ROMANS 12 COMMENTARY




I. EXHORTATIONS TO FULL SERVICE TO GOD (1-8)

A. Paul urges them to present their bodies a living sacrifice to God and to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. (See also 1 Cor. 6:19,20; Rom. 6:13,19; 8:11.) (1,2)
We were once dead in our sins, but now we are made alive by the Holy Spirit to be used by God as lively instruments in His service. Without our body, no work can be accomplished for God. The word "reasonable" is also translated sincere or spiritual. We are not to copy the world's ways in our spiritual service. We must use the Bible as our only guide (1 Pet. 1:14,15). The transformation called for here is an ongoing process (2 Cor. 4:16), not an immediate miraculous sensation.

B. He encourages them to use to the fullest the ability God has given them. (3-8)

1. Cautioned not to be high-minded. What was the grace given to Paul? (Rom. 15:15,16; 1 Cor. 3:10; 15:10; Gal. 2:7-9; Eph. 3:7) His apostleship. Christians must think soberly and sensibly. The measure of faith could be each of our several abilities. It could also refer to a measuring instrument. If so, then faith is the instrument by which we measure our thinking.

2. The illustration of the body and its members. We are all members of the body of Christ. Each member has an important function, a needed function. This parallels our own body. Are there really any vestigial organs in the Lord's body? ( 1Cor. 12:12-27)

3. Some of the gifts God has given.

a. Prophecy - This is not a natural gift. A prophet spoke for God. Other activities in the early church called for spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-11, 28-30).

b. Ministry - or service.

c. Teaching - teaching what has been revealed, however a degree of inspiration might have been needed to remember the unwritten word.

d. Exhorting - could be rendered without inspiration.

e. Giving - liberally.

f. Leading - with diligence and attention to details.

g. Showing mercy - not halfheartedly, but in a compassionate, sincere way.


II. GENERAL EXHORTATIONS (9-21)

A. To sincere love; hate evil and hold to that which is good. (9)
Pretended love is hypocrisy. "...hate evil and love the good," Amos 5:15. (Heb. 1:9.)

B. Proper attitude toward our brothers. (10)
We must emulate Jesus by loving our fellow man. We must reject everything that would hurt our brother, he must come first.

C. Fervent is our service to the Lord. (11)
To secure our hope we must be industrious in our Christian service.

D. Rejoicing, patient and prayerful. (12)
Our hope sustains us through our trials, it allows us to be patient, which in turn makes us steadfast. When we realize our continuous need for the Lord's help, our prayer life improves. Prayers are neglected when we fell self-sufficient.

E. Caring for the needs of the saints. (13)
Hospitality includes receiving guests generously and kindly and extending this to strangers.

F. Blessing our enemies (2 Tim. 3:12). (14)
Following Christ is what brings these persecutions. The persecutor is at odds with Christ, therefore in need of our prayers and sympathy. "Do not curse," is not a reference to common profanity. It is an admonition not to call for calamity to befall a person.

G. Rejoicing and weeping with one another. (15)
When our brother has righteous cause to rejoice, we are obligated to rejoice with him, not envy his good fortune. We should have sincere sympathy for a brother in his sorrow.

H. Are to have the same mind; not to be conceited. (16)
This continues the thought of verse 15. It speaks to our disposition toward one another. We are to "be carried away with them that are lowly." We are to be guided and led in the thoughts, feelings, plans as humble objects.

I. Returning good for evil and giving place to God's wrath. (17-21)
Evil for evil usually makes matters worse and lowers the Christian to the level of the evildoer. We need to "pre-think" our course of action. If we do not even keep the rules of honor set down by men, we cannot be keeping God's rules of honor. It is impossible to be at peace with all men, all the time. We will not be at peace with the enemies of Christ. However, we are not to stir up trouble over things that are not of importance. As the Roman's were Paul's beloved, so should they be each others beloved. Taking vengeance is not God's way for man. He has reserved the punishment of evildoers for Himself (Deut. 32:35). God has used the civil authorities to exact His punishment through the ages and that method remains in place today. Paul will have more to say about this later. Instead of personal vengeance, give your enemy food and drink. If there is any goodness left in him this course of action will shame him greatly. Following this procedure allows us as Christians to overcome evil with good. Seeking your own vengeance, overcomes good with evil.

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