Serving according to Gods grace: ~~ as described in Romans 12 ~~ Scripture reading: Romans 12:1-8 (suggested memory verses: 2) by David Churchill [printable PDF] I. Some keys to hold in mind while unlocking Romans chapter 12 The NT Greek words translated to our English words grace (noun, cavri" charis, gift (noun, cavrisma charisma), give (verb, carivzomai charizomai), joy (noun, carav chara), and rejoice (verb, caivrw chairo) share the same root word and are closely interwined. How tightly intertwined? Grace gives gifts rejoicing to see the joy that results from rejoicing to receive the gifts. Loosely put grace is the voluntary desire to cause joy in others by means of gifts; giving gifts is the natural tool of grace; and joy is the natural response felt when accepting gifts given through grace. A gift cannot be earned (ex. Romans 3:21-24, 6:23), but is either accepted with appreciation or else rejected with disdain (ex. Philippians 2:1-2, 4:4-9; Luke 18:9-14; 2 Chronicles 32:24-26; Hebrews 10:29, 10:35). We cannot earn grace (ex. Ephesians 2:8-10) from God or another person and so the grace itself is a gift to be either accepted or else rejected (ex. 1 Peter 4:10-11; Ephesians 3:7, 4:7). Likewise, the joy we feel in receiving a gift is itself a gift that cannot earned (ex: John 15:9-11), but it can be enjoyed and shared (ex. 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Over 45 verses in the New Testament mention how Gods grace is given or revealed to us through Christ. For example, in Ephesians chapter four Paul discusses how God & Christ graciously set the example for His body (the church) to work together according to His word. He then says in chapter five, verse one, Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. Question: If we would imitate God, what tool(s) and expectation(s) does God provide us so we, too, may reveal Gods grace? In Romans chapters 1-11, Paul leads up to chapter 12 as he thoroughly explains (a) salvation, (b) several of its attributes, and (c) several things we should be thinking about as we consider all that God has done so He could offer us salvation. Therefore, chapter 12 from verse 1 through verse 21 has one main thought serving according to Gods grace. Verses 1 & 2, our why to serve acceptably because God has given us mercy. Verses 3-5 the godly mindset we each must use as we apply our own unique set of gifts in the seven areas of service described in verses 6-8 humility. Verses 9-20, a list of generalized examples and opportunities of heres how we apply these gifts so were not stumbling in the dark ignorant of what to do Verse 21, Gods why for our service, His same why for Christs service to overcome evil with good. (John 3:17, 12:44-50; 1 Co. 1:21; 1 Tim. 1:15) Chapters 13-15 look back to chapter 12 as Paul expands upon a wide variety of more-specific examples and opportunities where God uses our service to make an impact into the world. Beginning in chapter 15 through the end of the letter, Paul looks back to chapter 12 by holding up several examples of people whom he recognizes are already following these instructions in their faithful service to God. II. Some treasures gained from verses 1-2 Paul passionately beseeches (NKJV, KJV), urges (NASB, NIV, HSCB), appeals (ESV, RSV, GNT), begs (ERV, ICB), encourages (CEB), pleads (TLB) to us using the mercies of God as his and our motivation we choose to offer our lives in service to God; He does not take our service by force our life / service is to be holy & acceptable to God i.e. set apart for His use in a manner that pleases Himself; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13, NASB) (cf. Gal. 1:10; Eph. 5:10) He wants us to want to do this for Him living in service to God is reasonable our service proves the will of God; demonstrates what God wants works best III. Some treasures gained from verses 3-8 A. verse 3 Paul speaks through the grace given to him; which tells us he shows himself an example of the acceptable service hes urging from us he considers it both a gift for him that God is using him to encourage us and a gift for us that he is urging us to serve God he expects us to rejoice to receive this gift from God he expects us to speak through this grace given to us; i.e. to use these words from God to encourage and urge others to serve God we should be humble and think soberly with sound judgment towards our fellow Christians because God has given to each of us a measure of faith Romans 10:17 tells us, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NJKV) Since God uses His written word to give us this measure of faith, then He has given us a gracious opportunity to strengthen & enlarge the measure of faith we enjoy. Question: If ones measure of faith is connected to how one handles the Bible, how may we help increase that measure of faith? (2 Timothy 2:15,19) B. verses 4-5 as Christians, we are diverse in our functions and service, but united in our dependence upon God, His written word, and each other losing a fellow member to spiritual death (through lack of function on their part? through lack of humility on our part?) hurts the church (the body of Christ - Col. 1:18) like losing a finger, hand, eye, ear, leg, tongue, etc. hurts the physical body C. verses 6-8 The responsibility, privilege, and ability to serve God and His church are gifts according to Gods grace we can accept the offer to serve God, but cannot earn it. Gifts according to grace are intended to cause joy; therefore God believes that serving Him and practicing humility towards each other will bring us joy. Question: if we gain no joy from humbly serving God according to His grace, what might that indicate about our service or our humility or both? If the amounts and functions of our service are according to the grace given to each of us, if that grace increases as our faith increases, and if God permits each of us to increase our measure of faith, then what is our personal responsibility to serve when we see group responsibilities left unfulfilled? We each have some ability in each of the seven areas of function Paul describes for us here; but no single one of us can excel in all of them all at once all of the time not even parents & preachers can although they may try. God believes & promises that Hes enabled us to work together to accomplish His expectations if we each do our part, whatever that part might be. (Ephesians chapter 4, especially verse 16) prophesying same as preaching, proclaiming; using the word of God to point people towards God; Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. (2 Tim. 4:2, NKJV); Tell everyone Gods message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed. Tell people what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong, and encourage them. Do this with great patience and careful teaching. (2 Tim. 4:2, ERV) verses 9, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19 ministering / serving verses 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 teaching verses 9, 14, 16, 19 exhorting verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 giving w/ liberality (or simplicity) verses 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20 leading w/ diligence verses 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 cheerfully showing mercy verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 IV. Some treasures gained from verse 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (v.21, NKJV, NASB, ESV) a reminder and rewording of verse two, but focusing on a different perspective as to why God puts such a high priority upon our service and upon Christs service In the process of our service demonstrating what God wants really is good and whats best for people, God is using us to overcome evil in the world with His grace and goodness. when anyone lets evil overcome them, it displeases God He does not want that to happen (cf. Ezekiel chapters 18 & 33) Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. (Isaiah 59:14-15, NKJV) God desires for people to repent so that He may forgive them (cf. Ezek. 18 & 33; Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9). He expects to use us to witness and proclaim this truth. Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:45-47, NASB) List of bible translations and paraphrases referred to in this outline: KJV - King James Version NASB -- New American Standard Bible NKJV -- New King James Version NIV -- New International Version ESV -- English Standard Version RSV -- Revised Standard Version GNT -- Good News Translation ERV -- Easy-to-Read Version ICB -- International Childrens Bible CEB -- Common English Bible TLB -- The Living Bible HSCB -- Holman Standard Christian Bible [printable PDF] |