Installment 14
Romans 12:1-21
PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING
Having finished the argumentative portion of the epistle to the Romans, we are now ready for the practical problems of the Christian life. Behind the discussion of these chapters lies the general assumption of the regeneration of the heart by the Spirit of God and the power imparted by the Holy Spirit to the believer. Assuming that those in the Roman church had been regenerated, the apostle urged his readers to act according to the instructions placed before them. Only those who have new life in Christ can carry out the principles found in this or any portion of God's Word--the natural heart is not subject to the law of God nor can it be.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).
Since God loves us and has provided ample and complete salvation in Jesus Christ, as demonstrated in the arguments of the preceding chapters, He wants to give the necessary power to live honorably for Him during this life. Paul, using the word "therefore," connects us to the first part of his epistle. Because of his apostolic authority he could have commanded that they do specific things or take certain steps. Commands, statutes and ordinances are characteristic of law wherein God hurls "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots" against the people; but under grace He appeals to their better nature, pleading with them in love to yield and to serve Him. The heart can be melted in the light and warmth of the mercies of God. The appeal in these two verses is for the Christians of Rome to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God. Under the Law Dispensation, God commanded the people to make various types of offerings when they had sinned. These were always slain animal sacrifices--dead offerings--but God does not want anything of that nature now. Before our regeneration we were dead in trespasses and sins (see Eph. 2:1ff). But now, since we have new life in Christ, He wants us to present our bodies as living, energized sacrifices to God. It is His will that they be offered in such a manner and spirit that they may be acceptable to Him. God always looks at the condition of the heart that renders the service, and at the spirit that motivates the act.
The things of this world appeal to the fleshly nature rather than to the spiritual element of man's being. We are in the world but not of it and should not delight ourselves in the things of the flesh. While seemingly harmless, when analyzed in the light of the real facts they are seen to be tainted with the spirit of the world and injurious to the people of God. Rather than being fashioned according to this age we can, by making full and complete surrender in faith to Jesus Christ, be transformed. This is brought about by the renewing of our minds. Every new truth that is discovered in the Word renews, energizes and stimulates the child of God to greater activity in His cause and to a closer walk with the Lord. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
The good, acceptable, perfect will of God can be proved by yielding oneself to Him. According to this statement, it is possible to be filled with the Spirit of God and in such harmony with His will as to live a perfect and acceptable life. The apostle did not wish to cause us to believe that some experience or spiritual exercise could make us reach a point of perfection whereby it would be impossible for us to sin. So long as we are here in the flesh, there will be that tug-of-war between the Spirit and the flesh mentioned in Gal. 5:16-21. But that it is possible for one thus to surrender to God, be filled with the Spirit and so live above known sin is possible as seen from the following: Do all things without murmurings and questionings: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain (Phil. 2:14-16; see also I Thess. 2:10-12; II Pet. 1:1-11).
Paul then tells the Christian "Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but ... soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith" (vs. 3). The prerequisite to living the Christian life is a recognition of the position one occupies in the body of Christ with his fellow-believers. This exhortation is based on the general principle involved in God's requirement of the worship of His creatures. God does not arbitrarily insist upon man's groveling in the dust, as some rationalists claim, and looking up to Him in dread and fear. On the contrary, God is the Omnipotent One of truth and holiness. Being absolutely and utterly dependent upon God for our very breath and for life itself, if God should withdraw for one second the gift of life and strength, we would perish from off the globe. It is in God that we live, move and have our being. Therefore God, in asking mankind to worship Him, is simply asking that for our own benefit we acknowledge that which is right and true, acknowledging our relationship to the Creator as His creature and our responsibilities to our fellow man.
"For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:4-8).
Like the members of the physical body, each of which has its own special function to perform, so it is with the group of believers in their relationship with one another and with God and Christ. My hand, for instance, can do certain things that no other member of my body can perform. The same thing is true with my eye, nose or ear. When my eyes function properly, they assist my hands or feet and vice versa.
In the Apostolic Age, certain gifts were conferred by the Holy Spirit upon various members of the church according to the grace of God and His plan and purpose. This is seen in I Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30 as well as the passage we are studying in Romans. The gifts listed in both passages are the ability to speak in tongues; of interpreting unknown tongues; healing; helps; workings of miracles; wisdom; knowledge; discernment; faith; prophecy; ministering (which may refer to a ministry such as that of a deacon where one administers material substances, or it may refer to a spiritual ministry); teaching, enabling one to teach the Word of God with force, clearness and accuracy; exhorting; the ability to rule or direct the movement and work of the church; liberality--which we understand to be a willingness to distribute what one possesses to others in need. The apostle concludes this discussion of gifts with that of cheerful mercy. One may show mercy, but the motive prompting it may not be full and free; an improper desire might produce an act of mercy; or it can be done with a grudging spirit. To show mercy with cheerfulness is a gift from the Lord Himself.
A question which rises from this is, Do those special miraculous endowments which we saw in the Apostolic Church continue with the believers throughout the Christian Age? Some say they do; others are equally positive that they were only temporary and that they passed away with the receding of the Apostolic Age into the historic past. No doubt many of the gifts of the Spirit as set forth in I Cor. 12-14 were given to build up the body of Christ. There was no New Testament--it was in the process of being written at that time. The raw recruits from heathenism and Judaism needed guidance, direction, help and strength for their faith. To meet the need, the Lord chose certain individuals upon whom He bestowed these spiritual gifts for the edification of the saints and the building of the faith.
"Whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease," Paul stated in I Cor. 13:8. From the context, it is apparent that these particular endowed gifts were of a temporary nature and when they served their purpose they would cease. When the perfect revelation of the New Testament was given and confirmed to the Church, it seems that those gifts gradually passed away. While in rare instances, miracles that have been established by unimpeachable evidence may have occurred, the weight of evidence indicates that, with the passing of the Apostolic Age, there was a cessation in general of gifts with a miraculous nature.
In these last days, we hear much of the revival of such gifts as healing and speaking with tongues. But when checked by competent and sincere investigators, in many instances reports of a negative character have been brought in. I am, however aware of the fact that God does hear and answer prayer; He has healed people in answer to the prayer of faith, and I have known of instances of this.
Joel 2:28-32 predicts a revival of the prophetic spirit in Israel in the form of visions and miracles in the last days immediately preceding the Great Tribulation. This promise is not made to the Gentiles. Therefore it is illogical to point to this as authority for a claim of being able to perform miracles in this day and time.
Practical living, as it applies to various relationships in life, is set forth in the remainder of this chapter. It is so very clear that it needs no exposition. My exhortation is that each person ask God to open his mind and incline his heart to accept these verses and conform his life to this teaching: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; 11 in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer; 13 communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. 20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:9-21).
