1. How do these two verses differ from practically everything that has gone

before?

2. How is whole hearted commitment to God implied here?

3. What needs to happen to our thinking?

C. Comment :

Paul's letters mostly have two parts: first the doctrinal appreciation of who we are and what God has done for us, then the practical application for daily living. Today's two verses are the turning point moving from the doctrinal part to the practical part.

Having seen the wonder of God's mercy and all that follows, he says give God your very beings for His use, His pleasure. That means saying "Lord, here is my body available to you today" and that, says Paul, is what real worship is, giving your complete self to Him.

But, he goes on, if you are going to give yourselves completely to God and to His purposes, your thinking will have to be transformed, so don't follow the world's ideas, attitudes, or practices.

"World" in Scripture can mean a) the earth itself, which is good, or b) all the people on it, who God loves, or c) the attitudes of godless humanity which comes from sin in man. It is this latter meaning that is used here. Refuse godless, humanistic, self-centred thinking but instead let God teach you, bring you understanding and wisdom so that you may know and walk in His will daily.

D. Application?

Presenting my body means my hands (what do I use them for?), my feet (where do I let them take me?), my eyes (what do I let them see?), my mouth (what do I let it say?). [etc. etc.]

Chapter: Rom 12

Passage: Rom 12:3-8

A. Find Out:

1. How are we to consider ourselves? v.3b

2. What are we to use in our thinking? v.3c

3. What about the nature of the body does Paul mention? v.4

4. So how are we to see ourselves? v.5

5. What determines our gifting? v.6a

6. What are the seven gifts mentioned? v.6b-8

B. Think :

1. How are we to first go about assessing ourselves?

2. What are we to realise about ourselves in respect of the rest of the

body?

3. What are we to realise about our own personal gifts?

C. Comment :

Having just spoken about having our minds conformed to God and not to the world, Paul now warns us not to think wrongly about OURSELVES. Don't over-estimate yourself but instead look at yourself with the eyes of faith and assess yourself on the basis of what God has made you and done in you.

Also see yourself not as an individual but as a member of the body of Christ, the church (see also Ephesians 1:22,23) In that we are to recognise that our gifting is limited but it is complemented by the gifts of others in the body who are different from us. The emphasis is that we are what we are because God has so gifted us. We don't have to strive to be like others but just rest in what God has made us to be.

Then Paul highlights just some gifts that God gives us and encourages us to use them to the extent of our faith. Each of the things should really spring out of faith and be done as a natural expression of our relationship with Jesus. Having said that, we have the ability to DECIDE how much we will prophesy, serve, teach, encourage, give, lead, help etc. etc. All these are particular expressions of Jesus in us but we can decide how much to express them.

D. Application?

1. Assess yourself coolly but with faith!

2. USE what God has given you!

Chapter: Rom 12

Passage: Rom 12:9-21

A. Find Out:

1. In verses 9-13 list at least 10 instructions.

2. List at least 5 instructions in verses 14 to 16.

3. List at least 6 instructions in verses 17 to 21.

B. Think :

1. What things are divine relationship things?

2. What things are church relationship things?

3. What things speak of difficulties with the world?

4. What things are positive instructions (i.e. "do") and what are negative

instructions (i.e. "do not")?

C. Comment :

Distilled practicalities! Rather like those found in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22, Paul shoots off a round of short, practical instructions.

Weaving through these are reminders of our relationship with the Lord, e.g. letting all be "serving the Lord" (v.11), leaving all opposition to the Lord to sort out (v.19), i.e. everything we are and do flows out of that relationship we have with Him.

Then comes relationships with others, which starts first with our attitudes towards them: love, honour others, be hospitable to them, feel for them, don't be proud but honour all, whatever social standing.

Weaving its ways through this passage is also the reminder that not all will be friends with you. There will be those who will persecute you, those who wrong you. These people we are to respond to with Christ's love, otherwise we'll become like them. No, instead we are to bless them, do good to them and leave them for God to deal with.

At the beginning of this passage and at the end is the strong command about good and evil. Hate evil and hang on to good and overcome evil by good. Christians often flee evil (and rightly so) but Paul is more positive than we might be: overcome it! How? Do good!

D. Application?

1. Everything to be as unto the Lord!

2. Love and bless others, whether they be friend or foe!

3. To beat evil, do good!

Chapter: Rom 13

Passage: Rom 13:1-7

A. Find Out:

1. From where do authorities come? v.1

2. What is rebellion against authority? v.2

3. How do we avoid fear of authority? v.3

4. What is the function of authority? v.4

5. What 2 reasons are there for obeying? v.5

6. Why do we pay taxes? v.6

B. Think :

1. Why do we need laws in society?

2. What is happening to our laws today?

3. What should be our attitude today towards the Law and why?

C. Comment :

Law is needed to protect the weak, order society and restrain evil doers. All societies in history have established laws. Why? Because God has put it in the hearts of men to restrain sin for the good of society. So, says Paul, obey authority, because it is God who instigates authority. In western society today we are seeing various trends: increased law making because of increased lawlessness, enforced caring for the poor, needy or minorities because we are not caring, and often a removing of restraints, e.g. abortion law removes protection for unborn, Sunday Trading law removes protection for workers wanting family life, Euthanasia law will remove protection from the elderly.

Increasingly there is an anti-law feeling and anti- government feeling in much western society with a resulting spirit of lawlessness pervading it. No belief in God means no arbiter for what is right or wrong, therefore every man does what is right in his own sight. We as Christians therefore need to take very much to heart Paul's words in the first half of this chapter, whether we like the particular authority or not, that is where it IS "authority" bringing restraint to evil.

D. Application?

1. We are to be law abiding citizens as long as the law does not demand a

breaking of God's laws.

2. The people in places of authority may be sinners but authority is still

God's authority.

Chapter: Rom 13

Passage: Rom 13:8-14

A. Find Out:

1. How is the law fulfilled? v.8

2. How are the commandments summed up? v.9

3. What does Paul exhort them to do? v.11

4. What are we to put on? v.12

5. How are we to behave? v.13

6. How are we to clothe ourselves? v.14

B. Think :

1. How does this passage link the thoughts from the previous two

passages?

2. What do you think night and day refer to here?

3. How are light and darkness contrasted?

C. Comment :

In Chapter 12, verse 9 Paul spoke about love and went on to talk about blessing your enemies. He then foresaw in the minds of his readers the thought, "The State is my enemy" and so went on to specifically deal with the question of authority and law.

From there his mind naturally flows on to love and the law of God. You see, he says, if you love you will automatically be doing all the other things that the commandments require. We don't put aside the ten commandments, we actually fulfil them when we love God and love one another. So, he says, don't have any ongoing debts but the debt of love. See yourself as constantly owing love to others!

Not only that, be alert to the fact that one of these days you will be seeing the Son of Glory (whether when He returns or when you die, whichever is earlier) and when He comes it will be like day following night. So in preparation for that, in a sense, put on light, put on Christ NOW and that will act as protection against the deeds of darkness (12:21 overcome evil with good!) which are to have no part in the Christian's life. Let the light of Christ fill and surround your life and then there will be no room for evil in you!

D. Application?

1. As I love God and man, so I will fulfil the ten commandments.

2. As I "put on" Christ, so I will be giving no room for evil in my life.

Chapter: Rom 14

Passage: Rom 14:1-12

A. Find Out:

1. Who are we to accept? v.1

2. How may he show this in eating? v.2

3. How are you to think of him? v.4

4. What other way do people differ? v.5

5. How are we to do what we do? v.6-8

6. What must we remember? v.12

B. Think :

1. What wrong tendency does Paul deal with here?

2. How are we to view other people, as a means to overcoming that

tendency?

3. What also are we to remember in doing this?

C. Comment :

Continuing his theme of loving one another, Paul now picks up the particular failing of judging others who don't quite see things as we do. We should be careful to note that he is NOT talking about those who preach a different Gospel (see Galatians 1:6,7), but those who differ in periphery beliefs about practice. He specifically mentions different beliefs about what food can be eaten and different beliefs about "special days". He does acknowledge that the man limited in his eating is WEAK in his faith but, he says, that's no reason to look down on him. Accept him as he is, just like Christ accepted us (Romans 5:8).

As always, Paul helps us come to that place of acceptance by giving some helpful guidelines. Consider other Christians as God's servants, he first suggests, and don't therefore judge God's workers. Next he says, we should do whatever WE do as to God, and therefore if different people view different minor things in different ways, that is up to them as they do that as to God, and it is not for us to judge it. At the end of the day, Christ died for us all, so both here now, and in the age to come, He is Lord! Let's be careful not to take His place!

D. Application?

1. On minor points of practice we are not to judge one another but see one

another as God's servants answerable to Him.

2. I must not try to usurp Him and judge others.

Chapter: Rom 14

Passage: Rom 14:13-23

A. Find Out:

1. What two things are we NOT to do? v.13

2. How may we have stopped acting in love? v.15

3. What aren't important aspects of the kingdom? v.17a

4. What are key elements of it? v.17b

5. What was Paul's attitude towards food? v.14,20

6. But why may he not eat some food? v.21

B. Think :

1. What is Paul's main point in this passage?

2. How is that the corrective to what he was saying in the previous

passage?

3. How may we fail in this today?

C. Comment :

Yesterday we saw how Paul, in encouraging love for one another, gave guidelines about how to VIEW one another in avoiding the error of judging one another because of different practices.

In this passage he continues that guidance but goes a step further and says there is something PRACTICAL that you can do to help your weaker brother. If he has a problem with foods, not only should you not look down on him, but you should also help him by not eating that food yourself.

Look, says Paul, I'm sure within myself that no food is unclean of itself, but because I love those who may be doubtful about these things, I will abstain from eating the food or drinking the drink, that they have doubts about. These aren't major issues, he goes on, so don't make them so. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are more important, these are the things you want to be concentrating on!

In our day, we need to be clear that Paul is not speaking about major issues of doctrine, such as the divinity or resurrection of Christ, but about minor issues of personal practice. Don't let this sort of thing divide you from other brothers and sisters in Christ.

D. Application?

1. Do I have real caring and loving attitudes?

2. Am I making others stumble?

Chapter: Rom 15

Passage: Rom 15:1-13

A. Find Out:

1. What is Paul's starting/continuation point? v.1

2. What should be our constant aim? v.2

3. How did Christ do this? v.3

4. What does Paul want for them? v.5

5. What is therefore necessary? v.7

6. How did Christ do this with the Jews? v.8-

B. Think :

1. Read John 17:23 How are Paul's desires for the church in Rome, in line

with Jesus' desires?

2. How are the strong in faith to help the weak?

3. How was Jesus our example in this?

C. Comment :

Paul now continues further with this whole idea of accepting those who are weaker in their faith, those who have queries about certain foods or certain special days.

First, he says, seek to build up such people and encourage them. This is love, this brings unity.

Second, he says, don't just seek to please yourself. Consider what Christ did, he didn't please himself but came and took all the insults of the religious leaders of his day, so that eventually he could die in the place of every person who would come to God through him. His example should always be before us.

Third, he says, if you do that then you will be an example to others in the same way Christ was. This is what Paul is saying in the latter part of this passage: Christ came to the Jews as their servant, seeking to bless them. As a result the Gentiles have seen and now glorify God for the wonder of it all.

So, in conclusion, he is saying, accept those who are weaker than yourself and others will see and glorify God. You will be an example to the unbelieving world of God's love in action. As you do that God will fill you with all joy, peace and power of the Holy Spirit.

D. Application?

1. Is my life, the way I accept others, a testimony to the love of God?

2. Christ loved me like I am, so...

RECAP: "Practical Living" - Rom 12:1 - 15:13

SUMMARY :

In these 8 studies we have seen:

  - practical living flows out of a surrendered life

  - we are gifted by God

  - Christian living is very practical

  - loving others includes accepting authority

  - loving others fulfils the Law of God

  - we should accept those who are weaker in their faith, as Christ accepts

     us.

COMMENT :

These chapters touch on practical matters rather than doctrinal, encouraging us to love and accept one another in the church AND love and bless those outside it. There is much in these chapters to stimulate us to further study and meditation, to encourage us to be the sort of people Jesus wants us to be.

LESSONS :

1. "Do"s and "Don't"s are not imposed on us but flow out of the surrendered

lives that God wants

2. Love, at the heart of our faith, flows from us to the church, to our

neighbours and even to our enemies

3. Christians respect and obey the law of the land

4. Love accepts those who are weaker in the faith.

PRAY :

Ask the Lord to help you, through these chapters, to catch a fresh vision of the sort of person He wants you to be, not being pulled down by the world, but overcoming the world by His love in you.

PART 5 : Closing Greetings

In the closing verses of this great letter see first how Paul reveals things about himself and his ministry. Second, look carefully how he describes people. People are important to God and we therefore need to overcome the temptation to write off the last chapter as irrelevant because it "just mentions a few people"! "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable..." (2 Tim 3:16)