Romans 12:9-10

As we discussed a previously, Romans 12 is the beginning of the application section of Romans. As Paul works his way in to this chapter, he gets more detailed and specific as he goes. Romans 12:1-2 told us to be conformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:3-8 explained that we each have our own special gift for service and that we should use it. This next section, Romans 12:9-21 has twenty-five different commands about how to live life as a born again Christian. Each of these commands is given in the continuous tense, meaning that we are to do them now, and keep doing them with no end specified. [...]

Romans 12:3-8

As we work our way through into our current chapter of Romans it would be good to remember that the little words matter. Romans 12:3 starts with “γὰρ” (for) which links all the application we are about to read back to Romans 12:1-2. That is, none of the rest of this chapter matters unless you have been transformed by the renewing of your mind through the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. The next several sections of Romans are about how we interact with other humans, and without a renewed mind we cannot follow the principles and teaching of this section. [...]

Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12 starts a new section of scripture where Paul shifts his focus from doctrine to the application. In truth, there has been some application scattered all the way through Romans, but the focus up until now was the basics of Christianity. This pattern of doctrine followed by application is a very much a distinctive of Paul’s writing. [...]

Romans 11:25-36

Last week we looked at how it was our job as believers to make the world want to come in to the church. People on the outside should look at what we have and desire to have it. The sad truth is often we look out at the mess of the world and try to emulate that instead which dilutes what we have to offer to the world. This week we will look at the end of Romans 11 where Paul wrapping up his discussion of Israel and their fate. [...]

Romans 11:11-24

Last week we looked at how the celebrations of our religion can be a stumbling block for us. We can be so wrapped up in the ritual that we forget the object of our worship just as the Jews did with their laws and ceremonies. This week Paul turns his focus back on the Gentiles and their position in the church. [...]