Introduction
When we reach the end of Romans 11, the doctrinal part of the Roman letter has ended. In Romans 11:28, Paul has concluded with a statement on the position of Israel, in the light of the Gospel and it becomes evident, from the ascription with which the chapter ends, that he has said all that needs to be said on the subject. Romans 11:36.
Now, in Romans 12, we come to a new tone and a new topic.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice
‘Therefore, I urge you’, or ‘I, therefore, appeal to you’, Romans 12:1. You see at once that the tone is different. It is an appeal, an urgent request, based on all the mercy which God has shown.
He says, in effect, ‘in the light of God’s mercy and in view of all that I have written, I urge you.’ ‘I urge you’, means, ‘I beg of you, please’.
As an apostle of Christ, Paul might very well have exercised apostolic authority and issued a command. But he does not say, ‘I, therefore, command you as an apostle of the Lord’, but rather, ‘I beseech you by the mercies of God’, Romans 12:1.
There are indeed other matters about which it would be both right and proper to issue commands, and there are times when commands would be effective.
But Paul knows that certain things cannot be commanded, and what he now has in mind is one of those things. It is something that has to come spontaneously, voluntarily, because it has no value if it is done under duress. Philemon 1:17.
Here it is, ‘0resent your bodies as living sacrifices’, Romans 12:1. I said that both the tone and the topic are new and the new topic is sacrifice.
Although Paul had great reasoning powers, with which he could grapple with the deep subjects which we have encountered in the letter, he was never merely content to prove his case. He never wrote a letter without, at the close seeking to move his readers to action.
He evidently believed that if one is a Christian, it will be revealed in the way one behaves, Galatians 5:22-23. And that is why this chapter commences with practical advice. He urges a certain course of conduct and he tells how it should be achieved.
1. What to do. Present your bodies as living sacrifices, Romans 12:1.
2. How to do it. Be not conformed to this world but be transformed, Romans 12:2.
Look at these two aspects of his teaching. ‘Present your bodies,’ Romans 12:1. When we stop to think about this statement I suggest that it comes as a surprise to us that he said, ‘present your bodies’, because we are inclined to regard our bodies as the lower part of our being. It might have sounded more natural and proper for him to say, ‘present your lives in sacrifice’.
But Paul surely knew what he is saying. He knew that there were philosophers among the Greeks who taught that the body, the flesh, is quite unimportant and what really matters is the spirit. They said that the body is merely a shackle, which holds the spirit in bondage, or the body is merely a housing for the spirit.
This idea found its way into the thinking of the early monastic orders set up by the church of Rome, where the monks believed there is something inherently sinful and vile about the body and the best thing they could do with their bodies was to mortify them, make them suffer, even to the point of neglecting them.
They called the body, ‘the tomb of the soul, a muddy vesture of decay. Brother so and so, who needed to be whipped’! James Russell Lowell. ‘Here lies the part of J.R.L. Which hindered him from doing well’.
The Scriptures indeed teach that the body is the tent of the true man, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. But they certainly do not say that the body is unimportant, or that it should be neglected. Nor do they teach that it is something to be despised or to be ashamed of.
After all, God designed the human body, Genesis 1:27, and it belongs to Him, just as surely as does our soul, and our spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
Furthermore, God did not disdain to allow his Son to take on himself a body of flesh and blood, He says, ‘a body you prepared for Me,’ Hebrews 10:5-7.
Far from being a tomb, the body of a Christian is a temple, 1 Corinthians 6:19. This being the case, the Holy Spirit works through our bodies. Indeed, when you think about it, it is impossible to obey any of the commands of God, without our bodies.
So, when Paul pleads, ‘present your bodies,’ he is really saying, ‘present all that your body is capable of, all the tasks you fulfil every day, wherever you might be at work, at home, at school, everywhere. And offer everything you do in service or worship to God, as a living sacrifice’.
I have occasionally heard brethren say that these words mean that, in contrast with the dead sacrifices which were offered under the Law of Moses, the Christian has to present his body as a living sacrifice.
But I am not sure that this is all that Paul had in mind. Strictly speaking, when a Jew brought an animal for sacrifice he brought a living animal, not a dead one. It was a living thing that he offered.
What Paul is saying is that even Christianity has its sacrifices. But they do not consist in the lives of others, the lives of unwilling animals, animals which had no choice in the matter, and whose wishes are certainly not taken into consideration. We must offer our own lives in service.
The word ‘worship’, Romans 12:1, has an interesting history.
1. It is as you know probably know, the word ‘latria’ and originally meant, work for pay. It described service or employment into which a person entered voluntarily.
2. Later it came to represent anything to which a man gave his entire life. For instance, a man might devote his life to the service, or study, or art, or music, or medicine. This means that he dedicated his life to a particular interest.
3. Eventually however, the word came to mean the dedication of one’s self, one’s service to the gods.
This is its meaning in the New Testament, the service of God. It is never used for service performed for men but is always used concerning the worship of God Himself. And so, as Christians, we are to present our bodies in service and worship, to God.
This is very interesting because it implies that real worship is very different from what many people imagine. It is not a matter of coming to a meeting place on a Sunday morning and sitting through a service, bored and disinterested.
It is not even a matter of coming to that same meeting and genuinely taking part in prayer and praise and devotion. It means much more than this, real worship means the offering of our day to day life, with all its activities as service performed for God.
We are inclined to make a distinction in our lives, between the sacred and the secular. And much as we ought to know better, we used language which suggests that what happens in the service on the Lord’s Day is one thing and what happens outside the meeting place during the week is something else.
The very phraseology we use is, ‘I go to worship on Sunday morning’. ‘The worship service will take place in the church building.’
Since, as Christians, our lives belong to God, we should be able to say, ‘I worship God when I go to school, or when I go to the office, every day, my activities are expressions of worship,’ Colossians 3:17.
In the old church of Christ hymn book, there was a hymn, the content of which was light years superior to many of the trite and trivial things which are often sung today.
‘Behold us Lord, a little space, from daily tasks set free. And met within this quiet place, to rest awhile with Thee. Around us rolls the busy tide, or commerce, toil and care. And scarcely can we turn aside for one brief hour of prayer.
Yet these are not the only walls wherein Thou mayst be sought. On humblest task, Thy blessing falls, in faith and patience wrought.
Thine is the forge, the loom the mart, the wealth of land and sea; The worlds of commerce and of art, are all controlled by Thee. Work shall be prayer if all be wrought as thou wouldst have it done. And prayer, by Thee, inspired and taught, itself with work be one.’
So this ought to be our goal, our aim. To live a life that is a hymn of praise and worship and service to God.
The word, ‘prove’, in Romans 12:2, in Greek is ‘dokimazo’, and it means to test in order to be able to approve, to test for the purpose of demonstrating that it is good.
What God wills, that is, what He wants to achieve when we undergo this transformation of our mind, is something that is good, acceptable and complete, Romans 12:2.
The message of this part of the letter is that, as Christians, we stand in a special relationship with each other, which, I fear, we do not always fully appreciate, namely, as Paul says in Romans 1:5.
But how can we do this in a world where there are so many distractions? And so many things that would drive even the very thought of worship from our minds? Well, Romans 12:2, explains.
When we see those two words ‘conformed and transformed’, Romans 12:2, we might be tempted to suppose that they came from the same root word, but they do not.
They are remarkable words, so remarkable that scholars tell us that they cannot be adequately translated into English, certainly not in one word, we need two phrases to express them.
That first word ‘conformed’ is a real mouthful ‘sus schema zesthai’, and its basic meaning is, ‘do not be fashioned’. At the heart of the word is the word schema, and schema means outward form.
In Philippians 2:8, Paul tells us that Jesus took upon himself the schema the outward form, of a man. Now, schema refers to something which is subject to change, something which never stays the same something temporary.
Take our bodies, our schema, our human form, is not the same today as it was a year ago, and whichever way you take it, your schema today is different from what it will be ten years from now. So Paul says, do not be conformed, fashioned, to the changing fashion of the world around you.
As a Christian, do not take on an outward appearance that belies your true, inward nature. Do not allow the world to influence you in its own fickle, changeable unstable way. Do not allow it to determine what you are going to be like. Recognize that it is a changeable, transient thing.
We know very well that the world is constantly exerting an influence on us which would cause us to change its form, but do not allow the world to pour you into its mould, as one translator puts it.
And we are all aware of the fact that there are influences in the world that try to shape our minds and our lives. T.V. is a very powerful influence in our society, and the adverts are so subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, designed to win us over to a particular kind of lifestyle.
We need to be on our guard against fashions and lifestyles which would destroy our Christian witness so that people are unable to recognize that we are Christians. That way we are certainly not presenting our bodies as living sacrifices in service to God.
Instead, we are to be ‘transformed’, Mark 9:2-3 / 2 Corinthians 3:18. And, here again, we have another remarkable world, ‘meta morphous thai.’ And that is something different, because whilst the schema of the world, points to something which never stays the same, the word ‘morphe’ relates to the unchanging, essential quality of a thing.
I have just said that your schema, your outward form is constantly changing. But, in contrast, your morphe remains the same, no matter what happens to your outward form. The inner man, the real you, does not change into a different person.
If we go back to that Philippian passage which says that ‘Jesus took upon himself the form of a servant and was found in human form’, Philippians 2:7-8.
The word is schema, a temporary state, He was, in fact, in the form of God and here the word is morphe that was His unchanging, and true state. Deity, God.
So what is Paul saying? He is saying that what we should be looking for is the transformation that comes through the renewal of our minds. Now, we all know what the word renewal means. It means to make new and the word which Paul uses here is the word ‘kainos’.
Kainos means new in respect of character, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The word is kainos, his character and nature are made new. In other words, we are to be transformed in the sense that our thinking is gradually changed so that we develop into the kind of people God wants us to be.
Illustration
A caterpillar undergoes a gradual change that turns it into a beautiful butterfly. And the word which describes this transformation is the word meta morphis, and there we have that word morphe again.
Here is a little creature that can only crawl but it undergoes a change that enables it to fly. Remember that the nature of that little creatures remains the same.
And this is the kind of change for which God is looking in our lives, the change, working within, which will turn a spiritual caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Romans 12:3
The sentence begins with the word, ‘For’, and it tells us that the immediate result of being transformed is humility. Notice Paul has discussed ‘presenting our bodies’ and ‘renewing our minds,’ now he takes up again the discussion about the body.
The body can be controlled fairly easily, but the mind, the disposition of pride, self-conceit, and self-centeredness, is not so easy to control because we all think well of ourselves and we want other people to think well of us.
Paul does not condemn us for that, if you read his words very carefully you will see that what he does condemn is excessive pride. Thinking more highly than we should.
There are two extremes against which we need to guard.
1. There is the danger of excessive pride, against which Paul is warning here.
2. But there is also a false humility.
Colossians 2:18, speaks of insisting on humility or, in A.V., voluntary humility. The Greek says ‘willing in humility’, and is often translated in the LXX, as ‘delighting in.’
Some of you may not be familiar with the character Uriah Heap, in the novel by Charles Dickens.
David Copperfield
‘I’m well aware that I’m the ‘umblest person going, My mother is likewise a very ‘umble person. We live in a humble abode.’
You may not have met anyone quite like that, nevertheless, the fact remains that certain religious people seem to consider it a sign of a superior sort of piety to be incredibly self-effacing and who assume an attitude. A deep humility, very pious, very devout.
For instance, there are those who if you ask them if they possess the assurance of salvation, seems to think it is a sign of their devoutness to say I hope that God will find it in His heart to forgive me! I would not dare to presume to say that I am saved! In other words, ‘I am too humble to claim to be saved’.
Well, let me say that, as a Christian, there are certain issues on which you should speak with confidence, with certainty and with a certain pride and one of those issues is your salvation, 1 John 5:13.
And, as for humility, ‘the truth is that humility is a virtue, a grace, which is unaware of itself’. In other words, a truly humble person doesn’t show it as a badge and doesn’t wear it like a badge.
That is certainly not what Paul is writing about here. We should have a degree of holy pride in who we are and what we are, thanks to the grace of God, and we should appreciate and value the gifts we have received from God, and be grateful for the place we have in God’s plan.
‘To each one a measure of faith’, Romans 12:3. God gives and develops faith through the Word. One should not over evaluate himself, but remember that God develops each person into what he is.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:4-8
In Romans 12:4-8, we see that he is writing about the abilities with which God has blessed us. The context shows that this is what Paul is writing about.
What will help us to maintain a proper perspective, a balanced view of ourselves, is the realisation that we are all members of one body, and we each play the part for which God has fitted us, Romans 12:4-5.
Whatever your gift, you should use it, not to elevate yourself, but wisely and discreetly, recognising that others have gifts which, although different from your own, are just as necessary to the well-being of the body as yours, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
The word, ‘gifts’, Romans 12:6, means that every talent is a blessing from God, 1 Peter 4:10-11. This shows that the word ‘gift’ does not always refer to the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The word, ‘prophecy’, Romans 12:6, in this passage simply means speaking forth, ‘preaching’. This is not the miraculous prophesying we see in Corinth for example which would fail, 1 Corinthians 13:8.
To help us understand this more, let’s go to 1 Thessalonians. What does 1 Thessalonians 5:20 mean, when it says, ‘no not despise prophesying’? When one encounters a problem passage, it is important to consider the context.
In practice, this means looking at the verses which go before, and those, which follow. That is always sound advice, and it is advice worth following as we consider the question before us this month.
The previous verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, says, ‘quench not the Spirit.’ The Spirit referred to be unquestionably the Holy Spirit. Notice that in this verse the present imperative tense is used, which means that we have here a statement that relates to something which the believers in Thessalonica had evidently been doing and were continuing to do up to that moment.
An ‘imperative’ is a command or an instruction, so the sense of this verse is literally, ‘do not continue to quench the Spirit’. This tells us that the Thessalonians were offending the Holy Spirit. They were disregarding and perhaps even repressing, a particular manifestation of the Spirit.
We see from 1 Thessalonians 5:20, that the specific gift involved was the gift of prophecy because the word which is translated ‘prophesying’s’, ‘propheteia’, occurs on only two other occasions, 1 Corinthians 14:6 / 1 Corinthians 14:22, where Paul discusses the exercise of spiritual gifts.
The church at Thessalonica, therefore, is told, in effect, ‘do not continue what you have been doing, quenching, or suppressing, this manifestation of the Spirit’. Certainly, at the very least, they were discouraging the exercise of the prophetic gift.
The apostolic command in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, is followed by the verse, at which we are now looking, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, ‘and do not despise prophesying’. Here, again, this is a present imperative, and it means, ‘do not continue to despise prophesying’.
You will notice that there is a significant difference between the Authorized Version and many modem versions in the way in which 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 are rendered.
In the A.V., we find two short sentences, ‘quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying’s.’ But in modern versions, the Revised Standard Version for example, the two verses are separated only by a comma, so that they read as one sentence, ‘do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophesying.’
The implication is that to despise ‘prophesying’ was to quench the Spirit. Then, Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Spirit, regarded the exercise of that particular gift, the gift of prophecy, as of very real importance to the spiritual growth and wellbeing of the infant church in Thessalonica.
This letter was written during the second missionary journey, and is, therefore reliably regarded as one of the earliest of the apostolic letters, it was written from Corinth, where Paul arrived about 50 AD, after leaving Thessalonica, and where he stayed for 18 months, Acts 18:11.
We arrive at this date because we know that the proconsul Gallio, which is mentioned in the next verse, took up his position in Corinth about that time. The letter was probably about 51 or 52 AD.
It is even likely, although not stated, that it was Paul himself who imparted spiritual gifts to the Thessalonian Church as he had at Corinth during the year and a half he remained in that city.
On the matter of spiritual gifts in the infant church, we learn that Paul informed the Ephesian believers that prophets were among the Lord’s gifts to the church, Ephesians 4:11.
Earlier in the same letter, he had stated that apostles and prophets had laid the foundation on which the Church is built, that foundation being Christ himself, Ephesians 2:20. He followed this, in Ephesians 3:5, with the assertion that the Spirit used apostles and prophets as instruments for the revelation of truth.
Although we do not believe that there are such inspired men alive today, it should not be difficult for anyone to understand that in those days, apostles and prophets fulfilled an essential role in the revelation of the truth and the establishment of the church.
Bear in mind that the New Testament had not then been compiled. Indeed, as I have already implied, many of the books, which comprise our present New Testament, had not even been written.
Therefore, instead of being able to study written instruction and teaching, we find that prophecy, ‘oral,’ that is spoken instruction, was the means by which the early Christians were taught.
Bear in mind, also, that the word ‘prophesying’ does not mean that a new revelation was presented every time the prophet opened his mouth! The word ‘profetes’ means ‘to speak forth’, and covers preaching and teaching generally.
If you examine the Old Testament books, you will find that many of the writers never foretold future events, but simply delivered a message on God’s behalf.
In the Old Testament, a prophet for example.
1. Delivered a message from God.
2. Interpreted current events He explained what was happening at that moment. And very often. the explanation the prophet gave. was very different from what the people thought!
3. And sometimes was able to tell the people what God was going to do.
In the New Testament, the exercise of the gift of prophecy simply meant that men were led by the Holy Spirit to speak so that the Church might be strengthened and built up.
Now it is clear from 1 Thessalonians 5:20, that some of the Thessalonian Christians had been inclined to undervalue this particular gift because the word ‘despise’ means ‘set at nought’. So Paul is urging them, not to ‘set at nought’ these Spirit-led teachers, or the messages they delivered.
However, he also issues this warning, ‘test everything’. In other words, ‘be on your guard, and hold fast what is good’, 1 Thessalonians 5:21. I stress again, that this instruction, to pay attention to the prophets, was valid as long as the spiritual gifts, which included apostles and prophets, remained. But when they were removed, the specific sense of these words ceased to apply.
Yet there is a sense in which they contain a message for us today. ‘Prophesying’ means ‘speaking forth’, and prophecy, in the general sense of the word, is that which is preached. It is preaching and teaching. There is no one today who possesses the gift of prophecy, about which Paul writes. Be on your guard, and do not trust those who claim to predict future events.
Remember that almost 2000 years ago, Paul said that prophecies would fail, the word means ‘cease’. The gift of tongues, which was the ability of people to speak in languages they had not learned, would cease, and the gift of miraculous knowledge would end, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.
We have no inspired, Spirit-led messengers, no apostles and prophets such as those who served the infant church. But we do have those who preach and teach that which the Holy Spirit has preserved for us and presented to us in the Word.
We have inherited the rich blessing of ‘all things that pertain to life and godliness’, in the New Testament Scriptures. We have the recorded words of ‘holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit,’ 2 Peter 1:3 / 1 Peter 1:21.
It is as imperative today as it ever was, that we who love the Lord should not undervalue, and despise the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. We should never forget that the Lord himself told his apostles, Luke 10:16.
I wonder how anyone can claim to accept the authority of Christ, whilst rejecting the writings of the apostles whom he authorized to speak on his behalf.
‘Proportion to our faith’, Romans 12:6. This is same as in the latter part of Romans 12:3. One must prophesy, ‘preach’, in accord with what God had given him. By doing this, one would remain true to Him who is the source of the gift.
‘Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering’ or ‘if it is serving, let him serve,’ Romans 12:7. The word ‘ministry’ is from the Greek ‘diahonia’ which means ‘to deacon, serve, minister.’ It refers to practical service. Some are especially good at serving in physical ways.
‘He who teaches, in teaching’ or ‘if it is teaching, let him teach’, Romans 12:7. This refers to instructing in what was already revealed.
This requires much work. Some want the praise of being a teacher, but don’t want to do the work required for being a teacher. And so, Paul gives an exhortation to teachers to do their work.
‘He who exhorts, in exhortation’, Romans 12:8. This naturally follows teaching and it means to encourage or incite to duty. Some are especially good at this, they give great encouragement to all.
‘He who gives, with liberality’ or ‘Let him do it with simplicity’, Romans 12:8. The word ‘liberality’ here has a dual meaning.
1. ‘With a single goal in mind, with singleness of heart’, without ulterior motive, free of pretence and hypocrisy.
2. ‘Openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity’, liberally, generously, abundantly, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Some are particularly blessed financially, and can abundantly give. Paul is exhorting them to do so.
‘He who leads, with diligence’ or ‘He who rules’, Romans 12:7. The same word is used for overseers, and elders, 1 Thessalonians 5:12 / 1 Timothy 3:4 / 1 Timothy 5:17. Elders must be diligent in their work. Many elders are sorely lacking in this.
‘He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness,’ Romans 12:7, means to forgive the one who has sinned against you can be one of the hardest commandments. It must be from the heart. Matthew 18:35. Also, let us cheerfully show sympathy and understanding, mercy, to those who are suffering.
Love in Action
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
‘Love must be sincere’ Romans 12:9, means we must have a pure, genuine, sincere love. It must not be faked or in pretence. ‘Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good’, Romans 9:9 / Amos 5:15 / Isaiah 5:20 / Psalm 119:104. To ‘hate’ means to ‘view with intense hate, dislike.’
If more Christians had this sentiment toward sin and error, fewer would become entrapped by the devil. To ‘cling’, is the same word used of a man and wife, Matthew 19:5, which means to be joined to as by gluing. We need a stick as adhesive or glue to the things that are good.
‘Be devoted to one another in love’, Romans 12:10. The Lord commanded us to love each other, John 13:34-35 / 1 John 4:20-21. As a close family, we should have tender devotion and understanding of one another.
We are to love everyone, but there is a special, deep, tender bond existing between members of the body of Christ. By love, we serve one another, Galatians 5:13.
‘Honour one another above yourselves’ Romans 12:10, means regard others as better than yourself, Philippians 2:3-4. Do not look for praise on yourself, but bestow praise on others.
‘Never be lacking in zeal’, Romans 12:11, means we should not be slack or sagging in enthusiasm or zeal, Ecclesiastes 9:10. Diligence is a requirement in all the duties of the Christian life.
‘But keep your spiritual fervour’, Romans 12:11, means we live the Christian life with all urgency and fervency of mind. ‘Serving the Lord’, Romans 12:11, means our service to the Lord should be with great diligence and deep earnest.
‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer,’ Romans 12:12. Our hope constitutes our richest area of rejoicing. We must persevere under pressures, hardships, and persecutions. Let us all develop good prayer habits.
‘Share with the Lord’s people who are in need,’ Romans 12:13, means we are to provide aid to the saints who are in need. We need to be people of action rather than talk.
‘Practice hospitality’, Romans 12:13, literally means ‘to love strangers,’ Hebrews 13:1-2. 1 Peter 4:9 shows that we are to show hospitality, provide meals, lodging, etc. to one another. It’s also a qualification for an elder, 1 Timothy 3:2.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:14-16
Several verses in this section, Romans 12:14 / Romans 12:17 / Romans 12:19 / Romans 12:21, show that we should not mistreat those who mistreat us. And so, the Christian does not retaliate with like persecution, but with blessing, Romans 12:14.
The word ‘curse’ in Romans 12:14, does not mean ordinary profanity, such as is condemned in other verses, but means to call calamity to befall a person. And so, the Christian does not wish evil on those who are doing them evil, Matthew 5:46.
If a fellow Christian has a cause for rejoicing, we should rejoice with them, Romans 12:15 / Hebrews 13:3 / Job 30:25. Too often we are filled with envy because of the good fortune of others. We should enter into full sympathy with others in their sorrows, Romans 12:15.
‘Live in harmony with one another’, Romans 12:16, means that we are to harmonize with others in our thinking. We all need to be of the same mind in the folowing.
1. Doctrine. Romans 15:5-6 / 1 Corinthians 1:10 / 2 Corinthians 13:11.
I know of a ‘liberal’ church that would not allow teaching on the issues. They thought this would keep them united, however, they were already divided because many were objecting to the unscriptural things that were being done.
2. Practice. We all need to be minding the same things, Philippians 1:27.
‘Do not be proud’, Romans 12:16, means do not set your heart on high places, things, company, etc. We might fool or deceive others as to where our interests are, but not God. ‘But be willing to associate with people of low position’, Romans 12:16. The footnote in the KJV shows this can refer to ‘things as well as persons.’
Associate with those who are humble according to God’s definition. Also, associate with those who are lowly in the world’s eyes. Follow the example of Christ.
‘Do not be conceited’, Romans 12:16. Many people have deceived themselves about their own wisdom. In other words, they are not nearly as wise as they think they are. An old joke states, ‘Some people are educated far beyond their own intelligence.’
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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.” Romans 12:17-19
Paul says, ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil,’ Romans 12:17. 1 Peter 3:9 and other passages show what we are to return for evil. The Christian uses forethought to determine his conduct, Romans 12:17 / Matthew 5:38-45. The good, honourable things are what is important to the Christian.
‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone,’ Romans 12:18, means we need to pursue and follow after peace with everyone, 1 Peter 3:11. Sometimes it is impossible to have peace with others, but it should never be the Christian’s fault.
Murray, in his commentary, says the following.
‘If it be possible indicates that it may not always be possible.’
The word, ‘revenge’, Romans 12:19, means to get even with others, to render evil for evil. ‘Leave room for God’s wrath’, Romans 12:19, in this context means to give place to the wrath of God, leave it to Him, Deuteronomy 32:35. And so, to the Christian, the right of vengeance belongs solely to God. Also, the phrase implies that God most certainly will do it.
“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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21
Not only are we to refrain from vengeance, but are to take positive action for the good welfare of our enemies, and so, returning good for evil, Romans 12:20.
‘You will heap burning coals on his head’, Romans 12:20, is a quote from Proverbs 25:21-22. It’s a figure of speech showing strong, positive results. It will fill them with shame and remorse and meltdown their enmity. An old saying, ‘The best way to get rid of enemies is to make friends out of them.’
‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’, Romans 12:21, is the Christian way. He always does right, and never permits the actions of others to determine his own actions. If the Christian seeks with his own hands to take vengeance, he, himself, becomes evil, it is disobedience to God.
However, if he does good to his enemy, it is the greatest of all ways to overcome evil, it is obeying God. The Christian does not overcome evil by doing evil.
The principle of doing good for evil is the basic principle by which we live. It is the fundamental virtue of a follower of Christ.