Romans 12: 9 - 21

 Romans 12: 9 - 21

In verses 1 through 8, Paul guides us toward maturity in our internal life. It is reasonable that we would begin on the inside. Maturity, faith, and spirituality all begin with a heart change. We need not master or perfect our inner self before we begin working on our external relational life. We will never achieve perfection in this life, either internally or externally. But the inner life is the springboard for our relational life. In the balance of this chapter, Paul directs our relational life into two points. In verses 9-13, he talks about relationships within the church, and in verses 14-21, he addresses life in the relationships to the world at large. Certainly there would be some crossover and multiple applications, but the life here described would be highly attractive to the watching world.

In verses 9-13, we see sort of a chain of 10 characteristics we ought to pursue, especially in the context of our life within the church community. As we look at these 10 characteristics or behaviors, we see that while unique, they also are linked and lead into each other. For example, when love is without hypocrisy, we will naturally hate evil passionately and hold tightly to what is good. We are not seeing independent truths unrelated to each other but rather as we mature in one, we will tend to mature in another. Also notice that these traits can't exist or operate in isolation or independently from the other people. Too many believers have no contact with other Christians and therefore no opportunity to practice and develop these characteristics. One hour a week in a worship service is not nearly enough connection to grow or develop in these areas.

In verses 14 through 21, we see seven traits that generally deal with life as it relates to non-Christians. But it can have applications with fellow believers. By and large, these characteristics and traits teach us how to deal with problem or difficult people. Ideally, we would only find these outside of the faith, but not always. This behavioral description is profound in many ways but especially in its stark realism. This is no silly pie-in-the-sky, cutie pie, and rainbow's denial of the ugly reality that we face. This is the advice of someone who has suffered greatly but found grace for the living.

The life described in Romans 12 is both idealistic and reasonable. A life so lived would bring inner peace and would be very attractive to unbelievers. Rather than trying to attract crowds with shows, we ought to live a life of holy beauty. That will lift Christ up and He will draw all men to Himself.

“Lord, help me to live a life that will draw all people to Christ. AMEN”

Romans 12:2

 Romans 12:2

What is the will of God? That is a big question for every Christian who takes their faith seriously. We are not our own; we belong to God, and pleasing Him is the reason for our lives. When we face big questions that can shape the rest of our lives we wrestle with getting it right. Romans 12:2b says, “That you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”.

Paul starts out by saying, “Do not be conformed to this world.”. That word conformed is used to describe how our clay would be shaped when it was pressed by a signet ring or seal. The clay responding to outside pressure takes the shape and appearance of the force working on it. Paul continues that we should be transformed. That word is used to describe that change that appeared when Jesus was transfigured on the mount. The real character that was cloaked and was there all along came out. This avoiding of being conformed to the world while our holy spiritual nature is manifested occurs by the renewing of our mind.

The renewing of the mind is not a wild mystical experience but rather something that happens as we pay attention to the details of our moral life. Change, either positive or negative, doesn’t happen in gigantic leaps but rather in many tiny compromises. By paying attention to the little things and choosing the right little things, we find that, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, our minds are renewed. This is simply spiritual maturity working itself out over many decisions. The truth is expressed in the the redundant-sounding saying: “The more we think like Christ, the more we think like Christ.”.

The longer we do this, the more habit-forming it becomes. When we make 100s of little choices to do what is right and holy and pure, those choices just become more apt to be made. The believer who has staunchly been honest with pennies and nickels will not rob a bank or defraud a widow. A Christian who never tells little lies will not spin a web of deception. The habit of holiness doesn’t happen automatically and is a lifelong pursuit and work, but when a decision has to be made, the default setting is to do the right thing.

So how do I know the will of God about big life shaping choices or any other decision for that matter? It is not like going to an oracle and asking a question. It is the conviction that comes from a life of living in cooperation with the Holy Spirit in doing right. When the time comes, you just know, because you have done it all along. 

“Lord, help me to be trained in Your will in every detail, so that in the big choices I will know Your mind.” AMEN

Romans 12:1-8

 Romans 12:1-8

After Paul’s lofty and somewhat difficult teaching about election, hardening of hearts and Israel, he moves toward highly practical applications. He ends chapter 11 with the greatness of God and salvation by grace. So how do we respond to these two grand themes? We live lives of holiness. Chapter 12 is an insightful chapter about holy living. Because of who God is and what He has done, holy living is our response. God’s person and action provide the only lasting and adequate motivation for holy living. Any encouragement for holy living is prized, but only God Himself is sufficient motivation for holiness.

We have had our own death, burial, and resurrection, and the life we now live is that of a holy sacrifice. The last phrase of verse one is literally translated “which is your logical service.” It is only logical or reasonable that we should live holy lives; any immorality is an illogical or self-contradicting state for a believer. The word ‘service’ in this verse is the origin of our word liturgy, which means form of worship. What is the correct form of worship for Christians? Is it contemporary worship, traditional worship, high church worship, or liturgical worship? Paul answers that the right way to worship is holy living.

Paul goes on to give us a practical application for this practical wisdom. He warns that we must not be driven by the trends of the day. In verse two, the word “conform” is a complex word in Greek. It comes from the word meaning “assuming the outward form” by following the same pattern. As Christians, we must be vigilant that we do not do what the world around us does just because the world is doing it. Many Christians, church leaders, and churches have been wrecked because they have unthinkingly started down the path of “everyone is doing it.” Instead, Paul says we need to be transformed. This is the Greek word from which we get the English word “metamorphosis.” It means, “Become what is your true inner nature.”. More completely, it means “change after being with.” Because we have had our own death, burial, and resurrection, and we have been with Christ, we have in us a new inner and true nature. We are to live up to that nature.

So how do we do that? In the following verses, Paul gives two general courses of action. First is pursuing humility. Pride is the vilest of all sins, because all other sins grow out of pride. Thinking correctly or humbly about ourselves isn’t constantly belittling ourselves, but thinking as God would think about us and our behaviors. The second way we live up to our new nature is to serve as God enables us. When we serve as we are empowered by God, there is no room for pride in that service, but the joy of honoring our Father in Heaven.

“Lord, help me to live a humble, holy and serving life. AMEN”