Romans – Chapter 12

Our Sacrifice – Our Response(s)

Romans – Chapter 12

Review

1. What was Chapter 1 about?

1. Gospel
2. Discusses how bad the Gentiles are (remember: “Greeks and barbarians”)?

2. What’s Chapter 2 about?
1. Judgment – God’s Judgment falls on all.
2. Jews aren’t much better than the Gentiles from Chapter 1
3. Chapter 3?
1. Justification
2. Faith through Salvation, not works
3. Works are THE FRUIT of Salvation through Faith (in Jesus Christ)
4. Chapter 4?
1. Faith
2. …Of their fathers (Abraham and David)
3. Shouldn’t be a new concept for them.
5. Chapter 5?
1. Result of Justification
2. We receive benefits.  Jesus is contrasted (mostly) with Adam
6. Chapter 6?
1. Life and Death – Believer’s Style
2. Alive in Christ, dead to sin.
7. Chapter 7?
1. Our Motivation – The Law motivates by Fear.  God-followers are motivated by Love.
8. Chapter 8?
1. Our Position with God in the Spirit.
9. Chapter 9?
1. This is God’s show.  He can, He does, He will…just because He wants to…just because He’s God.
2. Israel’s past
10. Chapter 10?
1. Salvation, how?
2. Israel’s present
11. Chapter 11?
1. God’s Grace – our ticket, Israel’s restoration
2. Israel’s future

Introduction

1. What’s your opinion of Romans (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
2. How did you all do this week reading Romans?
1. Helpful to highlight each verse/segment that deals with a specific group.  That’s how we’re going to dissect this chapter.  Our relationships to God, other believers, the world, and ourselves.
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
1. Intense, impacting.
2. If there’s a chapter I should memorize, this is a great candidate.
3. If this class or a family was to adopt a chapter as a life passage, mission statement, etc, this chapter would be a great candidate.
4. Chapter 12 begins the discussion of “living saved”, which is external rather than getting saved, which is internal.  The announcement of salvation should be followed by the ACTION or ACTIVITY of salvation.
4. Can you group any of these chapters together?
1. 1-5 deal with justification / conversion, ie “getting” saved
2. 6-8 deal with sanctification - “living” saved.
3. Chapters 1-3:20 deal primarily with God.
4. Chapters 3:21-7 deal primarily with Jesus Christ.
5. Chapter 8 - introduces the Holy Spirit
6. Chapter 9 – talks about God’s Authority and the history of Israel
7. Chapter 10 – talks about God’s Mercy and the present Israel
8. Any guesses what Chapter 11 will be about? (Israel’s future and God’s grace)
5. J. Vernon McGee says “Romans chapters 1-8 are doctrinal.  Romans chapters 9-11 are dispensational.  Romans chapters 12-16 are duty.  The first eight chapters of Romans emphasize faith.  Chapters 9-11 emphasize hope.  Chapters 12-16 emphasize love.  There is another way to view Romans: the first section deals with salvation; the second section with segregation; and the last section with service.” (Thru the Bible, vol. 4 pp 708).

Lesson

1. vv. 1-3 [READ – Rom 12:1-3]
1. v 1 – key verse.  I love this verse.

                                                               i.      Offer yourselves.  What more can we offer?  We have nothing more personal and intimate and guarded as our own selves.  If I were to offer myself to another person as this is describing, I’d have to have complete trust and confidence that they’d not harm, protect, comfort, etc me as I would (if not better).  It’s a tall order to commit yourself over to something.

2. v 2

                                                               i.      I picture/see the image of a hypocrite described by Paul here.  Hypocrite is from a Greek word meaning “actor”.  That’s kind of what Paul is describing.

                                                             ii.      What are we “proving”?  NIV says “test and approve”.  Do we “approve” the will of God?  What do these phrases mean?  How do we reconcile these translations, or do we?

1.       In my opinion, they agree.  When we follow the will of God, we can look back and see (or prove) His will for us.  Likewise, we’re testing the will of God for approval for us.  Not that we can disapprove of it, but God’s will for us can stand up to our tests and will meet our needs, even if we don’t see it.

3. V 3 –

                                                               i.      Know your place.  What’s the difference between “thinking highly” and “thinking wisely”? 

1.       A smart person knows a lot of stuff.  A wise person knows how little they know about stuff.

2.       Recognize our INabilities as much as our abilities.

                                                             ii.      “each a measure of faith”. - Do we each/all have different measures of faith?  The scripture does not say “each the same measure of faith.”

2. vv. 4-8 [READ – Rom 12:4-8]
1. V 4-8 – Pieces and Parts: 

                                                               i.      We’ve seen this imagery of pieces and parts from Paul a few times now:

1.       Members : 1 body (here in verse 4)

2.       Lump : dough (chapter 11)

3.       Branch : tree (chapter 11)

4.       Remnant : Israel (and maybe even entire Christians?)

                                                             ii.      Is this important?  Why does Paul continuously use this imagery?

1.       I think they all point to Israel / Christians.  The parts are always less than the whole, but there is always a part.  That part symbolizes the significance (and yet, separation) of the whole.

2.       The separation is the “holiness” of the part.  It is offered to God as an offering and act of worship.

2. We all have gifts (v 6), but not all the same gifts.  (Note, the list of gifts is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  It’s just a list.)
2. vv. 9-16 [READ – Rom 12:9-16]
1. This block contrasts with the rest of the book in that it’s a sort of rapid-fire list of “to-do’s”.  The are in the same groupings as the rest of the book (self, other brethren, world, God) but…

                                                               i.      I believe Paul considers these things simple.  He gives no arguments or supporting statements.  Only the principle.

                                                             ii.      They are all of equal importance among themselves

                                                            iii.      They are of less importance than the revenge topic coming up next.

2. V 12 – “rejoice in hope”.  No matter where you are, what’s going on, or how things look, you have hope.  You know what’s going to happen (ultimately) and who’s going to win in the end (God). Take comfort in that.  Rejoice.

                                                               i.      Kinda like my favorite verse: “It came to pass”.  It did not come to stay.  It came to pass.  This is true from everything from constipation to personal persecution.  It all came to pass.

3. V 13 – does hospitality take practice?  Paul thinks so.
4. V 14 – visual – Instead of your choice Baptist curse word (ie My-lanta!, etc), throw out blessings.  THAT will make people take notice.  “Yeah, he’s different alright!”
5. V 15 – This is different than the world’s perspective of “Laugh and the world laughs with you.  Weep and you weep alone.”  Some of my best friends are those I have cried with (ie, my wife).  This is especially true among men.
6. V 16 – “Wise in your own estimation”. 

                                                               i.      This is a good way to run new believers off.  Our format of study/our class is prone to this.  We have to be on guard for it.  Doctrine and theology doesn’t save folks.  Salvation is about a relationship with Christ.  Sanctification is about nurturing that relationship in part by building relationships with other believers.  Relationships are SO much more important than doctrine, theology or intellect.  I pray God always reminds me of such.

                                                             ii.      King Solomon had “wisdom on loan from God” (a la Rush Limbaugh – I don’t think so).  He still didn’t know it all.  Reciting doctrine is less important than being able to express your relationship to God.  This expression is your testimony.  If you don’t have one – get one! :)  It’s key!

4. vv. 17-21 [READ – Rom 12:17-21]
1. This passage says two basic things:

                                                               i.      Be at peace with all men, so far as it depends on you

1.       Do what YOU can do be at peace and get along with folks.  It’s a commandment.

2.       That’s different than a commandment to be friends with everyone.  You can’t control that.  You can only control you.  If you’ve done all you can and someone doesn’t like you or (worse) does bad things toward you, read part B of this section…

3.       You’re being watched.  (v 17b)  People are watching you to see if and how you handle things.  Do what is right Biblically first, and if it’s not contra-Biblical, do what is right in their eyes.

a.       That doesn’t mean “get’em back”.  They may understand that reaction, but it doesn’t mean that the world thinks it’s right.

                                                             ii.      Let God handle the rest.

1.       God will repay.

2.       God will see that your persecutor feels your good actions in response from his bad actions. 

                                                            iii.      Have you ever seen a worm on coals?  It squirms all over the place, but can’t make progress past what is driving them crazy.  This is what happens to people that you’re nice to after they’ve been rude, mean, etc.

1.       The world is amazed when we (Christians) respond to bad things in a positive way.  They don’t understand it.  Some think we’re allowing these bad folks to walk on us, sure, but others think it’s good and God gives them the ability to see the squirming worms and their coals.

Summary

1. What’s your key verse?
1. v 1
2. Do you agree that the revenge topic is more important than the block of principles listed in vv 9-16?  Why?  Why do you think Paul thinks so?
1. I do.  Paul devotes as much space to the revenge topic as he does the entire other principles collectively.  I think this is because Paul knows that revenge can eat a person up.  The thoughts and actions of revenge, if a person thinks it’s their responsibility, can consume and affect their entire being; their thoughts, their goals, their attitudes and mood, their actions.
3. What do you think now of this Chapter?
1. Short, but PACKED!
2. Chapter 12 is not a set of rules like the Law was.  They were detailed, meticulous, heavy, and judgmental.  Chapter 12 is “guiding principles”.  We’ll all live them out differently.  The details may differ, but we have the same (or at least similar) goals.

                                                               i.      I say that because Paul “begs” or “beseeches” us…rather than COMMANDS us.

3. I don’t live my life this way.  It happens different ways on different days.  Some days, I don’t worship God like I should.  Others, I’m not nice to others.
4. On the other hand, there are some things I don’t have trouble with.  I’m not a revengeful person.  I guess I used to be, but not once I (finally) submitted to God’s lordship.

Print | posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 12:28 PM |