Romans 12:9-21

I’m working on a Sunday School lesson right now and just re-read Romans 12:9-21. I want to remember to read this often (maybe even every morning). If I could just do this I would be a better person. If everyone would do this the world could be a better place!

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God Is for Us

The following was in our church newsletter this week and I thought it was not only well said, but good to remember:

Scripture: Romans 8:31-34

Throughout life, there will be times when our sins and failures lead us to conclude that God is disappointed or angry with us. How can He still love me after what I've done? If I'm really forgiven, why do I still feel so guilty? At such times, we need to fix our eyes on the truth of Scripture and ask the questions Paul posed in Romans 8.

If God is for us, who is against us (v.31)? Our heavenly Father proved His loyalty to us when He delivered His own Son over to death in order to save us. Without Christ's atoning death on our behalf, we would face eternal separation from God.

Who will bring a charge against God's elect (v.33)? No accusation against us can stand, since at the moment of salvation, the Lord justified us. This means we were legally declared righteous, while still in our sinning condition. No one can reverse this transaction and make us guilty again. To doubt our blameless standing in Christ is to declare His atonement insufficient to cover our sin.

Who is the one who condemns (v.34)? Although Satan rails against us, Jesus' death and resurrection are proof that we are right with God. Christ took our condemnation and gave us His righteousness in return. Now He sits at the Father's right hand, interceding for us. When doubts about the Lord's love and faithfulness arise, focus on truth. If we judge His loyalty to us by our circumstances or feelings, we will never get an accurate view of God. True security lies not in our good performance, but in our relationship with Christ, and no one can take that from us.

More on Romans 1:16-17

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed — a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

These two verses are really the whole theme of Romans. They are the heart of Biblical religion. The gospel is power. It’s not about God’s power and it doesn’t point the way to power. It is the power by which God accomplishes salvation in those who are being saved.

Hebrews 4:12 says “The Word of God is living and active.”

Of all the things going on in the world this minute, the preaching of the gospel is the most important. The spirit of God is a work.

When the gospel is preached, people are delivered from the bondage of sin and set free spiritually. Lives are transformed. God isn’t simply just telling us about salvation. God Himself is providing salvation through the gospel. And Paul is saying that his trust in God’s power and goodness has not been misplaced, nor his hope in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice been disappointed. (That’s what he means by “not ashamed”.)

The second part of verse 16 is equally important to everyone who believes. In the book of Acts, Peter declared at Pentecost, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The entire Bible actually ends in Revelation with the verse, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come” “whoever wishes, let him take of the free gift of the water of life.”

God doesn’t reveal His righteousness so that we look at Him and try and try and try to be like Him and fail and fail and fail. It was revealed as God’s free gift through Christ. The only work involved is opening your hand to receive it.

General Background on the Book of Romans

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth about AD 56-57. Unlike the other letters he wrote, he didn’t start this church. He didn’t know the people there and hadn’t even been to Rome yet. It was probably started by Jews who had come to faith during Pentecost. So he introduces himself in the beginning.

His aim was to convince his readers that whether they came from Jewish or pagan backgrounds, they face the same issue – how to enter a right relationship with God.
The gulf between human sin and guilt and a divine holiness and perfection cannot be bridged by any mortal effort, only by Christ.

Based on scripture, Paul argued that by God’s action in Christ, the church has become the new Israel, receiving both the promises and the mission of the old Israel: the gift of salvation and the call to proclaim it and lead others (both Jew and Gentile) into a common community of faith.

Because God shows no partiality and values us equally, we likewise should treat one another as equals. Though human sin has a variety of expression, all are rooted in a common rebellion against God.

The basic breakdown of Romans is:

- Paul introduces himself
- He presents the facts of the Gospel
- He declares his allegiance to it
- He tells of the lostness of all mankind and the necessity of God’s intervention
- He presents the good news, “Salvation is available to all.” “We are saved by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work. Only through Him can we stand before God justified.”

Good advice for Christians in the New Year

How to Live from Romans 12:9-13 and 15-18

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of saints, practice hospitality. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight.” Matthew 10:27
This means to be quiet when things are the darkest – listen to God. He will give you a precious message for someone when it’s light again.

To resent and resist God’s disciplining hand is to miss one of the greatest spiritual blessings we Christians can enjoy this side of Heaven. Christians who are strong in faith grow if we accept and not become bitter and resentful. If we accept with joy we know God is controlling our lives. There is joy to be discovered in suffering. A lot of those who suffer are more enviable than those who seem to be set apart, untouched like a piece of fine china in the locked chest. Without dark clouds in our lives we would never know the joy of sunshine. We can become callous and unteachable if we do not learn from pain.

When we are weak and powerless, God is there to give us strength. When we lack wisdom, He will supply it. Healing is not instantaneous; it is a process. When we admit that we cannot heal ourselves and fall to our knees and ask God to take over, we will be on the road to spiritual health.

Psalm 91:15 promises: “He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.”

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

Our natural tendency when we have a painful happening in our lives is to go into action – sometimes it is wiser to wait and just be still. The answers will come.

There are many times when God withdraws to test your faith. He wants you to trust Him in the darkness. Reach up in faith. His hand will be there. God will never leave or forsake us.

We are called to encourage, support and let lonely, hurting people know they are not alone. God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but to comfort others.

A Psalm to remember when raising children (Ps. 72:15)
“Pray continually and praise daily.”