UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 12 THROUGH 16
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
The doctrine found within Romans chapters 12 through 16 is essential for the son’s growth in ‘getting off on the right foot’ in his sonship education. The apostle Paul as our father ‘beseeches’ us to present our bodies a “living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God.” We should understand that a “sacrifice” dies, and our bodies are dead unto sin, and should be unto this world. And because of what the son is taught within Romans chapters 1 through 11, by the time he comes to Romans chapter 12 he should understand the “mercies of God” that is now his possession because of who God has made him to be “in Christ.” We are beseeched by our Father as sons to walk worthy unto Him, and because of the liberty and grace that we are given of the Father we have the privilege to be put into the position as an adult son to “prove” what is “holy, acceptable unto God.” God the Father handles us as adult sons “in Christ,” with Israel the law did not “beseech” the saint. And as Paul says in Romans 8:15 “ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,” Israel under the law had the “spirit of bondage” and fear was the motivation to “hearken unto the voice of the LORD.” Our motivation should be out of gratitude because of God’s grace and mercy with thanksgiving, and it should not be because we think God is going do something special in our lives. It’s the issue of walking worthy because who God has made you to be; we walk worthy because we have the “mercies” of God, most try to walk worthy to get it.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Romans chapters 9 through 11 explains what happened to Israel, and how we obtained “the adoption.” As we advance on to chapter 12 through 16 God the Father gives us foundational doctrine so that we as His sons can be “conformed to the image of his Son,” that’s why Paul says in verse two: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Oftentimes as sons we can continue to remain “conformed” to this world, and what it has to offer. But as we transform our minds with the corrective doctrine, we learn as sons “the will of God” and how we should “present” our bodies unto God. And once the son learns how to “prove” what is acceptable unto the Lord, he will have the ability to not only “bring forth fruit unto the Lord,” but he will be able to operate upon advanced sonship understanding with the ability to choose between two or more things; proving which one will excel the other and be more pleasing unto the Lord.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
The apostle Paul makes known our privilege as being members one of another, and that we ought to walk in “brotherly love” toward one another as well. The first thing that we need to do as sons is change our way of thinking about ourselves. The world would have us to look at ourselves differently from how God would have us to view ourselves. The world wants us to value and esteem ourselves over others, and will have you to believe that you are more important than you are, but this is not how God the Father says we should “think” about ourselves, and treat other members of the body of Christ. Our “gifts” that we have as members one of another is not the spiritual gifts given to the church 2000 years ago. At that time the word of God was not yet complete, but now we have “that which is perfect” (the complete written word of God) and the gifts given to the church at that time are no longer in operation. The gifts that Paul speaks of has to do with the things we do as sons to profit and benefit the body of Christ in any way, as Paul makes known in verses above we are privileged to work together “as members of one another” in whatever we do “in Christ” for the body of Christ. We are treated as adult sons “in Christ,” instead of being under the “spirit of bondage” of the law, we are beseeched; instead of “fear” motivating us to walk accordingly. Our Father has Paul say things like “let love” be without dissimulation, when in “times past” He gave commandment to “love thy neighbor,” and he says things like “if it be possible” when it comes to how to “live peaceably with all men,” when in “times past” men were told how to conduct themselves by the “commandments of the LORD.” And because we are treated as adult sons we are shown how we ought to treat one another as being “members of one another.” We should respect and value each members “office” the same way our Father would have us to respond to each member of the body, we are not to think “more highly than he ought to think” about ourselves; and this is because we are no better than any member in the body; we all have our own function with Jesus Christ being our Head. Being “wise in our own conceits” would have us to think that some ought to look up to us because of our “office,” but this is a ‘conceited’ way of thinking, we are to value and esteem others with “brotherly love.”
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
We are “subject” unto the government and all of its laws, no matter whether we morally agree with them or not. God instituted the human government system here on this earth; and while He is choosing neither the people in office, nor the laws, we are to submit to what our governmental laws are and deal with the judgments and the consequences of not following them. Also protesting our government’s laws and ordinances would be an ungodly thing to do, and we need to “renew” our minds toward that type of ungodly thinking. The ones that are in governmental authority are called “God’s ministers” because it is God who instituted the Government system on this earth for all man to follow, and it is the person in that position to ‘administer’ the human governmental system laws we are to follow in a godly manner.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Paul says “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed,” this is because we are to know “the time,” we are to act as if the rapture could come in the next few minutes. We are to be mindful of the time and know that our “salvation (our being caught up: which is our salvation from this evil world) is nearer than we believed.” Our walk should be with zeal and with the urgency as if the rapture was “at hand,” in other words we need to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ when it comes to getting our sonship education, and act like who God has made us to be “in Christ.” And the remedy for our sluggish attitude and our continuance in the “fashion of this world” is to ‘put on’ the Lord Jesus Christ, and that comes by the saint having “the mind of Christ,” and allowing ourselves to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Once we do this we will not make “provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Rom 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Paul shows how we as adult sons should treat “him that is weak in the faith,” and what our attitude ought to be concerning their “faith.” The saint that does not have as much bible knowledge or one that might have just heard the gospel of his salvation, or has not learned how to let the word of God work within him as another saint would be considered “weak in the faith.” The weaker brother is not the same as a sinning or rebellious brother, he is weak doctrinally. We are not to despise the weaker brethren’s “faith” because they have an edification process to go through just like we went from ‘milk to meat’ in our edification.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
We are to let them “judge” and discern things based upon the knowledge that they have; no matter how much knowledge the brother is operating upon. That’s why Paul says in verse 5 that “every man be fully persuaded in his own mind,” it’s about the son learning how to let the doctrine work effectually within him, and the son getting the results the way God designed. One that has more knowledge can end up being a “stumbling block” in the weaker brother’s edification by trying to ‘speed up’ his edification. We have to remember that just as we went from ‘milk to meat’ we can’t expect the weaker brethren to operate upon the same type of doctrine that we have, we would be wrong to “judge” them when they haven’t yet reached that part in their education. That would place the weaker brethren under the “tutors and governors” system under us, and we would act as his ‘instructor’ in all of his decision making as a son. Most importantly he would never have the opportunity to be “fully persuaded in his own mind” about his decisions as a son, we have to remember he is the Lord’s servant, not ours. What we can do as a “member one of another” is give the brother “exhortation” (give him the doctrine that he needs to grow up unto), just as we are ‘beseeched’ to “prove” what is “acceptable” unto the Lord, he also must be given the same opportunity to utilize his godly decision making in everything that he does.
Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Here we are taught how we are to walk with Jesus Christ being our ensample how He gave up of Himself for the sakes of others and that should be our motivation knowing that it is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaching us this important doctrine for our edification.
Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Rom 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Rom 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
Rom 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Rom 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Rom 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
Rom 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Rom 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
Rom 15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Rom 15:22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
Failure to understand this important doctrine has caused many to handle God’s word of truth improperly, and has caused many “divisions and offences” within Christianity. Paul shows that Jesus Christ was “a minister of the circumcision” to confirm the promises God made to His nation; which He will fulfill in “ages to come.” Israel was given a for-taste of what that kingdom is all about and what He expected from them as being a nation of priests. Paul makes known his important role as being “the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles” and that it is his job to “make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.” The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Paul were both “ministering the gospel of God” as we can plainly see, but the messages were different, Paul could not preach unto the Gentiles the “promises made unto the fathers,” just as Jesus Christ Himself nor did His apostles preach to the Jews the things Paul was given to preach. In verse 20 Paul says that he did not preach “where Christ was named,” during the ministry of Paul his job was to preach to all unsaved mankind whether Jew or Gentile, and anyone saved after Paul was raised in Acts chapter nine would have not had the same promises as preached earlier by the Lord and His apostles. The Lord and His apostles and Paul all preached salvation and justification unto eternal life by believing on the Lord, but the difference is our “vocation.” The “promises made unto the fathers” will be fulfilled to and through Israel, and it is Paul who is entrusted by God to give us our doctrine for today with the intent to “make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.”
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Paul gives the saints a stern warning here in verse 17 and 18 concerning what the son has just learned from Romans chapters 1 through 16. Paul gives the saint important foundational doctrine for their sonship education, and he warns the saints about others preaching “contrary” doctrine. We are told to “mark them which cause divisions” in the doctrine that we are established in, and it has always been my understanding that when someone comes up with a new organization within an organization, this has always meant they were setting themselves apart from everyone else. Each time man has created a new denomination within Christianity this is his way of saying that he is going to now give you his view on how the bible should be studied, and how his church should walk and glorify God. He also has his own requirement for justification unto salvation and sanctification as well. Preaching anything contrary to what Paul has set forth within the pages of Romans thru Philemon can be dangerous to the hearer, but this is what is preached every Sunday. The church world today and in Paul’s day preached a contrary doctrine differing from the gospel that we are to be established in, here are a few foundational doctrines that man has caused divisions within the book of Romans:
Romans 3:21 thru chapter 5: The doctrine of our salvation from the debt and penalty of sins, and our justification unto eternal life, and our permanent standing “in Christ.” And because we have received the “atonement” from God, and have been saved from His wrath, and we cannot ‘lose our salvation’ (a gift that Christ fully paid for). Most churches preach you can lose this gift of God.
Romans 6:1 thru 8: The doctrine of our sanctified position “in Christ,” this doctrine covers the fact that we are “dead to sin, but alive unto God,” and that our walk is a “grace, peace, and mercy” motivated walk. And the doctrine of our sonship “adoption” is revealed along with the “sufferings of this present time.” This doctrine is also foreign to the majority of today’s church members, their walk is “fear” motivated, and they want deliverance from “the sufferings of this present time.”
Romans 9:1 thru 11: This doctrine covers the dispensational change that God made because of Israel’s “blindness,” and His plan to fulfill His promise to His nation after our “fullness” comes. This issue is also a “mystery” to many of today’s church world; they are ignorant of what God said that they should not be ignorant of. By not understanding God’s two-fold plan and purpose for mankind would have one to become “wise in their own conceits” concerning God’s overall plan and purpose for the heavens and the earth.
Romans 12:1 thru 16: Sonship establishment in the doctrines of how we should walk in godly love and the importance of the Apostle Paul’s ministry to the Gentile world today. And our not being ignorant of ones corrupting the doctrine we are to be established unto. Today’s church world is cooperating with Satan in keeping the important doctrine of who God has made you to be “in Christ” hidden, so that the focus and spotlight will be upon the man preaching, proclaiming that he is God’s “anointed” when that term is reserved for one only; our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us.
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
It is God that is “of power” and He entrusted Paul with the gospel to establish “all nations for the obedience of faith.” That would mean that all of humanity, “everywhere, in every church,” should be established by this doctrine that Paul calls “my gospel.” Paul ends the book of Romans the same way he started, three times within the book of Romans Paul makes known his authority as being our apostle, and that this “office” given unto him by God was given to make the Gentile world “obedient by word and deed.” We as sons cannot ‘over look’ the importance of the book of Romans as being the foundational epistle for our establishment and sonship growth in who we are “in Christ.” God has Paul say that it is God Himself that would have us to be established by this doctrine, but it sad to say many churches are “ignorant” of this gospel, and ignorant of the will of God in their lives.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Rod Jones