A Study of Romans: 6. Living for Jesus

Romans Chapter 1: The Gospel’s Power to Save Chapters 1-3: Man’s need for Salvation Chapters 3-5: Justification by Faith Chapters 6-8: Living by Faith Chapters 9-11: God’s Chosen People Chapter 12-16: Living for Jesus

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13

Romans 12:3-13 NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Romans 12:3-13 NKJV 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:3-13 NKJV 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10 –With neighbors

Romans 12:14-21 NKJV Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

Romans 12:14-21 NKJV 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10 –With neighbors –Toward government

Romans 13:1-7 NKJV Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. … 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10 –With neighbors –Toward government –The law of love

Romans 13:8-10 NKJV Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10 In view of eternity – 13:11-14

Romans 13:11-14 NKJV And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Living for Jesus In the body of Christ - 12:1-13 In the world – 12:14-13:10 In view of eternity – 13:11-14 With brethren of differing opinions – 14:1-15:12

Romans 14 What it is discussing: –Opinions/scruples/doubtful things (14:1) –Things God accepts (14:2, 18) –Things like Eating or not eating meats (14:2-3; 5-6) Observation or non-observation of days –Matters regarding which we should not be judging others (14:10) –Things that are clean of themselves (14:14) –Things that are good (14:16) –Things that are pure (14:20)

Romans 14 What it is not discussing –Doctrinal differences on matters of faith (2 John 9; Gal. 5:4) –Additions, subtraction or modification to or from revelation (Gal. 1:6-9) –Accepting anything that is not acceptable or authorized by God (14:3; 1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Living for Jesus with brethren who are different from us… Requires us to accept things that are not customary, pleasant, or reasonable to us Requires us to forgo freedoms that we may otherwise enjoy (14:21) Requires us to be aware of and make allowances for the scruples of our brethren Requires us to accept some we may be very different from (15:7) Requires sacrifice, but we are trying to live our whole lives as a sacrifice for Christ

Romans 15:5-13 NKJV Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Romans 15:5-13 NKJV 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "FOR THIS REASON I WILL CONFESS TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING TO YOUR NAME." 10 And again he says: "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE!" 11 And again: "PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES! LAUD HIM, ALL YOU PEOPLES!"

Romans 15:5-13 NKJV 12 And again, Isaiah says: "THERE SHALL BE A ROOT OF JESSE; AND HE WHO SHALL RISE TO REIGN OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM THE GENTILES SHALL HOPE." 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Are you a Living Sacrifice for Jesus? Is your whole life on the altar? Do you think He is worth sacrificing for? Is the purpose of your life obvious to those among whom you live and work?

Conditions of Justification Believe (John 8:24) Repent (Luke 13:5) Confess (Rom. 10:10; Matt. 10:32-33) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; John 3:5) Live Faithfully (Rev. 2:11)