world, because salvation was then opened up to the Gentiles where previously, they were excluded and outside the promises of God.

 

Romans 11:11‭, ‬15 NKJV I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has  come to the Gentiles. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be  but life from the dead?

 He encouraged his Jewish readers  by telling them that if their transgressions meant riches for the world, their final acceptance of Christ would bring about a greater blessing.

 Romans 11:12 NKJV Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

 Now we can understand that Israel is experiencing a temporary hardening to the truth of Christ until the full number and last ingathering of the Gentiles come in. Then, all Israel will be saved.

Does this mean the entire nation of Israel will be saved whether or not they believe in Jesus? No, it means that the temporary blindness that they are experiencing as a nation will be removed and we will see God moving mightily among them as they turn to him and put their trust in him.  He will reveal to them the truth of Christ and reconcile the reality of the scriptures to them. In verse 27 Paul quoted from the Old Testament scripture when he said, "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins".

Isaiah 59:20‭-‬21 NKJV “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the Lord . “As for Me,” says the Lord , “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the Lord , “from this time and forevermore.”

No longer will they need to adhere to the law, they will have the perfect law of Christ written on their hearts. 

Jeremiah 31:33‭-‬34 NKJV But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord . For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

 Hebrews 8:8‭-‬12 NKJV Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord , when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord . For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord : I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord ,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

 What is the law of Christ?

Mark 12:28‭-‬31 NKJV Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is:  ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 When Israel finally understands Jesus is the Christ, then we will see a great movement to return to the Lord and the result will bless the entire world by their faith.

Israel must come to Jesus the same way we do, by faith; by placing our entire hope in him to save us. They are loved on account of the patriarchs and they are chosen and called out from the world, but the truth is in Christ alone. 

For those who are looking to God in the right motive of the heart he will reveal himself to them and what he reveals is always Jesus.

"For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." ( Acts 4:12 ). Amen!

Back to Paul’s warning to the Gentiles.


Romans 11:28‭-‬29 NKJV Concerning the gospel they  are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they  are  beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are  irrevocable.


Verses 28-29 Because of unbelief, many Jews opposed the first Christians. Those Jews acted as if they were enemies. But God loved the Jews. God had chosen them to be his people. He would never forget the promise of blessing that he had made to their ancestors. 


Romans 11:30‭-‬32 NKJV For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.


Verses 30-31 In the past, the Gentiles did not obey God. Now, because the Jews had not obeyed him, the Gentiles received God’s mercy. As the result of God’s mercy to the Gentiles, the Jews themselves will receive God’s mercy.


Verse 32 Paul has shown that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. They all have sinned (Romans 3:9). They all can receive God’s salvation. 


Romans 11:33‭-‬36 NKJV Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord ? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.


Verse 33 Paul’s praises two things: God’s wisdom and his decisions. It is impossible for a person to understand God’s ways. The word ‘unsearchable’ shows that God’s wisdom is far greater than the wisest thoughts of any wise person. His judgements are better than the judgements of the wisest human judge. A human judge might know about a person’s actions. But only God understands that person perfectly. God knows the real reasons for an action. God can judge thoughts as well as actions.


Verse 34 Paul uses Isaiah 40:13. 


Isaiah 40:13 NKJV Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord , Or as His counselor has taught Him?


The two statements about God’s wisdom and his decisions. remind us that ‘God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts’ 


Isaiah 55:8 NKJV “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord .


Verses 35-36 In verse 35, Paul refers to God’s words in Job 41:11. 


Romans 11:35‭-‬36 NKJV “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.


Job 41:11 NKJV Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.


God cannot owe us anything. Whatever we might give to him has come from him. So Paul prays that people will always praise God. They should praise him because of who he is. And they should praise him because of what he has done.





Supernatural Living Romans 12:1-21


After 11 chapters of rich theological truth, Paul spends the balance of his letter to the Romans explaining how these doctrines should look in a believer’s daily life. This is a repeated theme in Paul’s writings, we’ve seen it in our studies of Galatians, and Ephesians Theology can never be divorced from life; it always has practical ramifications and implications.

         

We can look at the rest of this letter as what can be called “the normal Christian life”, and this normal Christian is really nothing short of supernatural! Paul will demonstrate that when a believer gives himself or herself fully to God and then, in the power of the Spirit, lives out in experience what's already true of him or her positionally and actually, the result is staggering, mind-boggling.


This kind of life is so different from the world that it’s like a bright neon sign.            

         

Christians who are living sacrifices in the service of God are godly, not worldly; transformed, not conformed; humble, not proud; helpful and generous, not stingy; unified with others, not divided from them; loving, not hypocritical and hateful; other-centered, not self-absorbed; enthusiastic, not blah; forgiving, not vengeful.


Let’s get into it.





True Worship

         

Romans 12:1‭-‬2 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. 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.


Verse 1 Paul now appeals to all the Christians in Rome, Jews and Gentiles because God has shown his great love to them all. So they should all be grateful. If they have the right attitude toward God, then they will have the right attitudes about themselves. This will consequently make a difference in their relationships with other people. 


Paul uses the idea of a priest who offers a sacrifice. The sacrifice had to be perfect.


Leviticus 1:3 NKJV ‘If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord .


Paul is saying Christians should, in fact he was begging them to offer their bodies as a sacrifice to God. He was not talking about physically dying because strictly prohibited human sacrifices. 


Leviticus 18:21 NKJV And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord .


Deuteronomy 12:31 NKJV You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.



No, he is explaining how Christians should live their lives in this world. They should try to use every part of their bodies in a manner that pleases God. They will use their feet. They will go where God wants them to go. They will use their hands to give practical help to other people. With their ears, they will listen to other people’s problems. With their mouths, they will speak to encourage other people and to tell them the good news about *Christ. The right use of the body will be like the perfect sacrifice that pleased God. Their worship would not just be a ceremony. This is the right kind of worship. It is spiritual. It is the worship that God asks for.


John 4:21‭-‬24 NKJV Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.  You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”


Verse 2 Christians must also change the way that they think. The word ‘change’ is the same word that describes the change in Jesus’ body. Jesus’ countenance changed when he showed his glory to the three apostles.  It was a complete change.


Mark 9:2 NKJV Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them.


"Transfigured" comes from the Greek root word metamorphoo. It means to change forms.  His body changes from a purely human form to one that more accurately displays His deity and glory.


What we think, or more accurately how we think, will affect what we do. Christians will think differently about the use of money. Christians will remember that money belongs to God. So they will try not to waste it or to use it selfishly. They will have a different opinion about sex. They will make careful choices about what they read. They will select carefully what they watch on television. The Holy Spirit will guide Christians as they try to please God. They will want to obey God, so that they can ‘reflect the Lord’s glory. 


Remember God’s purpose for us;


Romans 8:28‭-‬29 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to  be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.


II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.


Use The Gifts That God Gives


Romans 12:3‭-‬8 NKJV 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. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 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; or ministry, let  us  use  it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.


Verse 3 Paul uses the words, ‘I say to you.’ because God had shown his grace to Paul, so that he had become an apostle. So he speaks with authority. He tells Christians to think properly about their gifts, talents and skill. They must not be proud. They must not think that they are better than other people. 


The standard by which they must judge themselves is the standard of faith. That faith means to trust in Christ. He lived and died for them. When they think about Christ’s action they will be humble.


Verses 4-5 The Paul uses the analogy of the human body. All the different parts of a body are necessary. In the same way, all members of the Christian church should work together. Then the church can work properly. The people may have a variety of gifts and or talents. But each  is necessary for the purpose of God’s work in that church.


Verses 6-8 Christians should be humble because their skills come from God. Then Paul gives 7 examples of spiritual, supernatural, special, skills that Christians should use. He mentions them here and in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and in Ephesians chapter 4.  We had a study about these gifts.  Let’s talk briefly about the ones that Paul mentions here in Romans.


1. Prophecy. A Christian might receive a message from God. That Christian would give this message to the local church. But he must only give such a message if he has faith. In other words, he must trust God that the message comes from God. Christians must not give prophecies that do not come from God. So any prophecy must agree with the Bible’s message.


2. To minister or serve. The Greek word is ‘diakonia’. It can mean various activities. The apostles were ‘serving’ when they preached (Acts 6:4). And the same word describes the work of the 7 disciples who gave food to poor widows.


Acts 6:2‭-‬3 NKJV Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;


So a person should use whatever skills he has in order to serve other people.


3. To teach. After people become Christians, they need to learn about the meaning of their faith in their daily life. Someone must teach them.


4. To exhort or encourage. This has two meanings: a) to persuade with strong words. A preacher can do this. b) to comfort and give courage. Barnabas is an example of this meaning. He was well-known among the first Christians because of the way that he encouraged people.


 Acts 4:36‭-‬37 NKJVAnd Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.


5. To give. If we share our possessions, money or time with other people, we should do so in a generous way. We should enjoy ourselves as we give to other people.


6. To lead other people. Church leaders should carry out their responsibilities eagerly.


7. To show kindness, mercy. This can mean a) to forgive people who have offended us or b) to give help wherever anyone needs help like the good Samaritan. 


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