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Chapter 12 begins the application section of Paul's letter with the word "therefore." "Therefore" signals a reconsideration of all that Romans has stated thus far. We remember that God has always revealed Himself to man. (Romans 1:19-20) Secondly, because of man's sinful nature, he is rebellious and unable to help himself. (Romans 3:10-12) Yet, God offers redemption and righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:22-25) Because of our union with Christ and new relationship with the Father, we have peace with God and victory over sin by the indwelling Holy Spirit. (Romans 5-8) Romans 9-11 explains God's plan of salvation in relation to the Jewish and Gentile nations and His irrevocable call to the Jews. Up to chapter 12, Paul has explained and illustrated God's mercy shown to sinful man. Romans 12:1 presents a natural and proper response to God's mercy. We are to offer ourselves fully and continuously to Him. Paul says this offering is an act of worship. We worship God when we surrender our entire beings to Him. When we bow our will to His, love what He loves, and fill our minds with His thoughts, we are worshiping God. As God sets us apart for His purposes, we become holy and pleasing to Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body." God's love for us causes us to respond by loving Him and sharing our love with others. To live for Christ will impact every value and relationship you have. A new perspective will emerge in which the good in life will no longer be self-fulfillment, but rather, honoring God. Sometimes we hold back from God because we have been conformed to the pattern of this world. In what ways do you hold on to worldliness? Is it materialism? Self or sexual gratification? Power over others? Acceptance by others? How do we as Christians break that cycle of worldliness? By being transformed in the renewal of your mind! Take hold of the fact that when you were united with Christ you were changed! The Holy Spirit is living inside of you! In John 15:15 Jesus tells His disciples, "everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." Your mind is to be actively engaged in learning God's Word. The Holy Spirit speaks as you read the Bible, study it, and apply it in your life. He will change your attitudes and thoughts, as you cooperate and receive His truth. One of the Holy Spirit's jobs is to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has spoken to us. (John 14:26) As our minds are being renewed, then we will be able to test and approve God's will. Romans 12:2 tells us we must be transformed as it takes a new way of thinking to put God's way first. It is the resurrective power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds that enables us to know God's will. God's good, pleasing and perfect ways will always be in agreement with His Word. Discerning God's will includes a yielding and accepting heart, an honest seeking of His desires, confirmation by other Christians, and peace by His Spirit. In verse 3, God calls us to think of ourselves with sober judgment in accordance with the measure of faith He has given each of us. Sober judgment involves having God's perspective of ourselves. God has given us faith to become His children through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3-8 describes God's loving, omniscient purpose and provision for His children. 1 Corinthians 3:16 reveals that God made us in His image to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. "We are His workmanship created to do the good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10 ) Pride, false humility and fear are three sins of improper judgment. Those sins shift the starting point from God to self and will bring inevitable failure. Daily prayer, Bible study and repeating the gospel to yourself will help you remember the grace and victory God has given you. It will also help you maintain sober judgment of who you are, a sinner saved by grace! The true church is made up of those who have acknowledged Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Each believer has come to faith by the power of the same Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also performing a work of sanctification in each of us so that we are all working for Christ and are beginning to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23) Each of us is a member of the body of Christ belonging to all the other members. Part of our shared doctrine as Christians is our common goal of glorifying God and the hope we have in the future. We look forward to the return of Jesus Christ and to our eternal state in the new heaven and new earth. Our time here upon Earth has
reason and purpose. We are to do the good works which God prepared for
us to do. Ultimately our lives are not about what we do, but that we
belong to God, and trust in His ability not ours. Christian work can
only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit in unity with other Christians.
God, in His grace, has not left us alone. He has given us the
Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who "will convict the world of guilt in
regard to sin and righteousness." (John 16:8) Believers in Christ have
also been given special gifts from God to be used in and for the body
of Christ. Listed in Romans are the gifts of prophesying, serving,
teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership and mercy. Prophesying is the
ability given by the Holy Spirit to communicate the mind of God to
people, particularly for the purpose of giving doctrine, reminding
people of duty, or giving a warning. The prophet's words must agree
with the Bible. The gift of service points us to the example of Jesus
Christ who took the towel and washed the feet of His disciples. (John
13) It is in the gift of service that we show God's love in action. The
Christian who has been given the gift of teaching should teach. If you
know how the gospel of Jesus Christ has changed your life, you should
be sharing your life with others. Like the blind man in John 9 said,
"One thing I do know. I was blind and now I see!" To encourage means to
motivate people to do good deeds and help them in places where they are
having difficulty. Contributing to the needs of others is a gift from
God. In giving you will desire to do so generously because you are
fulfilling God's plan for another person in need. Leadership is to take
responsibility to guide and shepherd others in the path of truth and
righteousness. Finally, there is the gift of mercy, being ready to give
compassion and practical help to others, because of the mercy Christ
has given you. These gifts were given to unite us in the common purpose
of giving glory to God!
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