Bible Study Notes - Living the Gospel - Romans 12:1-21

Bible Study Notes 

Living the Gospel – Romans 12:1-21

Introduction

Jesus teaches the two highest laws require that we (1) love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and (2) our neighbors as ourselves.  Those laws crystallize the teachings of the books of the law and the prophets.  They also summarize the gospel.  But, they can easily remain lofty ideals in the life of believers.

The gospel commands us to demonstrate the love of Christ to all persons, particularly fellow Christians.  Jesus says the world will know that we are His followers by the love that we show each other.  Visitors to our churches and newcomers to the faith should marvel at the genuinely shared love which they observe amongst believers.  Moreover, not only should they feel this love but also they ought to be amazed at our willingness to share it with others.

How do we love each other as instructed by our Lord?  We merely follow His example.  Yet, this seems so idyllic to the average believer that it remains a lofty goal.  In today’s lesson, the Apostle Paul rescues us from the doldrums of thinking this purpose as impractical and unattainable.  Through his teachings to the Romans, Paul details very practical and helpful changes that we make in order to express the love of Christ.

First, Paul insists we begin with a wholesale change of our minds.  We abandon the world’s outlook on relationships, as we strengthen our knowledge and commitment to the Lord’s teachings and example.  As recipients of grace and mercy, we offer ourselves to God as living sacrifices, willing vessels set apart to share His love and fulfill His mission.  In resisting the “pattern of this world,” we are poised for mental renewal.  Our new perspective empowers us to discern, verify and accomplish “God’s will - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Second, this mental transformation equips us to practically establish the love of Christ between believers.  Otherwise, the self-seeking of the secular world will permeate the body of Christ.  Each day, we renew our commitment to the teachings of Christ.  We learn new and practical ways to show our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ and humankind.  From “blessing those who persecute you” to “overcome evil with good,” we practiced the principles Paul teaches.

Lesson Setting

The Romans prided themselves giving the gift of law to the world.  Whereas Africa delights of the anthropologist and the philosopher resides in Greece, Rome enchanted the legally minded.  Generally, we think of the Romans when we ponder law and order.  More than military might, law and order held that vast empire together.  That stability allowed the Pax Romana, the two hundred-year periods in which Rome enjoyed peace and rest from warfare.  During that time, neither internal rebellion nor civil disturbance did occur because of the legal code.

There were stringent requirements for handling the legal affairs of Roman citizens.  Paul appeals to these rights upon his arrest in Acts 22:22-29. In fact, Roman civility laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights of Anglo-American law.  Beyond the letter, the principles of individual rights and good citizenship maintained an orderly society and established justice.

Paul exhorts the church in Rome to exceed the laws and practices of the larger society.  Living the dictates of the gospel surpasses the letter of the law.  The requirements of the love of God in Christ demand more from us than the state’s legal code.  Believers are charged with the responsibility of demonstrating adherence to these higher laws.  Instead of merely reciting and memorizing the gospel, we must live it.

The gospel is the story of God’s love for humankind through the sacrifice of his Son.  Acceptance of this love necessitates sharing it with others.  If people truly extended themselves to others as Christ gave Himself for us, then many of the laws governing relationships would not be needed.  Crime and civil lawsuits would decrease significantly.  Additionally, poverty, homelessness, epidemics, hunger, and illiteracy would be resolved in record time.  This vision of a new world order begins in the church as Christians live the gospel.

Exposition

I. A Total Change (Romans 12:1-3)

Metamorphosis is the Greek word used to describe the change that Paul recommends to the Romans.  It equals the transformation that a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly.  Similarly, the Roman Christians should resist the licentiousness of their day.  They could successfully achieve this objective by a complete renewal of their minds.  As they reoriented their thinking, then they would redirect their purposes in life.  Rather than living to satisfy their passions and desires, they would live to please God.  Living to the glory of God was nothing less than a conversion of one’s being.

Paul cites God’s mercy as the basis of his appeal.  Full appreciation for the pardoning of our sins should urge us to lead a life of gratitude.  “In view of God’s mercy” toward us, we embrace self-denial.  We offer our bodies as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.”  In lieu of paying the atonement money (Exodus 30:11-16), the sin offering (Leviticus 4), the guilt offering (Leviticus 7:1-11) or other required sacrifices, we give the ultimate service.  We worship God with words and deeds that are acceptable in His sight.

A life of holiness, to be clearly set apart for divine service, can only be sustained through a renewal of the mind.  Naturally, we are not programmed to live a holy life.  We instinctually and socially pursue personal happiness and satisfaction.  Accomplishing a divine plan and serving others generally do not rank as priorities.  The pattern of this world tells us that we can make ourselves in anyone we choose to be.  As rugged individuals, we determine our destinies and leave others to pursue their goals.  Thus, a change in the course of our lives requires a redirection of our purposes.  We first make a fundamental shift in our behavior to move toward holiness.  We can only continue this way of life as we make equal transitions in our thinking.

In order to separate from the world’s pattern, a thorough self-evaluation is necessary.  Paul asks the Roman Christians to honestly examine themselves, utilizing the faith God had given them.  Pride is a residual of the world’s philosophy.  By discarding self-importance, believers separate themselves from the world’s perspective.  They use “sober judgment” to see their worth in the eyes of God.  This in turn allows them to progress toward a relationship with God grounded in the holiness of His character.  As that bond grows, believers desire to know the will of God, accept the will of God and live within the will of God.  Since God’s will runs directly opposite to the world, then the believer’s purpose in life is completely different.  The French have a phrase, raison de `tre, which means reason for being.  Paul admonishes the Romans that their reason for being was living out the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.  As they rigorously appraised themselves, they would conclude that living for God surpasses anything the patterns of this world offer.

II. Love in Action (Romans 12:9-13)

Putting love into action is the essence of the gospel.  God loved the world so much that He gave His Son.  Earlier in the letter, Paul reminds the Romans that God demonstrates His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Therefore, the clearest indication that we comprehend the depth of God’s love for us is to put it into action.  As living sacrifices, we live a life of appreciation.  We live so that we can justly relate to a holy and loving God.  The words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts should be pleasing in His sight.  We live to honor and glorify Him.  Moreover, His love is not reserved for a select few.  He loves us equally.  As a consequence, we also demonstrate our love for Him by sharing it with others in words and deeds.  Love is most clearly known by our actions rather than out words.

Paul gives the Roman Christians a list of ways to live their faith in relationship to God and their fellow believers.  In fact, this love extended to everyone, even those persons who persecuted the church.  In this passage (Romans 12:9-13), he begins with a list of directions for the treatment of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  “Love must be sincere.”  Caring for God’s people cannot be done with ulterior motives.  Otherwise, it will nor be done with the faithfulness that He requires.  Also, it will not touch people in the way God intends.  Recipients of the genuine love of Christ are converted by that love. In return, they share it with others so that they may be changed.  However, none of this transformation will occur if people since they are a charity project or a community service assignment.  Even the criminal courts sentence people to hours of community service.  Nonetheless, God’s love arises from a changed heart.  In addition, the love of the gospel despises evil and seeks justice.  Love is not an effeminate and weak position.  It insists upon an arrangement in which all persons can become whole persons before God.  Accordingly, the sincerity of our love for each other requires an unwavering devotion.  It parallels that found in the love shared between siblings in a close nuclear family.  When we implement that model and practice in the church, we esteem others above ourselves.  In essence, brotherly and sisterly love involves putting the needs of others above our selfish desires.

Stoking the fires of enthusiasm helps us maintain our devotion to the service of the Lord and each other.  Paul encourages the Romans to maintain a high energy level.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  As we progress in the Christian life and face its concomitant challenges, it is very easy to become dull and experience a loss of excitement.  This decrease in eagerness will translate into a loss of commitment to the ministry of our Lord.  Whereas we always met the needs of others, we will begin to do occasionally.  Faithfulness, duty and reliability will no longer be our stronger attributes.  Instead, Paul says “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Joy, patience and faithfulness are the spiritual disciplines most central to service.  Despite our circumstances, “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”  Our immeasurable gratitude for God’s love in Christ fuels our efforts to share it with others.  Converting others with the love of Christ requires patience in the face of rejection.  Prayer is the ultimate source of power to love and minister.  Attempting these deeds without prayer is virtually meaningless.  Prayer, time in the presence of God, empowers us with spiritual zeal so that we can effectively serve the church and the world.

Service to God equals meeting the needs of others.  We are His chosen instruments of love, healing, grace, and mercy.  Those attributes translate into day-to-day needs of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, employment, and education.  We live the gospel by sharing our resources of time, money, talent, and connections, with others who need them.  Paul instructs them, “practice hospitality.”  Living the gospel is not a theory.  It is action which must be done consistently.  Just as athletes practice each day to refine and strengthen their skills, believers should live the gospel through practicing deeds of kindness and love.

III.  God’s love for all (Romans 12:14-21)

Christianity was considered an illegal religion in the Roman Empire at the time that Paul writes.  Hence, Christians were severely persecuted by the emperors and authorities because believers pledged a higher allegiance to Christ than they did the government.  Nero and Caligula were the worst persecutors of Christians.  Yet, Paul urges the church to show the love of God to all people even those who mistreat believers.  In this final section, Romans 12:12-21, Paul offers rules for Christian living which would make society a just place if everyone followed them.  Though deemed illicit, Christianity possessed the power to create a more peaceful society than the laws of the empire.

There are several major principles articulated in these verses.  Forgiveness of those who harm us is necessary for us to lead fruitful lives.  Empathy means rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.  Harmonious living starts with a personal intention to dwell peacefully with all people.  Willingness to associate with average people should forever remain a distinction of the church.  Our churches cannot become social clubs that mimics the class divisions of the dominant society.  From its inception, Christianity has always welcomed people from all strands of life.  The future of the church depends upon our willingness to affirm the worth of all persons regardless of their education, job, genealogy, neighborhood, etc.  Furthermore, God best handles revenge.  “The Lord will repay.”  If believers seek the destruction of others, then it is difficult to share God’s love with them.  If our tactics parallel the dominant society, then what separates us?  More significantly, Christians must maintain integrity in all our affairs.  As we “do right in the eyes of everybody,” we glorify God and open doors for the gospel message.  Rather than vengeance, our approach is to feed our hungry enemy and give him water when he is thirsty.  Thereby, we transform him with the love of the gospel.

The Main Thought Explained

Whereas we may come to Christ through a dramatic incident similar to Paul’s conversion on the Damascus road, we fundamentally sustain  this experience through the transformation of our minds.  The exuberance will not last forever.  It is likely to evaporate when the first test of faith comes.  However, if we have strengthen ourselves with a new way of thinking, then we will be able to face all challenges.  Furthermore, we continually separate ourselves from the world’s philosophy as we are reoriented toward God’s will.