1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part F

C1 Chapter 12

D1 Romans 12 begins with an appeal for us to give our life in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds under Jesus’s rules and lifestyle for us. Most of this chapter and the following give us these rules.

E1 Romans 12:1 PickNT Now then, brothers, I exhort you, in view of God's compassions, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, satisfying to God—your intelligent duty.

E2 Pickering comments on this verse: Any animal in the Old Testament had to die in order to become a sacrifice, so what does Paul mean by a 'living' one? In 1Co 15:31 he said that he died every day. Paul could not have been referring to actual physical death, obviously, since Heb 9:27 affirms that it is appointed to men to die only once (no re-incarnation). He may well have faced possible death often enough, but I suppose he is referring to dying to himself. I suppose this is also the meaning of our Lord's words in Luke 9:23-24—"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." In that day a cross was an instrument of death. We must die to our own will in order to embrace God's. To present the body is presumably a metonym for presenting one's whole self.

D2 Romans 12:3-8

E1 This deals with the gifts of grace for believers to serve God in ministering to others especially to the brothers and sisters.

E2 These gifts are prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and compassion. As others have pointed out this is the division of labor in the body of believers. These are broad areas covering primarily the needs of the congregation and also for preaching the Gospel.

F1 Prophecy for foretelling (rarely) and giving a message to believers, which is effective and motivating messages. The message is blessed by God for service. Prophecy is for 1 Corinthians 14:3 WEL But he who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and comfort.

G1 Edification to build up the knowledge, wisdom, and actions of believers.

G2 Exhortation to encourage and help in knowledge, wisdom, and actions of believers.

G3 Comfort to lessen anxiety and unrest in believers.

F2 There is time to speak of the other gifts but they are more easily understood by most people.

D3 Romans 12:9-21 are a list of some of the rules all Christians are to live by. Let us take heed. We can obey with the strength God gives us.

C2 Chapter 13

D1 Romans 13:1-7 deals with our relation and obligations to the government. We need to respect leaders and to pray For them. That God would give them wisdom, so that the country may live in peace and safety and that the believers may be allowed to live as Christians. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NRSV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

D2 Romans 13:8-10 deals with our relation and obligations to our neighbor.

E1 Our neighbor, as far as Scripture is concerned, refers to anyone we meet. Luke 10:29, 37 NIV But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" ... 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise.

E2 Romans 13:10 NIV Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

F1 The word harm is the Greek word for bad in many applications.

F2 Bad is based on God’s standard not mine, not yours, not the neighbor.

D3 Romans 13:11-14 is urging us to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ.

C3 Chapter 14

D1 The chapter gives rules regarding our responsibilities to our Christian brothers and sisters.

D2 Romans 14:1-4 deals with what we eat. We are not to eat something that might cause our fellow believer to fall from faith.

D3 Romans 14:5-9 deals with observation of days for worship or something special. It is not important what particular day we worship but that we worship. We don’t need to argue and fight about this. One worships God on Sunday? Amen Another worships on Saturday. Maybe someone worships on Wednesday or every day. It makes no difference.

D4 Romans 14:10-12 reminds us that each of us will face judgment at Jesus’s throne. This judgment is not regarding salvation but for rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 NLT Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials--gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

D5 Romans 14:13-23 teaches us the rationale and motive for these rules which are our love for God and our love for our brother and sister as shown by what we say and what we do. We are not to insist on our own way in many things but accept the other person. Many marital arguments could be avoided by not insisting on our own personal habit or opinion.

C4 Chapter 15

D1 Romans 15:1-6 continues with rules for the church (the people). It is in helping our weaker brother or sister. We might understand weaker as more sensitive personality. The goal is not to insist and demand our way but to build up the faith of each other.

E1 It is the attitude of Jesus Christ: John 5:30 NKJV I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

E2 We must have the same attitude: Matthew 16:24 NKJV Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

E3 Philippians 2:4 NIV not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

E4 Galatians 6:2 NASB Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

D2 Romans 15:7-13 teach us that Gentiles and Jews believes are one. We are of one family. We have been adopted by God as sons and daughters. We are co-heirs with the Lord Jesus. Romans 8:17 NIV Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

D3 Romans 15:14-22 teaches us that Paul was their apostle.

D4 Romans 15:23-33 is Paul’s plans for visiting these believers.

C5 Chapter 16 is a list of personal greetings to many brothers and sisters and the finishing of the letter.

Romans 16:27 CSB to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.