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THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFEText: Romans 12:3-21 Introduction: Paul in our text gives some good sound advice on how to conduct our lives in several different areas. Body:
I. Each for all and all for each. Romans 12:3-8
A. “One of Paul’s favorite thoughts is to think of the
Christian church as a body (cp. 1 Corinthians
12:12-27). The members of the body neither argue
with each other or envy each other or dispute about
their relative importance. Each part of the body
carries out its own function, however, prominent or
however humbly unseen that function may be. It was
Paul’s conviction that the Christian Church should
be like that. Each member of the Christian church
has a task to do; and it is only each member
contributes the help of his or her own task that
the body of the Church functions as it ought to
function.” Barclay
B. We need to know ourselves (verse 3)
1. We do not get very far in this world without
knowing what we can and can’t do.
2. “An honest assessment of one’s own capabilities,
without conceit and without false modesty, is
one of the first essentials of a useful life.”
Barclay
C. We need to accept ourselves.
1. We are not to envy someone else’s abilities,
etc.
2. We need to accept ourselves for what we are and
need to use that gift that we have.
3. Even if a Christian’s contribution will be
unseen and unknown, without praise, and without
prominence, he must make that contribution,
certain that it is essential, and that without
it life and the church can never be what they
were meant to be.
D. Whatever gift we have, it came from God.
E. We must use our gift and the motive must not be for
our own personal glory, but the conviction that it
is at one and the same time his bounden duty and
his God-given privilege to make his own
contribution to the common good.
F. The particular gifts that Paul mentions:
1. Prophecy – they received their message directly
from God (one of the spiritual gifts giving by
the laying on of the apostle’s hands.)
2. Ministry (serving, NIV) – (Practical service) "It
is service rendered to benefit others the rendering
of which one has the capability of doing. If one can
offer such service, he should enter into it
voluntarily and enthusiastically to the full capacity
of his ability to do so as given to him by the grace
of God" (Hamilton)
3. Teaching
4. Exhorting (encouraging, NIV) - encouragement
5. Giving
6. Ruling (leads, NKJV; leadership) – Occupying a
leading place)
7. Mercy
II. The Christian life in everyday action (12:9-13).
A. Love must be completely sincere.
B. We must hate that which is evil and cling to that
which is good.
1. Not enough to hate the consequences of evil.
C. We must be affectionate to one another in brotherly
love.
1. 2 Peter 1:5-7; 1 John
2. We must love each other because we are members
of the same family.
D. We must give each other priority in honor.
1. An unwillingness to do this, has cause a lot of
trouble.
2. The mark of a true Christian is humbleness.
E. We are to be diligent, not lazy.
F. We must keep our spirit at the boiling point
(Revelation 3:15-16).
G. We must serve the Lord.
H. We are to rejoice in hope.
1. The Christian must be essentially an optimist.
2. “There are no hopeless situations in life; there
are only men who have grown hopeless about
them.”
I. We are to meet tribulation with triumphant
fortitude.
J. We are to continue in prayer.
K. We are to share with saints who are in need.
L. We are to be given to hospitality.
III. The Christian and society in general (12:14-21).
A. We are to bless them that persecute us.
1. Read example from McGuggin p. 362.
2. Example of Jesus and Stephen
B. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice.
C. We are to live in harmony with one another.
D. We are to avoid all pride and all snobbishness.
1. Self-promotion is contrary to the spirit of God.
2. Don’t be afraid of being told to take the higher
seat but don’t despise a job thinking it is too
menial.
E. We are to make our conduct fair for all to see.
F. We are to live at peace with all men, but Paul adds
two qualifications.
1. “If it is possible.” If peace does not come
about, let it be because the other won’t permit
it.
2. “As far as you can.”
3. “Blessed are the peace-makers.”
G. We are to keep ourselves from all thoughts of
taking revenge. Three reasons:
1. Vengeance does not belong to us; it belongs to
God.
2. To treat a man with kindness rather than
vengeance is the way to move his heart.
a. vengeance may break his spirit; but kindness
will break his heart. (There will be
exceptions)
3. To stoop to vengeance is to be ourselves
conquered by evil. Two choices.
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