#1653 Romans 13 Part 2 I Owe, I Owe, It's Off To Love I Go

 

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does not work evil against a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. Romans 13: 8-10 LSB

Romans 13: 8-10

V. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another - Some have taken this so far as to say, "never incur any debt, even a mortgage etc.", but that is not the implication here. As in all things that may translate and lose some of their meaning from language to language, or seem unclear in one part of Scripture, this is where we look to the whole counsel of God. So we use all of Scripture on a matter to set the posts of our fences, to open and deepen our understanding. What does the Scripture say about borrowing, about debt?

…42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,… Matthew 5: 42-44

This giving above is balanced out by other passages that teach us about discernment in such.

…9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.… 2 Thessalonians 3: 9-11

Matthew Henry - Christians must avoid useless expense, and be careful not to contract any debts they have not the power to discharge. They are also to stand aloof from all venturesome speculations and rash engagements, and whatever may expose them to the danger of not rendering to all their due. Do not keep in any one's debt. Give every one his own. Do not spend that on yourselves, which you owe to others. But many who are very sensible of the trouble, think little of the sin, of being in debt. Love to others includes all the duties of the second table. The last five of the ten commandments are all summed up in this royal law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; with the same sincerity that thou lovest thyself, though not in the same measure and degree. He that loves his neighbour as himself, will desire the welfare of his neighbour. On this is built that golden rule, of doing as we would be done by. Love is a living, active principle of obedience to the whole law. Let us not only avoid injuries to the persons, connexions, property, and characters of men; but do no kind or degree of evil to any man, and study to be useful in every station of life. - PA

A Christian will not want to remain in perpetual debt to someone. He should be looking for ways to pay on time and if possible, early. If something is of comfort or entertainment and not of necessity then it is foolish to go in debt for it. Borrowing in order not to work is not a substitute for going out and earning a living. As much as we would like to be paid and appreciated for our work we should appreciate others as well and desire to pay the craftsman and the laborer.

…6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 7The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. 8He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.… Proverbs 22: 6-8

…28Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed. 29Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22: 28-29

John Trapp - The Persians reckoned these two for very great sins: 1. To be in debt. 2. To tell a lie; the latter being often the fruit of the former. (Xenophon, Gell. xii. 1.) By the 12 tables of Rome, he that owed much, and could not pay, was to be cut in pieces, and every creditor was to have a piece of him according to the debt. (Acts and Mon.) When Archbishop Cranmer discerned the storm which afterwards fell upon him in Queen Mary’s days, he took express order for the payment of all his debts; which when it was done, a most joyful man was he; that having set his affairs in order with men, he might consecrate himself more freely to God. (Mr Wilkins’ Debt Book.) Let us therefore (saith a reverend man) be thus far indulgent to ourselves, as to shake off the deadly yoke of bills and obligations, which mancipate the most free and ingenuous spirit, and dry up the very fountains of liberality. Yea, they so put a man out of aim that he cannot set his state in order, but lives and dies entangled and puzzled with cares and snares; and after a tedious and laborious life passed in a circle of fretting thoughts, he leaves at last, instead of better patrimony, a world of intricate troubles to his posterity and to his sureties; which cannot be managed by those who understand them not, but to great disadvantage. We read of a certain Italian gentleman, who being asked how old he was? answered, that he was in health; and to another that asked how rich he was? answered, that he was not in debt: q.d. He is young enough that is in health, and rich enough that is not in debt. (Romans 13 - John Trapp Complete Commentary) - PA

V. 8b For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law - This is the only thing that is perpetual, never paid off, but starts afresh every day. We may never stop loving our neighbor, and the Christian is even called upon to love his enemy. 

V. 9 You shall not - The person who loves his neighbor would not commit adultery with her, for that is lust and not love, that is to bring them into disobedience to their Creator. Obviously you wouldn't murder them because God says, "thou shalt not kill", nor would you steal, but love would protect it's neighbor's interest, respect his property lines and warn him of the robber. You wouldn't covet because love is not jealous of what others have, but instead rejoices when others do well. When you love your friend you are happy for his or her success, for their happiness, envy is the enemy of love. 

Love Your Neighbor - When Jesus commanded the rich young ruler to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 19:19), what did He mean by the words "as yourself"? And what did the apostle Paul mean when he repeated those words in Romans 13:9?

The statement by our Lord and by Paul is not a command to love ourselves more; it's a recognition that most of us already look after our own welfare in reasonable ways. That is, we love ourselves enough to feed and clothe ourselves, to keep a roof over our heads, and to avoid being cheated or injured. In practice, we should love our neighbor at least that much.

But there's more. In John 15:12, Jesus also commanded His disciples to love one another just as He had loved them. He used the Greek word agape, which signifies an active love that is unconditional, self-sacrificial, and for the good of others. This love is often more of a decision than an emotion. Author David Walls wrote,

"We cannot command feelings, but we can command an active determination of our will."

Even when we don't feel love for someone, if we choose to show love our feelings will usually follow. Let's take the initiative to love our neighbor every day. —J E Yoder (see also What Is Real Love?) (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

V. 10 Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law - Love by God's definition will never endorse evil, so it will always by it's nature fulfill the law. Here is God's definition of love.

…8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.… 1 John 4: 8-10

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; 5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 LSB

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#1652 Romans 13 Part 1 Government

 

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist have been appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists that authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of that authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword in vain, for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also because of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Romans 13: 1-7 LSB

Romans 13: 1-7

V1. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities - This is a huge stumbling block for a lot of people, but every person is every person, Christians included. There is a time for civil disobedience, and we will cover that, but let's also look at this in the context of following Romans 12. We just read about not returning evil for evil and that "vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. If you take vengeance into your own hands and it goes against or above the laws of those governing, well then their job is to punish wrong doers, and that will be you as well. Regardless of how wicked your government is, God is sovereign, so they only exist because God has allowed them to. Remember when Israel did not want to be ruled by God, they wanted a king instead, they wanted to be like their neighbors, so they begged for something inferior. Even the best rulers with the best systems and checks and balances in place, still fall short, are still unable to remove all wrong doers, all fraud, and keep everything at peace. To be sure though, when God does appoint a good ruler, when there is someone who seeks justice, establishes more peace, creates an environment where the people are not overly taxed, and prosperity flows, the people tend to look to themselves and not to God. We enjoyed years of freedom here, lower taxes, and the fruit of Judeo Christian values, but we turned to the gods of comfort, of materialism, elevated the mind of man, the mind that man didn't create, discarded Biblical truth and chased the sexual revolution, drunkenness and humanism. When God sends wicked rulers, remember, they were still sent by God. Now our country is in shock and horror that so much welfare fraud exist, that so much military disability flows to people who are actually able to work but like getting the extra check because there is an easy system in place to do so. Sadly, most still sleep on this, most only care about right now, and fail to realize that they have voted in and or are taking part in a socialism our founding fathers would have detested. They learned to go by the mantra of "he who does not work shall not eat", because they understood that everyone who does work becomes the slaves of those who don't. Here are some links to a Bible study I did on government:

Government Part 1

Government Part 2

Government Part 3

Government Part 4

Government Part 5

Government Part 6

Government Part 7

V.2 Has opposed the ordinance of God - When I speed and get pulled over, I have no one to be mad at but myself, because the speed limit is posted. I watch these people on tv who call themselves "Sovereign Citizens", and they get pulled over and want something they have scribbled on paper to count as ID. They don't want to register their vehicles, so they say really stupid things like, "I'm not driving, I'm travelling in the car." They don't believe they should have to pay taxes or follow the rules of the road, but there's a glaring issue. You are using the road you didn't build, a system you are not in control of. If you want to be out on your own, then you're going to have to up your survival skills, live in the woods, not use a car, grow your own food, but when you get caught hunting or fishing without a license, well, it's going to be a problem again. The only time we as Christians are to disobey authority is when that authority tells us to do something that God said not to, or to not do something that God said to do. If my government tells me not to pray, then like Daniel I will still pray. If it tells me not to profess the name of Christ, or say that He is the only way, well I am going to profess Christ and accept the consequences.

…18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”… Acts 4: 18-20

32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.… Matthew 10: 32-34

Civil disobedience in the Bible

More from the Lion's Den

Vs. 3-4 An avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil - We unfortunately live a world that hates repercussions, even likes to speak as though they are wrong. I believe in mercy and forgiveness, but not at the cost of robbing the innocent of justice. This is what governments job is supposed to be, bringing justice to those wronged, punishing the evil doer, and as it says, "it does not bear the sword in vain." So if you take a man's life then by man your life should be taken. The west is mercilessly predator friendly now. I constantly hear people say of those committing crime, "he was a good guy, but just fell in with the wrong crowd." No, he was with the crowd that he wanted to be with because he isn't a good guy, and he committed those crimes because he isn't a good guy. The bar is low here, and sadly the innocent suffer. We will let men compete in women's sports, even combat sports, and watch women get beaten by men. The news is full of instances where judges have gone light on penalties for crimes, only to embolden people who have been arrested and released to up the nature of the crimes they commit, stabbing people on buses, beating a woman to death with a hammer, harming children, it's so upside down. When the people do as they shouldn't then the government's job is to intervene, and when the government does what it shouldn't then they and all are rushing into judgment, filling up the cup of God's wrath. 

…9Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.… 2 Thessalonians 3: 9-11

…6You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits. 7Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty. 8Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.… Exodus 23: 6-8

Vs. 5-7 Because of conscience - A Christians main motivation is not the punishment that comes from disobeying man's laws, but of disobeying what God says. This is also at the heart or thought level, where repent far before we ever act. It is a needless distraction away from our testimony of being new creatures in Christ, that we baulk at things like buying a fishing license. If you go fishing with me I am going to ask that you have one because I don't want to have sit around and here you whine about what you already knew. It is a poor testimony of "believers" that they cause the church to stink by evading taxes, using God's name as an excuse for why they think themselves above the law. We should avoid needless controversies, speak against the wrong doing of the government, like abortion is probably worse than your property taxes, but often our priorities show our lack of maturity. 

…10And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more 11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. 12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.… 1 Thessalonians 4: 10-12

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#1651 Romans 12 Part 2 Take Diligence

 

9 Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, 10 being devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep, 16 by being of the same mind toward one another, not being haughty in mind, but associating with the humble. Do not be wise in your own mind. 17 Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, respecting what is good in the sight of all men, 18 if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men, 19 never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 9-21 LSB

Romans 12: 9-21

V. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy - Some will say they don't condemn sin because, you know, they're more "loving", but this is not the love God describes. This is love of self, elevating your desire to have people like you over their need to hear the truth of God. We should abhor evil, yet it continues that we should also cling to what is good. Many people go on and on about the evil in the world, but do they give place and time to those things that are good, that will grow them, that will help them expose and walk away from their own sin? 

7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think on these things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.… Philippians 4: 7-9 

Vs. 10-13 Giving preference to one another in honor - Putting others before yourself is the simple definition, but none of these things are to be a church face vs. your rest of the week face, as we were just instructed to love without hypocrisy. Didn't Christ set aside His divine, kingly prerogative, and condescend to our low estate. How is it then that people who call themselves Christians still worry so much about being first? I would rather have the infinite honor and pleasure of God than the right of way in traffic. I would rather avoid the accident then press my "right" in traffic. We live in a culture that everyone competes to be the most offended, but no one is ever offended by their own offense towards God. He goes on to not lagging behind, or in other words, being lazy. Being devoted to prayer is a wonderful part of this, and I have had friends ask me what they could do for me, and this is the beauty of believers, they understand when I say, "pray for me, just pray." Certainly if I am starving and you have food then share, but there are so many things that are outside of your own power, and so I would beg and plead, please pray for me because there is nothing outside of God's scope. In prayer it is often that I find the desire to do something for someone else that helps a situation I didn't even know about. Reading this section reminds me of the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.

To honor someone is to show genuine appreciation and admiration for the other individual. Believers who are being transformed by the renewing of their mind should be becoming more and more sensitive to showing respect, to acknowledging the accomplishments of others, to demonstrating genuine love by not being jealous or envious. These are the marks of a sincere faith which is maturing. Such a one in fact is to take the lead in the carrying out of these actions. If we have truly presented ourselves as a living sacrifices, we should be growing in these graces (and they can only be carried out by His empowering grace). - PA

More on these things from Matthew 5

V. 14 Bless those who persecute you - I have to go back here often. We are told to be justice and desire justice, but we are also told to show mercy. Christians should be slow to take offense, and quick to desire reconciliation, but this is why it is so necessary to not be lazy in doing good, to be diligent in prayer and reading God's word, otherwise it is easy to only want pain for your enemy and to lose your temper rather quickly. It is not a formula though, and it hasn't changed the situation often, but sometimes I have come to peaceful, even friendly terms with an enemy, and in all cases though, where reconciliation can't be had, it leaves room for God's wrath.  

…29If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him— 30I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse— 31if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—… Job 31: 29-31

…43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.… Matthew 5: 43-45

V. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep - Be happy for each other, when someone does well be their biggest fan. When someone is hurting then comfort them. Job's friends were at their best when they sat there in silence. We should always pray before we run our mouths in a situation where someone is hurting.

57When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 59On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah.… Luke 1: 57-59

…2For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. 4For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.… 2 Corinthians 2: 2-4

Ray Stedman - True love adjusts to other people's moods: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." When somebody in your office is feeling low and gloomy, don't come in and sit down and whistle away. When they obviously don't respond, don't say, "What's the matter with you? How come you're so down all the time? Why don't you be cheerful like me?" There is nothing worse than a cheerful person when something has gone wrong for you. No, Paul says, adjust yourself. Mourn with those who mourn, and rejoice with those who rejoice. I think he puts rejoicing first because that is so hard to do sometimes -- especially if it awakens our envy or self-pity. If there is something someone else has achieved that we think we ought to have, it is hard to go up to that person and say, "I'm so glad for you." But that is what love does, and it is possible to do it -- for those who walk in the Spirit. (Romans 12 - Ray C. Stedman) - PA

V. 16 But associating with the humble - We shouldn't be arrogant, but we should also surround ourselves with those who aren't as they will teach us the most about true Godliness. This also extends to hanging out with strangers, being hospitable to those of humble means, those that cannot repay your hospitality. There is no caste system in Christ, you don't have more because you are a better Christian than the believer living off of what the jungle provides, hiding from the enemies of God who would punish them for their faith. We typically surround ourselves with those who feed our ego, those who can do for us, either physically or in our station, but Christ went to the lost, sought to save sinners, and honestly there was no one above His station, no one His equal, and hardly any who even began to understand this. 

…25But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—… Matthew 20: 25-27

V. 17 Never paying back evil for evil - We should not be consumed with revenge, and consumed you will be. It eats the soul. Pray for God's justice and your ability to let it go.

…21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end. 22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you. 23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.… Proverbs 20: 21-23

John Calvin rightly said that ''Revenge is a passion unbecoming the children of God."

V. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you - It is not always possible, no one should stay in an abusive relationship, but where it is just quarreling that can easily be stopped, lowering your voice, letting go of ego, then do so to be at peace. A child or spouse that is being abused should leave and go for help because these things won't end well and the other person is not seeking repentance, but power. 

Spurgeon - Some people will quarrel, and it is barely possible to keep upon good terms with them. In their case we must do our best, and if after all, we cannot live peaceably with them, it will be fortunate for us if we can move off and live without them. - PA

13Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.… Hebrews 12: 13-15

V. 19 Vengeance is Mine, I will repay says the Lord - God will judge, and so we need to take care to examine ourselves, for it wasn't God's justice that I sought for my own case. I sought mercy. 

Vs. 20-21 If your enemy hungers feed him - This has at times been used by God to lead His enemies to godly sorrow over their sin and eventually repentance. 

…44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?… Matthew 5: 44-46

…9And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.… 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11

Heap burning coals on his head: Refers to an ancient Egyptian custom in which a person who wanted to show public contrition carried a pan of burning coals on his head. The coals represented the burning pain of his shame and guilt. When believers lovingly help their enemies, it should bring shame to such people for their hate and animosity. J Mac from the J Mac Study Bible note Rom. 12:20

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#1650 Romans 12 Part 1 A Reasonable Practicality

 

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, 6 but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith; 7 or service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12: 1-8 LSB

Romans 12: 1-8 In Practice

So far in our study of Romans 1-11 we have seen 4 key elements or high doctrines starting with

1. Sin, that this is the state of every man in a fallen world without exception. The Reformers would call this the doctrine of Total Depravity. Romans 1-3 defined sin for us. Romans 1: 18-25, Romans 1: 18-32
2. Salvation, everyone's need, no one can earn it. We are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. 
3. Sanctification, "…21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death. 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.…" Romans 6: 21-23,. We hear a lot about Justification, which is God's freeing us from the penalty of sin through Christ's sacrifice in our place, and this is popular even with those who don't truly love God, but hate consequences. Yet, there is also this process called Sanctification, which is God's freeing us from the power of sin. This is the growth of believers, that they come to know what sin is, hate their own worse than that of others, and our bereaved at the thought of dishonoring Christ, Who died for their sins. "…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…" 1 John 1: 8-10. The same God Who is able to save you from hell is also able to change your heart towards sin, to help you realize that there is nothing to go back to, and to desire a holy (set apart) life. Which God did you believe in?
4. Sovereignty, Romans 9-11 taught us that it wasn't a matter of man's will, but that salvation was a work of God for His own glory. There is no one beyond His ability to save, those He does not save will face His just wrath toward sin, to the glory of His justice and holiness, and those He effectually calls to salvation will receive His just grace, unmerited mercy, to the glory and honor of Christ unfairly receiving the wages of sin that were owed to His sheep. "…15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”…Romans 9: 15-17

Now in Romans 12 we visit the practical reality or working out of all these things. What does the knowledge of our sin, God's Holy nature, and Christ's life and death mean in the life of a believer?

V. 1 Present your bodies as a sacrifice - This is not mere ceremony, not a summer camp conversion or commitment for show and temporary as according to the emotions of a moment. No, this is total commitment, the realization that your body does not belong to, but to Him Who made you and purchased you back from sin with His own blood. 

A W Tozer said...

"Present your bodies..."—that is, present your vessel. That must come first. A vessel that has not been presented will not be filled. God cannot fill what He cannot have. Present your vessel.

I think God wants us to be intelligent. He wants us to come to Him. If you were in a bread line in some poor country, and you stood back and would not present your cup, you would not get any milk. And if you did not present the plate or basket, you would not get any bread.

If you will not present your personality, you will not get the fullness of the Spirit of God.

Are you ready to present your body with all of its functions and all that it contains—your mind, your personality, your spirit, your love, your ambitions, your all? This is the first thing. It can be a simple act—presenting the body. Are you willing to do it? - Precept Austin

…19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

V. 2 And do not be conformed to this world - Note, this is accomplished by being transformed. It is the call to being Born Again, a new creature.

Wuest has an enlightening "amplified version" - And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come from within you and is not representative of what you are in your inner being but is patterned after this age; but change your outward expression to one that comes from within and is representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of God, the good and well-pleasing and complete will, and having found that it meets specifications, place your approval upon it. (Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament)

William Newell - Fashioned (conformed) is literally, schemed-together-with. It is the very word of 1Co 7:31: scheme (Greek, schema), made into a verb, with the conjunction along-with (sun/syn), for prefix. The devil will rope you into his "scheme," unless you surrender your body to God to be by Him delivered. - PA

…3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.… 1 John 5: 3-5

Jon Courson asks "Are you a thermometer—adjusting to the temperature of the culture, or are you a thermostat—changing the climate of the culture? If you are a conformer, a thermometer, you’re in for perpetual frustration because by the time you take the temperature and figure out what’s hot, by the time you change your look, or buy the car, or redo your house—the world will have moved on, leaving you out of style. Truly, this is a great mystery to a lot of Christians. They try to make their ministries relatable by analyzing what the world is doing in order to emulate it. But by the time they figure it out and implement it, the world has moved on. That’s why Christians are known for being out of style. What’s the key? Don’t be a thermometer. Be a thermostat. Don’t be a conformer. Be a transformer. Say, “I’m in a whole different place than you are, world. I’m living for eternity. I’m preparing for heaven.” (Jon Courson's Application Commentary) - PA

V.3 Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think - I mean, if you can't save yourself then you didn't, so there is nothing to be cocky about. The Bible describes us as being dead in our trespasses and sins, so someone had to literally bring you back from death. It should be easy for me to find far more reasons for humility than for arrogance, my works, after all, were filthy rags. 

…11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ 13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’… Luke 18: 11-13

6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!… 1 Corinthians 4: 6-8

Vs. 4-8 Are one body in Christ - Though there are many members in the human body, none are without purpose. It is the same in Christ's body, the Church. There are some members that are more forward, much like the human face, and so we put those members in the pulpit, because they are not only gifted teachers and preachers, but they have more significantly met the requirements that God places upon those positions in the body. More on Qualifications. Not every part of the body is a mouth though, and there are those that Pastor Josh would call the big toe, but trying walking without your big toe. There are those that we never pull out and present, like the liver, the kidneys or the lungs, but a liver shot is quite painful, your kidneys filter out contaminants, and you can't breathe without your lungs. 

John MacArthur offers these wise practical pithy comments on what this all means: "As we have seen, the first obligation of the bondservant of Christ is the supreme worship expressed in offering himself to his Lord as a living sacrifice (Ro 12:1-note). That is God’s fundamental requirement for every believer. Only as a living sacrifice can we be what He wants us to be, do what He wants us to do, and thereby “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Ro 12:2-note). That act of spiritual worship marks the Christian’s entrance into divine usefulness. God’s order of obedience for His people has always been worship and then service. (Ro 12:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) adds the marvelous truth that, although Christ sends forth His servants with a common commission to serve Him, He equips them for that responsibility with greatly diverse gifts. His divine plan for believers is unity in message and commitment but diversity in service. The primary purpose of these verses is to make clear that, although we must enter the place of usefulness for Christ with the same total self sacrifice, we are equipped to fulfill that usefulness in uniquely distinct ways. The purpose of offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices is not mystical or monastic but eminently practical. Devotion to the Lord and active, faithful ministry for Him are inseparable. We cannot be truly sacrificed to Him and be inactive in His work. And, on the other hand, we cannot be truly successful in His work without being genuinely devoted to Him. Service to God brings honor to Him and blessing for us only when it is the outflow of our worship in offering ourselves as living sacrifices. Such commitment naturally and inevitably produces effective ministry. There is no godly commitment without God blessed ministry, and no God blessed ministry without godly commitment. This passage utterly destroys the notion that a Christian can be committed to Christ but be inactive in His service, that he can love the Lord but not obey the Lord, that he can be surrendered to the Lord but not minister for the Lord. True worship cannot be divorced from service. Unfortunately, the church has always had members who piously claim closeness and devotion to the Lord but whose lives exhibit no service for Him. It also has always had those who are busily active in the work of the church but who exhibit little personal depth of devotion to the Lord of the church. Both are a shame to the Lord and are a hindrance to His work, because they thwart the spiritual maturity of the saved and the evangelism of the lost. (MacArthur, J: Romans 9-16. Chicago: Moody Press) - PA

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#1649 Romans 11 Part 5 Gifts And Calling Of God Are Irrevocable

 

25 For I do not want you, brothers, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,

He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

27 “And this is My covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.”

28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be repaid to him? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11: 25-36 

Romans 11: 28-36 Beloved For the Sake of The Fathers

We left off with the "and so all Israel will be saved" from the last post. The passage also gives us key context to the meaning of this:

The timing - "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in", that will be the end of the time of the Gentiles and the trampling underfoot of  Jerusalem by them. This period started with the destruction and occupation of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire. 

More on the time of the Gentiles from Daniel 2

…23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.… Luke 21: 23-25

…26Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. 27And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.” Daniel 9: 26-27

…2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured. 4On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.… Zechariah 12: 2-4

The extent - What does all Israel mean? Throughout history Jews have come to Christ, but in the last days, at the end of the Tribulation, the time of Jacob's Trouble, Jacob meaning Israel, all those, minus the 2/3 that are deemed rebels to God, guilty of cosmic treason, that 1/3 will be saved. It is the greatest national revival ever seen. 

7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. 9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ”… Zechariah 13: 7-9

The condition - This brings us full circle to the effect of election and the unilateral nature of God's promises to Abraham, confirmed in Isaac and reaffirmed with Jacob (Israel). "He will remove ungodliness from Jacob", and "this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."

…24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. 25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.… Ezekiel 36: 24-26

V. 28 Beloved for the sake of the fathers - Israel's refusal of their Messiah was part of God's redemptive plan for the Gentiles, and also part of God's plan to bring the nation of Israel back in the end. They would be moved to jealousy for the things of God, to know the Savior, to weep over Him Who they pierced. The covenant with Abraham was unilateral in that Abraham slept as God walked between the animal halves. It is a very strong and ancient blood covenant, strange to the modern ear, especially to people who buy their meat at the grocery store, but the meaning is simple. Two parties would enter such an agreement by slaughtering an animal or in this case several animals, agreeing on the terms of a covenant, like my family is selling you the land from here to the river, and we will not take anything from what is now considered your land without permission. Then the two parties would walk between the animal halves, before God and man, basically saying, "if I break this covenant so let me be like the animals we walk between." In Abraham's case, he didn't walk between the halves, God the Father and God the Son did. God is the initiator of the covenant, and also the only One Who could uphold it. God is demanding a righteousness that fallen man can't bring. It is pointing to the sacrifice of His Son and God's ability to cause those at enmity with Him, those who deny His very being, those who hate Him, to be changed, to recognize and love God, to see their fallen state and cry for mercy, beg for repentance. Christ walks between the halves on my behalf, to uphold and meet the mark that I cannot attain. 

…4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.… Hebrews 10: 4-6

William Beebe was an explorer and a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt. Often when he visited the President, the two men would go outdoors at night to see who could first locate the Andromeda galaxy. Then as they gazed at the tiny smudge of distant starlight, one of them would recite, “That is the spiral galaxy of Andromeda. It is as large as our Milky Way. It is one of a hundred million galaxies. It is 750,000 light-years away. It consists of one hundred billion suns, each larger than our sun.” After that thought had sunk in, Roosevelt would flash his toothy grin and say, “Now I think we’re small enough! Let’s go to bed.” (Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan [Assurance Publishers], # 2213.)

We now know that Andromeda is 2.6 million light years away and consists of one trillion stars, about twice the number of our galaxy. And while the numbers are only estimates and they keep getting larger, astronomers think that there are at least 100-200 billion galaxies, not 100 million. A German supercomputer simulation recently put that number at 500 billion (universetoday.com). Mr. Beebe and President Roosevelt would feel even smaller!

As the apostle Paul sums up Romans 11 in our text, he wants us to feel appropriately small in the presence of the Sovereign God who moves all of history according to His unfathomable ways for His own glory.

Pastor John Piper (desiringGod.org, “God’s Design for History: The Glory of His Mercy,” italics his) sums up,

“Romans 11:30-32 is the summary of the main point of this chapter, namely, that God has designed and guided history—both its disobedience and its obedience—so that in the end it will most fully display the reliability of his promises and the magnificence of his mercy—to prevent human pride and produce white-hot worship.”

Douglas Moo (The Epistle to the Romans [Eerdmans], pp. 729-730) points out that Ro 11:28-32

“recapitulate and wrap up the argument of Ro 9-11 as a whole. Paul’s assertion of Israel’s dual status in v. 28 succinctly summarizes the dilemma that drives the whole argument of these chapters: the Israel now at enmity with God because of the gospel is nevertheless the Israel to whom God has made irrevocable promises of blessing.”

Paul’s point is: We should stand in awe of God because He designs and controls all of history to display His faithfulness to His promises and the glory of His mercy to sinners.

Paul has been gazing through the telescope to get a glimpse of just how big God is, and he invites us to take a look for ourselves. - Precept Austin

V. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable - God does not speak just to hear Himself. His words brought the world into existence, and so His promises are not mere noise but a directive. He sees it through.

6“Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. 7Yet from the days of your fathers, you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Hosts. “But you ask, ‘How can we return?’… Malachi 3: 6-7

…18Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor. 19God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? 20I have indeed received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.… Numbers 23: 18-20

Vs. 30-32 For God has shut up all in disobedience - There is none righteous we are told, not even one. In this Jews and Gentiles are all alike, that all have sinned.

Shut up (4788) (sugkleio from sun = with + kleio = shut, close) means to shut together with, to shut in on all sides, or to close up together. Sugkleio was used to describe enclosing of fish in a net in (as in Lk 5:6). All mankind is like those entrapped fish for all are caught in God's net which demands perfect righteousness. This truth is similar to Paul's statement in Galatians regarding the effect of the Scripture (Law) (Gal 3:22-23, see study of Galatians 3). - PA

John MacArthur - Man’s sin, manifested in his willful disobedience, provides a means for God to demonstrate the magnitude and graciousness of His mercy. Were there no disobedience, there would be no need for and there could be no expression of God’s mercy. To reveal Himself as merciful, He permitted sin. He has shut up all—the whole world, Jew and Gentile—in disobedience and unbelief in order that He might show mercy to all who repent of their sin and turn to Him for gracious salvation. By His nature, God is a Savior, as seen in Paul’s uses of the phrase “God and Savior” in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. He could not display that feature of His person without allowing for sin and hell. In His sovereign omnipotence, God has allowed man intellectually, morally, and spiritually to fall into a state of sin to the extent that, on his own, he is unable to be convinced of God’s truth, specifically the truth that he is lost and condemned and that he is powerless in himself to change his condition. God allowed man to fall into sin in order that his only hope would be divine mercy. It must be noted that this saving mercy is shown to all. The perfect, satisfactory work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection has met the demands of the justice and holiness of God, and thereby has removed every barrier to forgiveness for all, and any person who seeks forgiveness and salvation will receive it. As John Brown observed, God’s revelation of mercy in the gospels refers to men as sinners, not as elect sinners. (Romans. Chicago: Moody Press) - PA

8Why not say, as some slanderously claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved! 9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.… Romans 3: 8-10

Vs. 33-36 Who became His counselor - God did not need man, nor does He seek man's approval. He didn't require our input in order to call the Universe into being. He doesn't need us to know who to show mercy to and who not to. Men would hold God in contempt because there is such a thing as sin, as evil, but they never want to see themselves as guilty of evil. 

…7Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? 8Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself? 9What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?… Job 15: 7-9

…12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? 14Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?… Isaiah 40: 12-14

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