ROMANS CHAPTER 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OBSERVATION STAGE

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

*** EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 11 ***

ISRAEL'S DISOBEDIENCE GAVE OCCASION TO A GROUP CHOSEN BY GOD - COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS OF THE WORLD, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE - TO RECEIVE THE MERCY OF GOD AND BECOME FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE LORD, TO BE RECONCILED WITH HIM BY HIS GRACE IN A UNIQUE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP AS HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE TO REPRESENT HIM AND HIS GRACE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD

FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ISRAEL WILL OBTAIN GOD'S MERCY OF TEMPORAL DELIVERANCE / RECONCILIATION WITH THE LORD THROUGH THE MERCY SHOWN BY GOD TO THE GROUP OF GENTILE BELIEVERS

GOD HAS COMMITTED ALL GROUPS OF MANKIND, GENTILES AND JEWS ALIKE TO DISOBEDIENCE - THE NATURAL TENDENCY OF HUMANITY - THAT HE MIGHT HAVE MERCY ON ALL OF THOSE WHO BECOME BELIEVERS - TEMPORAL DELIVERANCE / RECONCILIATION AND ETERNAL SALVATION SOLELY THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD

*** END OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 11 ***

I) [Ro 12:1]:

A) IN VIEW OF GOD'S MERCY BESTOWED UPON THEM, PAUL AUTHORITATIVELY EXHORTS GENTILES WHO ARE FELLOW BELIEVERS, TO OFFER THEIR BODIES - THEIR THOUGHTS, WORDS & DEEDS - AS A LIVING / DAILY SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD AS THEIR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP

II) [Ro 12:2]:

A) IN VIEW OF THE MERCY GOD HAS SHOWN TO GENTILE BELIEVERS, PAUL CONTINUES TO EXPOUND UPON HIS AUTHORITATIVE EXHORTATION OF THEM TO OFFER THEIR BODIES AS A LIVING / DAILY SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD AS AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL WORSHIP OF THE LORD: THEY ARE NOT TO CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE UNGODLY PATTERN OF THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY RENEWING THEIR MINDS WITH THE WORD OF GOD UNTO HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL

III) [Ro 12:3]:

A) IN VIEW OF THE MERCY GOD HAS SHOWN TO GENTILE BELIEVERS, PAUL CONTINUES TO EXPOUND UPON HIS AUTHORITATIVE EXHORTATION OF THEM TO OFFER THEIR BODIES AS A LIVING / DAILY SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD AS AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL WORSHIP OF THE LORD: THEY ARE NOT TO CONFORM ANY LONGER TO THE UNGODLY PATTERN OF THIS WORLD BUT BE TRANSFORMED UNTO GOD'S WILL BY RENEWING THEIR MINDS WITH THE WORD OF GOD. HENCE THEY ARE NOT TO THINK OF THEMSELVES MORE HIGHLY THAN THEY OUGHT BUT THINK OF THEMSELVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEASURE OF FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN THEM

IV) [Ro 12:4-8]:

A) BELIEVERS ARE TO PRESENT THEIR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE TO GOD TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS HOLY, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL WITH GOD'S VIEW THAT THEY FORM ONE BODY IN CHRIST WHEREIN EACH MEMBER HAS DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN SERVICE TO THE LORD, BELONGING TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND TO EACH OF ITS MEMBERS

B) EACH BELIEVER HAS BEEN GIVEN DIFFERENT GIFTS ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF GOD TO DILIGENTLY EXERCISE IN PROPORTION TO THE MEASURE OF FAITH GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD, BE IT PROPHESYING, SERVING, TEACHING, ENCOURAGING, GIVING, LEADERSHIP, MERCY, ETC.

V) [Ro 12:9-21]:

A) A PARAMOUNT CHARACTERISTIC FOR BELIEVERS TO EXERCISE IS AGAPE / GODLY LOVE TOWARD OTHERS WHICH IS WITHOUT PRETENSE - A SELF-SACRIFICIAL REGARD FOR THE WELFARE OF ANOTHER WHOSE NATURE IS TO ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL AND CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD / GODLY

B) BELIEVERS ARE TO EXPRESS KIND, AFFECTIONATE, BROTHERLY LOVE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER. THEY ARE TO HONOR AND GIVE PREFERENCE TO OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES; AND BE COMMITTED TO THE WELFARE OF OTHERS AS AN EXPRESSION OF GODLY, SELF-SACRIFICIAL LOVE

C) A BELIEVER IS TO SERVE THE LORD, NOT SLOTHFULLY, I.E., NOT LACKING IN DILIGENCE. HE IS TO BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT, EMOTIONALLY COMMITTED IN HIS SERVICE TO THE LORD

HE IS TO:

REJOICE IN THE SURE HOPE OF RECEIVING THE ETERNAL GLORY OF GOD,

PERSEVERE THROUGH TEMPORAL DIFFICULTIES,

CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER,

PROVIDE FOR THE TEMPORAL NEEDS OF THE SAINTS,

BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE HIM AS OPPOSED TO CURSING THEM,

REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO MOURN,

BE OF ONE ACCORD WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS RE: GODLINESS

NOT BE HIGH MINDED WITH A SELF-AGRANDIZING ATTITUDE,

ASSOCIATE WITH THE HUMBLE NOT THE HIGH MINDED,

NOT BE WISE IN ONES OWN OPINION,

NOT BE GIVEN TO REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL,

BE OPEN AND GODLY BEFORE MEN TO DEMONSTRATE A HIGH REGARD FOR GODLINESS,

LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE

LET GOD AVENGE WRONG DOING,

GIVE FOOD AND DRINK TO HIS ENEMIES IN ORDER TO MOVE THEM TO REPENTANCE

NOT OVERCOME EVIL WITH EVIL BUT WITH GOOD

ROMANS CHAPTER 13