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Romans Chapter
Twelve
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Principle of Life After One Has Been
Saved
A. The offering of the living sacrifice
(v.1-2);
B. The service in the body (v.5-8);
C. The holy life (v.9-21);
1. The relationship among believers (v.9-16);
2. The relationship between believers and those
who rebel the gospel and unbelievers (v.17-21);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Rom. 12:1 “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.”
YLT: “I call upon you,
therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a
sacrifice -- living, sanctified, acceptable to God -- your intelligent
service;”
Meaning
of Words: “mercies”: compassions;
“beseech”: invoke, beg; “service”: worship, ministry; “reasonable”: rational,
logical;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, brethren”, “therefore”, it indicates that the
conclusion is naturally drawn
according to the truth stated previously. From chapter nine to eleven of this
book, salvation comes to the Gentiles on account of God’s mercy (see
“I beseech you, by the
mercies of God”, “the
mercies of God” refer to the mercy
and compassion of God. Not only chapter nine to eleven mention God’s compassion
and mercy, and even chapter one to eight also manifest the extraordinary love
---- the goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4); He makes us be
justified by faith outside of the law (
Here, we see the apostles “beseech”
believers. He can command, but he likes to beseech them, for he knows what he
beseeches can not be accomplished without willingness. Even though they do, it
profits nothing.
“That you present your bodies”, note that it does not present “spirit” or “soul”
or “heart”, but “bodies”. The person of us is in our bodies. If we devote us to
the Lord, we shall present our bodies. Otherwise, our service is abstract,
vague and impractical. Here, we should see the meaning of “presenting our
bodies”:
1) God’s salvation should reach the outermost
body. Otherwise, the power of salvation is imperfect.
2) The body represents all. He who presents his
body has devoted all himself. All himself not only includes what we are:
spirit, soul (including mind, emotion and will) and body, but also what we
have: time, money and talents and etc.
3) There is a feature of body ---- it relates
to the outside elements, such as men and things, and is in connection with time
and environment. Therefore, to present our bodies also includes presenting our
time and environment relating to our bodies.
Therefore, we reach into the
conclusion that presenting our bodies is living for the Lord and working for
the Lord.
“A living sacrifice”,
it is also the “offering” of the new life (
1) The sacrifice in the Old Testament was
firstly killed and then offered to God. That is dead sacrifice. But what is
offered in the New Testament is living.
2) The sacrifice in the Old Testament was the
external thing besides the body and had represented us. But what is offered in
the New Testament is man himself.
3) The sacrifice in the Old Testament is burned
up only once and can not be offered again. But what is offered in the New
Testament is offered everyday and is living always and burning forever.
“Holy, acceptable to God”, “holy”: be
sanctified; “acceptable to God”, the purpose of God’s salvation to us is to
gain us.
“Which is your reasonable service”, the purpose and result of devotion is service.
The word “service” in the original means “waiting and serving”, namely,
preparing to serve. The purpose of devotion is not laborious works, but serving
God. If He asks you to stand, you should stand. If He asks you to stand by, you
should stand by. If He asks you to run, you should run. This is waiting and
service.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Holy Spirit in us often encourages us to
offer us to God in the love of God. The love of God is a great power through
which the Holy Spirit can inspire us.
2) No one can answer the requirement of
offering through himself, but the love of God can make the weakest man who
loves him most willing to sacrifice all that he has for Him.
3) The offering of one’s bodies is on account
of the compassion of God. Because of all grace and love of God, one’s bodies
must be offered ---- “For the love of the Christ constrains us…that they who
live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has
been raised (2Cor. 5:14-15).”
4) The enlightenment of the full salvation of
Christ is the highest motive for offering. The real purpose of offering is to
let God fulfill the full salvation on us that we can be transformed into the
glorious image of the Son of God so that God Himself has been fully manifested.
5) The offering of one’s “heart” has never been
mentioned in the Scriptures, and the offering of one’s “body” is mentioned. No
one who has offered himself except for his body. From then on, my mouth, ears,
eyes, hands, feet are no longer of me. Everyday, our whole bodies are for the
Lord and we only manage them.
6) Once we have offered ourselves, we will no
longer have our own freedom, or our plan, or our enjoyment, or our future, or
our usage. We have only one thing ---- to live for the purpose, plan and will
of God
7) Since God has been in our spirits, He also
asks us to offer our outside bodies to Him. Since we have been quickened by
Him, He hopes that we also live for Him. Since our spirits have been quickened,
He is pleased to the offering of our bodies unto His hand so that our bodies
will cooperate with the renewed spirit well.
8) We are priests on one hand ---- “present our
bodies” and sacrifices on the other hand ---- “a living sacrifice”.
9) Note that according to the original of this
verse the bodies that are presented are in the plural and the living sacrifice
is singular. It suggests that our devotion unto God is the fundamental element
of keeping the oneness in the assembly. Only believers who have devoted them to
the Lord and other believers who have also devoted them to the Lord are one in
service.
10) The sacrifice mentioned here is the
burnt-offering. A sacrifice will have its sweet odor and become the enjoyment
of God when it is burnt into ashes. However, someone is willing to present
himself but unwilling to be dealt with by God. Only those who are dealt with by
God are for God.
11) God wants us to live for the purpose that we
shall be presented to Him. Though we are living, we are dead. As long as we
live, we shall present us as we are dead. A living sacrifice means that we have
died to us and live to God in our life.
12) Because of the love and grace of the Lord
and the drawing of the Lord’s glory and the influence of the Lord’s life, we
are delivered all that of us unto death so as to live out the life of Christ
---- this is a living sacrifice.
13) The living sacrifice is to deliver one’s
right of life unto God and let the will of God work in our life. If we live
according to the will of God, our life will be filled with testimonies and be
accepted by God.
14) The sacrifice is for the purpose of pleasing
God and satisfying God. Once the sacrifice is offered to God, its action and
future will be controlled by God, not the sacrifice itself. Our bodies shall
act according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thus, such bodies are living
sacrifices for God.
15) One who has presented himself does not fear
death. They present them as a living sacrifice. Though they are living, they
have been presented to God and can be used by God at any time ---- God has the
authority of deciding whether they are killed, or burnt or bound up to the
horns of the altar. We who have presented us to God will serve God.
16) The apostle here beseeches not only those
who have special gifts to present them to serve God, but also all those who
have been saved to present them to serve God. Therefore, we today in the New
Testament should not have the idea or concept that serving God is unnecessary
to us or others.
17) True service is to let God have enjoyment in
our works, life and devotion. In all the service, God’s satisfaction has the
first place and man’s satisfaction is secondary. Therefore, those who serve God
should sacrifice themselves.
18) We are often zealous of works. It seems to
serve God, but actually we are enjoying the accomplishments of our works in
secret or gaining man’s praise or pleasure.
19) Our service does not lie in our zeal or
diligence, but in the reality of our being a living sacrifice.
20) “Which is your reasonable service”, no one loves the Lord too much.
21) After we are saved, we have become the
children of God. All that we have are of God. Therefore, devotion is
reasonable.
22) That we believers serve God with the
obedient life is the only reasonable response to the grace of God.
Rom. 12:2 “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.”
YLT: “and
be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
for your proving what the will of God -- the good, and acceptable, and
perfect.”
Meaning of Words: “world”: age; “prove”: see and distinguish,
approve, test;
Literal
Meaning: “do not be conformed to this
world”, “world” is “age” in the original; “conform” means “fashioning alike” or
“conforming to the same pattern”. “Do not be conformed to this world”: do not
follow the fashion of the world or be conformed to the pattern of the world.
“But be transformed by the
renewing of your mind”, “mind” is “thought” in the original. Mind is the organ
of our thoughts. Our mind was corrupted and was severely infected by sins, the
world, human feelings and customs, full of secular thoughts and natural ideas. Therefore, our mind
should be renewed and we shall receive the teaching of God. All the old
thoughts, ideas, judgment, perspectives should be eliminated. “Renew”, it
indicates that it is a continual process, not a single thing.
When we were born again,
the Spirit of God had entered into our spirits and our spirits were thus renewed. Later, the Holy Spirit will work
outwardly unto every part of our soul, especially our mind. The Holy Spirit
will shine from our spirits upon our mind and get rid of the darkness and
correct all the falsehood in our mind. Such elimination of darkness and
correction of falsehood are the renewing works of the Holy Spirit in our mind.
When a man believed the Lord
and was born again, his mind had changed for the first time. And this was a
great transformation, namely, repentance. The meaning of repentance is the
change of mind. This repentance is the beginning of the transformation of one’s
mind. Afterwards, his mind will be
renewed everyday. According to spiritual enlightenment, his mind will be
increasingly renewed and be more towards God and understand the will of God
more. Honestly speaking, mind is the inside eyes of man. When one repents, his
eyes are opened. When his mind is renewed, his eyes will be brighter. The
brighter man’s inside eyes are, the more increasingly his life shall grow.
Therefore, the renewing of one’s mind is rather important. The renewed part of
one’s mind is what has transformed in his mind. The transformation of one’s
life is through the renewing and changing of one’s mind.
“That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God”, though God
reveals His will into our spirits through His Spirit that our spirits can directly
be conscious of the revelation, we should still understand the feeling in our
spirits by our mind. The spirit is in the most inner part of us, and mind is in
the outside of the spirit and surrounds the spirit. If our mind has not been
renewed, we will not be able to understand the feeling in our spirits given by
the Holy Spirit. Even though we understand, it is still not correct and cannot
exactly know the will of God.
“Prove”, it is to prove whether the
inspiration in our spirits comforms to the will of God by the truth of the
Scriptures.
There are three features of the will of God:
1) “good”, opposite to evil; 2) perfect, opposite to disordered; 3) acceptable, opposite to grief; all things that
are according to the will of God will surely bring us out of evil and darkness
and make us acceptable before God.
J. B. Philips gave a free translation of
this verse, catching the very meaing of this command: “do not be pressed by the
world around us into its pattern. Contrarily, through the “renewing” of our
mind, we shall experience a thorough transformation, thus being able to prove
the will of God and finding that it brings us full satisfaction.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “To present the bodies” (v.1), “…prove what is… will of God”.
Only those who have presented them to God and live for God can understand the
will of God.
2) Devotion is the fundamental condition and
premise of understanding the will of God.
3) Verse one mentions presenting to God and
verse mentions proving the will of God. He who wants to know the will of God
should firstly present him as a living sacrifice to God. Without offering to
God, one is still self-centered. God reveals His will to him who has presented
himself to God. The living sacrifice negatively stops all the works of man’s self
and positively makes man live for God.
4) The devotion in chapter six of the Book of
Romans profits man ---- having one’s fruit of holiness. The devotion in chapter
twelve profits God ---- fulfilling the will of God.
5) Only those who have really presented them to
God and serve God need not and can not conform to the world. Men in the world
walk according to the tide of the world, but the hearts of Christians are
different from that of men in the world. Christians’ mind has been renewed and
transformed. Their goal is the will of God. They are determined to walk
precisely and changelessly according to the will of God. Such men are men who
have presented to God. A man who has presented to God is selfless and will in
no wise reject God on account of his own gain.
6) There are two “form”s in the Book of Romans, and they are
opposite: one is the image of the Son of God (Rom. 8:29) and the other is the
form of the world. If we are unwilling to be conformed to the world, we shall
present us to God and let God conform us into the image of His Son. And the key
of being conformed to the image of the Son of God is the inside revelation ----
one’s mind should be renewed and the old ideas be overthrown and increasingly
know the good
and acceptable and perfect will of
God, namely, the full Christ. In the process of being increasingly renewed and
knowing, God will prove us more His will and we will gradually become the
testimony of the will of God.
7) Every age has its particular pattern,
feature, style and tide. Christians should live in the world according to the
mode, tide or style of the world.
8) We should “be transformed by the renewing of our mind”, that we may “prove” what the
will of God is. Therefore, we
may use our own mind and will when we seek the will of God. Of course, our mind
and will should be “renewed and transformed” by the works of the Spirit.
9) If man cannot know the will of God, it is
not the problem of method, but the problem of man. Many people know the way of
knowing the will of God, but the men themselves are not right. Therefore, they
can still not know the will of God. What kind of men knows the will of God?
That is those who have been delivered from the power of their own mind. One’s
mind (or thought) should be renewed and transformed and then he can prove what
the will of God is.
10) It is rather important of the renewal of
one’s mind. After a man has been born again, the condition of his spiritual
life is completely decided by the renewal of his mind. Though we have has a new
life today, we should still remember that our mind can not be thoroughly
renewed immediately. It demands time. This is the work of the Holy Spirit on us
everyday. Spiritual things should be understood by the renewed mind (1Cor.
2:14). Spiritual revelation can be known by the renewed mind (Eph. 1:17-18).
How important of the renewal of one’s mind in the growth of our spiritual life!
11) A renewed mind can prove what that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God
is. Many times, this seems to be the will of God, and that also seems to be the
will of God. Many times, we have misunderstandings. Only the renewed mind can
have right understanding of the will of God.
12) Remember that what we should be responsible
for is to keep the will of God and what God should be responsible for is the
result of our keeping the will of God. We need not find smooth way. No matter
the fool of Christians or the wisdom of them, both of them are of no use in the
hands of God. All that we Christians should do is to seek the will of God. We
do not seek what we think is good in the world, but prove what good and acceptable and
perfect will of God is.
13) To serve according to the will of God is the
service that is mostly acceptable by God. Therefore, to serve according to the
will of God is the principle of our service. Contrarily, he who serves
according to his own mind may consider him right. Meanwhile, the service
according to man’s mind is the service that has refused the will of God or
ignored the will of God.
Rom. 12:3 “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. ”
YLT: “For I say, through the grace that
was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it
behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal
a measure of faith,”
Meaning of
Words: “think”: exercise the mind; “measure”:
capacity, portion; “soberly”: be of sound mind, sane, moderate;
Literal Meaning: “for I say, through the grace
given to me”, it refers to Paul’s apostleship (Eph. 3:7).
“To
everyone who is among you”, it is said to everyone without exception.
“Not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think”, not to have any thought above what one should have.
“As
God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”, “faith” here does not refer to the faith that
enables us to be saved, but the faith that enables to live and work after we
are saved. Faith is the mark of Christians and the standard of measuring the
power of service.
“But
to think soberly”, it in the original does not mean one has calm
evaluation of himself and has moderate and pious life. If a believer thinks
himself too high, he may thus be proud. If too low, he may lose his heart.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The greatest difficulty in cooperative
service is that one “thinks” of himself more highly than he ought
to think, thus bringing no
good effect of cooperation. Therefore, may the Lord make us not think according
to us but according to God.
2) If we want to have normal church life, the
first thing that we should deal with is that we may think highly more than what
God has given to us so that we have treaded upon others.
3) What God will entrust to us as well as how
we think and see ourselves are both decided by the stature of our spiritual
life.
4) The Lord distributes His works to everyone,
and each of us has our portion. We should not think us highly more than we
ought to think. We should be faithful to what the Lord has distributed to us,
and honor what the Lord has distributed to others.
5) We can not have great accomplishments,
unless we clearly know we can do what we could not do. A true and honest
evaluation of our strength, without any pride or humiliation, is the first
element that we have a meaningful and life.
6) No matter how great a believer is, he is
till only a member in the body of Christ. No matter how young a believer is, he
is still a member in the body of Christ. Therefore, one should, neither be
pride nor be discouraged, only stand on his own position.
7) The measure of gifts (v.6) is proportional
to that of faith. If one’s faith is great, his gifts will also be great. If
one’s gifts are great, his faith shall also be great. Both the two points
should be balanced. In this way, gifts will not be wasted for the sake of
little faith, nor be misapplied because of great faith.
8) God knows everything. He knows the capacity
of our faith and the condition of works that we can do. Therefore, He gives us
exact faith to use the gifts.
Rom. 12:4 “For as we have many
members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,”
YLT: “for as in one body we have many
members, and all the members have not the same office,”
Literal Meaning: “for as we have many members
in one body”, it takes an example of man’s body to describe the
relationship among believers and of believers with the assembly. The features
of body are as follows:
1) The body is living. The assembly consists of
all the believers who have the life of God, and is not composed of dead customs
or organizations, or of unbelievers.
2) There is only one body. The assembly is one
in Christ. Any work or condition that divides the assembly or destroys the
oneness of the assembly is not right.
3) In one body, there are many members that God
tempers (1Cor. 12:24). We have no freedom to accept not the members that God
tempers (
“But
all the members do not have the same function”, it means that all the members in a body should
have their functions respectively.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The assembly is like a body having many
members and including each member. Opportunities should be given to every
member in the body to let him work and perform his function.
2) Every member in the body has his “function”,
unless one is not in the body. However, the “function” of each member is not
the same. One can not replace the function of another.
3) He who has revelation of the truth of the
body will see each member has his function. Meanwhile, he will see he is only a
member of the body and will not place himself on a prominent position or
compare with others to occupy the positions of others. Once a Christian sees
the truth of the body, he will have no possibility of envy or pride.
4) In the
First Book of Corinthians, chapter twelve, it mentions that a member should
not occupy the position of others. In the
Book of Romans, chapter twelve, it hopes that each member should not give
up his position. When every member fulfills his function and serve together,
there will be reality of the church.
Rom. 12:5 “so we, being many, are
one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
YLT: “so we, the many, one body are in
Christ, and members each one of one another.”
Literal Meaning: “so we, being many”, the many believers
of us.
“Are
one body in Christ”, all those who have been saved are one body of
Christ. And the body of Christ’s body is one.
“And
individually members of one another”,
according to the original, every member exists for the sake of other members.
In the body of Christ, the existence of every member is not for himself, bur
for others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The relationship of Christians is like that
of the members of one body. they connect with each other. Therefore, we should
not be a Christian alone, but have fellowship, be gathered, pursue and serve
with all brothers and sisters.
2) “Are one body in Christ”,
it indicates that the church can only be one
“in Christ”. True oneness is built on the foundation that we are all “in
Christ”.
3) “And individually members of one another”, though we are members, if we have no
fellowship or contact, we cannot be members.
4) None of the members of the church, the body
of Christ, can be alone.
Each one should member one of the other. “The whole body is fitly joined
together from Christ” (Eph. 4:16).
5) We are not only believers but also members.
To be a member of the body is not a problem of knowledge only, but demands that
everyone should enter into the body. The opposite side of body is individual.
If we want to enter into the body, we should be delivered from individuals. It
is no problem that we are individual, but it should be forbidden if we fall
into individualism.
6) We are members, so we are not the whole,
even not a half of the body. Each of us is merely a small part of the body. To
be a member means that all our works and life are body-centered. Thus, the
service of members is the service of the body, and the walking of members is
the walking of members. There is no member who works for himself, but for the
body.
7) One member cannot represent the whole body,
but can influence the whole body.
8) The first side of those who have been saved
is the cooperate service of body. Yes, all that have seen the fullness of the
body will not ignore the cooperate service. For the cooperative service is the
vivid expression of the fullness of the Head. In other words, only those who
have firstly know the fullness of Christ and then know the meaning of the
church and manifest the reality of the church in life. The order is sure ----
the first eleven chapters are before this chapter.
9) What God will gain is not a man who is
saved, but a cooperate man. That we have presented our bodies (v.1) is for the
purpose of entering into the body of Christ. No matter how great the number of
individual Christians, no matter how zealous or spiritual they are, if they do
not live in the body of Christ, they can still not enter into the good and acceptable and
perfect will of God (v.2).
10) When we present our bodies, God puts us in
the body of Christ. In fact, when individuals disappear, the body of Christ
will manifest.
11) When we present our bodies, it is for the
purpose of manifesting the mysterious body of Christ. Therefore, if our
devotion has not been set in the body of Christ and the mysterious body of
Christ has not been manifested, our experience of devotion is still not
practical or detailed enough.
Rom. 12:6 “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;”
YLT: “And having gifts, different according
to the grace that was given to us; whether prophecy -- `According to the
proportion of faith!'”
Literal Meaning: “having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them”, “gifts” refer to the special talents
because of grace ---- gifts are given by God for the purpose of the need of the
body of Christ. “Differing”, it refers to the differences concerning nature,
function and degree.
“If
prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith”, “prophesy”: those who have spiritual inspiration
can declare the revelation and message of God so as to encourage, comfort and
exhort believers.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since the grace that everyone has enjoyed is
different, the gifts that everyone has obtained before God is also different.
Everyone who has gifts, no matter the minister of words or the minister of
service, should work according to the gifts that God has given to him.
2) We need not be envious of the gifts of
others, nor sign for our lack of gifts. We shall receive what God has given to
us.
3) Each of us should try our best to perform
our gifts given by God. Do not do beyond the portion of our faith. Leave
something to others. If you have done all the works, there will be no work for
others. It will be best in the church that everyone has to do his part. One
member should not do two parts, let alone the whole. We should give every
brother or sister chances to serve God, just like ourselves.
4) Believers should not deny the existence of
various gifts, nor refuse to use their gifts but abase themselves.
5) We often admire those spiritual ones ---- we
admire their gifts, not the spiritual reality. However, gifts are given by God
(see 1Cor. 12:11), so one does not need to be envious of gifts of others.
Rom. 12:7 “or ministry, let us use
it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;”
YLT: “or ministration -- `In the
ministration!' or he who is teaching -- `In the teaching!'”
Literal Meaning: “or ministry, let us use it
in our ministering”, “ministry”: those
who have the gifts of managing things (see 1Cor. 12:28) and can deal with
things in the church properly and serve the church and all. It also includes
those who help others to serve.
“He
who teaches, in teaching”, “teaching”, it is
cutting in a straight line the word of truth so that man can have right
understanding of God’s will and the truth in the Scriptures. Then, man can keep
them in life and lead a life worthy of the will of God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There are ministers of words here and
ministers of service in the assembly. The latter one is like the works of
Levites.
2) Everyone should know what he can do and what
gifts the Lord has given to him. Once he has known it, he should do it with his
whole heart.
3) Everyone should serve and serve with his
whole heart and do what he should do. In other words, one should not interfere
with the matter of others or tread upon the feet of others. Everyone should
work according to the gifts given by God. Man is inclined to do what should be
done by others, overstepping the bound of others.
4) In our service, we often like to compare
with others. Actually, God has given gift to everyone. We should treasure our
portion appointed by God and pay attention to our own portion.
Rom. 12:8 “he who exhorts, in
exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he
who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
YLT: “or he who is exhorting -- `In the
exhortation!' he who is sharing -- `In simplicity!' he who is leading -- `In
diligence?' he who is doing kindness -- `In cheerfulness.'”
Meaning of
Words: “liberality”: simplicity, singleness,
bountifulness; “cheerfulness”: merry, willingness;
Literal Meaning: “he who exhorts, in
exhortation”, “exhortation” means calling the one near to exhort him
with sympathetic and comforting attitude and words to stir up man’s spirit to
accomplish valuable works. The difference between “exhortation” and “teaching” is: teaching is to tell others
what should be done; exhortation is to help men to put it into practice.
“He
who gives, with liberality”, “he who gives” refers to the one who contributes his
properties. It may also include those who help him to distribute what he gives.
“Liberality” refers to upright motive, without any evil
motive.
“He
who leads, with diligence”, “he who leads”, it contains the meaning of “guidance,
governance and attendance”. Such man has the talent of being a leader and can
bring others together to accomplish the mission entrusted by God. “Diligence” indicates that the one takes the lead in
working personally. It is opposite to the leading way of the world, in which
the leaders control others orally without any practical participation.
“He
who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”,
“he who shows
mercy”: look after the
patient, the poor, the elder, the fatherless and widows. “Cheerfulness”, to
serve those who are in want of something is a good pleasure, not an unpleasant
task.
YLT: “The love unfeigned: abhorring the
evil; cleaving to the good;”
Meaning of
Words: “hypocrisy”: dissimulation, performance; “cling to”: hold
tight to; stick to;
Literal Meaning: “let love be without
hypocrisy”. “Love” here is a general principle to all. It is
different from “the brotherly
love” in verse ten, which is a kind of
particular love. “Without
hypocrisy”, it is true love,
not unfeigned.
“Abhor
what is evil”, here the “evil”
refers to wicked things, not wicked men. Concerning the wicked men, there are
also other teachings in this chapter (see v.14, 17-21).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The fundamental element of building the
church is love. We build the body in love (Eph. 4:16). However, wrong and false
love may pull down the church.
2) False love cannot help us see clearly evil
or good. Only true love can improve our discernment and see clearly what is
evil or good.
3) Let us not love with word, nor with tongue,
but in deed and in truth (1John 3:18).
4) Men often say that the way of keeping us
from sin is seeing the
abomination of sin. Garrel said that what we
need to see was the boundless beauty of holiness and the infinite abomination
of sin.
5) One thing we should be clear ---- many
people hate the result of sin, not sin itself. If the good of a man comes from
the fear of the result of sin, his good is not true.
6) Satan is the source of all evil. But it
often transforms himself into an angel of light (2Cor. 11:14). Therefore, we
should discern what is good apparently but evil in fact.
7) All that hurt God, the Lord, the assembly
are evil. We should abhor them.
8) God is good (see Matt. 19:17). All that lead
us into deeper fellowship with God are good, to which we should cling.
Rom. 12:10 “Be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;”
YLT: “in the love of brethren, to one
another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another;”
Literal Meaning: “be kindly affectionate to
one another with brotherly love”, “brotherly
love” refers to the love in God’s house. “Be
kindly affectionate to”: be careful of others. It shows that brothers in the
brotherly love are reluctant to part and often miss one another, and are not on
speaking terms or perfunctory.
“In
honor giving preference to one another”,
“in honor” means honoring the value of others; “giving preference to one another”, let others obtain the profits and enjoy
the enjoyments of others.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers should respect one another.
Disdain for others is the main reason for stumbling others. The offense against
others is rather severe before the Lord (see Matt. 18:6-7).
2)
Most of the
difficulties in the assembly relate to rights, reputation and status. Someone
has not been given his status. Someone is ignored. Or someone has not received
thanks from others. The natural men in most of us often want to stick to our
rights. However, a Christian has no right ---- he has only obligation. The sign of a
real Christian is always humiliation.
3)
If
we can “esteem the other as more excellent than themselves” (Phil. 2:3), it
will be not difficult to give preference to one another.
Rom. 12:11 “not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;”
YLT: “in the diligence not slothful; in
the spirit fervent; the Lord serving;”
Meaning
of Words: “diligence”: dispatch, eagerness,
earnestness; “lagging”: tardy, indolent, slothful;
Literal
Meaning: “not
lagging in diligence”, diligence is
the main reason for spiritual poverty;
“Fervent in spirit”, if the sober and clear
mind that has been renewed (see v.2) has not been kept in fervent spirit, one
may still “have no accomplishments”. Therefore, our spirit should often be
rekindled (2Tim. 1:6-7).
“Serving the Lord”, it can be interpreted in
two ways: 1) to serve the Lord as a bondman; 2) to make the opportunity to
serve the Lord;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians should not hold a frivolous
attitude to anything. Christians can be burnt, but can not become rusty.
2) “Not
lagging in diligence”, in other words,
he who is not on diligence is lagging. In spiritual things, we may desire do
the works as ten or even one hundred times as we do.
3) That we should be in diligence means that we
should be a man who is patient and zealous in serving God and fervent in
spirit. We should seek to serve God before God.
4) What the risen Christ can not bear most is
that one is neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:15-16).
5) One of the tragedies in one’s life is
letting the opportunity slip away. There are three things that will not return
---- the arrow that has been shot, the word that has been spoken, and the
chance that has been lost.
YLT: “in the hope rejoicing; in the
tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering;”
Meaning of
Words: “continuing steadfastly”: be earnest towards, persevere, be constantly diligent;
Literal Meaning: “rejoicing in hope”, the hope of
Christians will not come to nothing. This is the reason for our joy (
“Patient
in tribulation”, be patient in the hope of victory ---- this is the
necessary attitude for every Christian, for tribulation is unavoidable (John
16:33).
“Continuing
steadfastly in prayer”, one should not
merely pray in tribulation, but keep in fellowship with God at any time (see
Luke 18:1; 1Thess. 5:17).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christians should know that there is not a
work that is too difficult to be done by Him. “There is not a condition in
which there is no hope. He who thinks he has no hope is just worried about
troubles of one's own imagining”. There should be no Christians in the world
who have no hope.
2) What is fulfilled by prayer is greater than
any other outer work. God regards our prayer as more important than our works.
Rom. 12:13 “distributing to the needs
of the saints, given to hospitality.”
YLT: “to the necessities of the saints
communicating; the hospitality pursuing.”
Meaning of
Words: “distribute”: share with others, communicate,
be partaker;
Literal Meaning: “distributing to the needs of the saints”, it is not the
cooperate charity of the assembly, but personal help to Christians near us.
When they are undergoing difficulties, we should give help.
“Given
to hospitality”, to be hospitable
to guests is a clear characteristic of saints (see Gen. 18:1-5; 19:1-3; Heb.
13:2).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A true Christian must be willing to share
the spiritual and worldly riches with saints.
2) Christians have a common characteristic:
their hands are open, and their hearts are open and the doors of their families
are open.
3) A selfish Christian must be not a happy
Christian. A selfish Christian family must be not a happy Christian family.
Rom. 12:14 “Bless those who persecute
you; bless and do not curse.”
YLT: “Bless those persecuting you; bless,
and curse not;”
Literal Meaning: “bless those who persecute you”, the greatest blessing that man can obtain
is to be a Christian. Therefore, he who blesses others shows that he wishes
that the one whom he has blessed will be saved one day.
“Bless and do not curse”, both blessing and curse are concerned with
the eternal future of men. Christians should have the bowel of God, who desires
that all men should be saved and is not willing that any should perish (1Tim.
2:4; 2Pet. 3:9).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We Christians are blessed by God. Therefore,
we should bless and not curse others.
2) What mostly touches the persecutors’ heart
is that the one who is persecuted returns good for evil and requites
persecution with blessing. Many persecutors in history had become Christians
because of seeing the astonishing reactions of those who were persecuted.
Rom. 12:15 “Rejoice with those who
rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
YLT: “to rejoice with the rejoicing, and
to weep with the weeping,”
Literal Meaning: “rejoice with those who
rejoice”, actually, it is not an easy thing of rejoicing with
those who have succeeded. Men may tend to shed sympathetic tears instead of
abandoning their envy inside.
“And
weep with those who weep”, if a man wants to
sympathize with others, he should “identify with” others. Otherwise, it will be
unnatural.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
We should enter into the feeling of the body of
Christ so that we can suffer with the member who suffers and rejoice with the
one who rejoices (1Cor. 12:26).
2)
When we count the loss of others as that of
ourselves, we can naturally rejoice and weep with others together.
3)
The natural man is inclined to envy those who are
blessed and ignore those who are in grief. God desires that we shall share our
joy with others and have part in the grief of others.
Rom. 12:16 “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. ”
YLT: “of the same mind one toward another,
not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in
your own conceit;”
Literal Meaning: “be of the same mind toward
one another”. ---- A Christian shall be considerate towards
others and put himself in other's position.
“Do
not set your mind on high things”, do not set your mind on things that make you proud.
“But
associate with the humble”, one should
associate with humble men and care about humble things.
“Do not be wise in your own opinion”, a wise man
can be ruined by his own wisdom. He who thinks he is wise may cause a lot of
unnecessary troubles or hostility.
Rom. 12:17 “Repay no one evil for
evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ”
YLT: “giving back to no one evil for evil;
providing right things before all men.”
Meaning of
Words: “have regard for”: consider in advance, look out for
beforehand;
Literal Meaning: “repay no one evil for evil”, do not repay anyone.
“Have
regard for good things in the sight of all men”, Christians not only live before God but also
before all men. Therefore, we should think on good things in the sight of all
men (see Phil. 4:8) and plan to do them.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should always think that we live in the
world that is not perfect and we ourselves are not perfect men. Therefore, we
have to confess that we may more or less bring troubles to others and also
suffer the troubles caused by others. The troubles caused by us to others
should only be on account of ignorance, not hostility.
2) What Christians do should not only be good in the sight of all men but also surpass the standard of all. Contrarily,
Christians should never do what is evil in the sight of all.
Rom. 12:18 “If it is possible, as
much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
YLT: “If possible -- so far as in you --
with all men being in peace;”
Literal Meaning: “if it is possible”, it suggests that
there is possibility that it is impossible ---- when the fundamental faith is
threatened and the name of the Lord is put to shame, we should not seek peace
by compromise. As long as the basic principle has not been opposed and when
initiative is in our own hands, it is “possible”.
“As
much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men”, Christians should be sons of peace (see Luke
10:6). Sermon on the Mount of the Lord Jesus also mentions that “blessed the
peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There is precondition for Christians to live peaceably with all men. We should not sacrifice the testimony of
truth or join in the evil-doing for the sake of living peaceably with others.
2) He who seeks peace with all men has to pay
the cost ---- he has to be willing to let others take advantage of him and
willing to adjust him to others.
YLT: “not avenging yourselves, beloved,
but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance Mine,”
Literal Meaning: “do not avenge yourselves”, “avenge yourselves”, it means that one himself rises to avenge
the evil-doing of others.
“But
rather give place to wrath”, it indicates that
our concession to others is actually yielding it to God and letting God deal
with it.
“For
it is written”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy (32:35).
“Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord”. ---- The greatest reason why we Christians do
not avenge ourselves is that we are unwilling to
replace the position of God or oppose against the authority of God.
Rom. 12:20 “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." ”
YLT: “I will recompense again, saith the
Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him
drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head;”
Literal Meaning: “therefore”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Proverb (25:21-22).
“If
your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink”; to give what the
enemy is unworthy of to him; and to help the enemy actively when he is in need
of something;
“You
will heap coals of fire on his head”,
this is a popular idiom at that time, which means that “it makes him feel more
ashamed and as painful as burning”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The attitude of Christians towards the enemy
is not vengeance, but showing grace.
2) To make friends with the enemy is the only
way of removing the enmity of the enemy. To love the enemy is the only way of
eliminating enmity.
Rom. 12:21 “Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.”
YLT: “Be not overcome by the evil, but
overcome, in the good, the evil.”
Literal Meaning: “do not be overcome by evil”, one should not react
or deal with others in a worldly manner because of the evil-doings of others,
for it is unworthy of our Christian status.
“But
overcome evil with good”, to stick to the
principle of the walking of Christians. The power of the life of Christ will
finally help you overcome the difficulty ---- maybe you overcome the
difficulty, or maybe your testimony conquers the enemy, thus removing the
difficulty.
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
The Truth of
Presenting to God
A. The premise of presenting to God ----
“brethren”, who have been saved and born again;
B. The motive of presenting to God ---- “the mercies of God”;
C.
The decision of
presenting to
God ---- “beseech”, it is of willingness, not of necessity. Devotion is not a
reason, but a way that everyone who has been saved has to walk in. It is
“brethren”, not merely one brother or several ones.
D.
The
content of presenting to God ---- “present your bodies”, body
refers to the whole body, including one’s spirit, soul and body.
E.
The
purpose of presenting to God ---- “a living sacrifice”, “present” means that the sacrifice bound up to the horns of the altar near the altar is waiting for being
presented. That we present ourselves is not regarding us as bondmen, but
sacrifices. But the sacrifice in the Old Testament is offered for death, but we
for living ---- live for the Lord. Of course, those who have present themselves
also prepare to die for the Lord at any time, just as the sacrifice bound up to
the horns of the altar.
F.
The
benefit of presenting to God:
1. It is holy:
what is presented to God will belong to God,
namely, holy offerings, because holy things will not be used commonly.
2.
It is acceptable to God: the purpose of God’s
redemption is making man present him to God.
3.
That one can serve
God: the devotion to God itself is service as well as the beginning of service.
Without devotion, there is no service. “Service” is the work of a priest.
G. What should be paid attention to after
presenting to God ---- “do
not be conformed to this world”;
H. The pursuit after presenting to God ---- “be transformed by the
renewing of your mind”, “transform”: to
change the form. He who has presented him to God should not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by God. How will he be changed? It is not
started from outside, but inside. Once one’s mind is renewed, the outside
condition of him will also be changed. How will one’s mind be renewed? The new
man is renewed into full knowledge (Col. 3:10), which is the understanding of
the will of God, “that
one may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God”. “Prove” can also
be translated as “test” or “examine”. One should take heed of the will of God,
lest there be man’s mind intermingled therein.
Three Principles of
Being a Good Christian
A. He should have the realization of “presenting his body a living sacrifice” (v.1):
1. To present “holy works” to God as a living
sacrifice;
2. To present “holy words” to God as a living
sacrifice;
B. He should have the determination of “not being
conformed to this world” (v.2):
1. Do not conform the social environment in which
money is given the priority;
2. Do not conform the social environment
characterized by self-centeredness;
3. Do not conform men in the world who so
emphasize practicality;
C. He should have the desire of “being
transformed by the renewing of your mind” (v.2):
1. To change one’s mind by reading the
Scriptures;
2. To change one’s mind by prayers;
To Present One’s
Life to God (v.1-2)
A. Do not be conformed to this world:
1. We should not follow or imitate the
“avaricious” social mood;
2. We should not follow or imitate the social
mood “that is indifferent to the truth”;
B. Be transformed by the renewing of one’s mind:
1. The first path of progress and renewal for
Christians is often self-examination;
2. The second path of progress and renewal for
Christians is to read the Scriptures diligently;
C. Prove what is
the will of
God:
1. The above-mentioned two points are the two
most elementary and fundamental requirements of
knowing the will of God;
2. The ultimate purpose of proving the will of
God is that we are willing to believe and obey the environment that God has
arranged and His guidance;
How To Perform the
Gifts?
A. One shall firstly present his body to God (v.1) ---- so that one’s gifts
shall be performed efficaciously,
thus glorifying God and doing good to men;
B. One shall prove the will of God
(v.2) ---- to perform one’s gifts according to the will of God;
C. One shall think himself soberly (v.3) ---- the
performance of one’s gifts should not go beyond the measure of his faith;
D. All believers are individually members of one another (v.5) ---- one shall respect the gifts of
others when performing his own gifts;
E. The performance of one’s gifts should be in proportion to his faith (v.6) ---- the
performance of one’s gifts should not go beyond the truth (not go against the
truth);
F. One shall work with his whole heart, with
liberality, with diligence and with cheerfulness (v.7-8) ---- one should do
everything heartily, not strive for reputation nor muddle through his work;
The Relationship of
Christians with Many Parts
A. Our relationship with God ---- we can serve
and worship Him through presenting the whole body to God (v.1-2);
B. Our relationship with ourselves ---- we
shall think us soberly (v.3);
C. Our relationship with the members ---- we
are individually
members of one another and perfecting one
another (v.4-16);
D. Our relationship with the opponents ---- we
shall overcome
evil with good (v.14, 17-21);
The Church Life
Requires the Participation of the Whole Man of Us
A. The presenting of one’s body (v.1);
B. The renewal and transformation of one’s soul
(mind);
C. Being fervent in spirit (v.11);
The Three “Fire”s in
This Chapter
A. The first “fire” ---- towards God:
1. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice” (v.1);
2. Once we have presented ourselves to God, the
fire of God will burn us and make us an offering to Him of a sweet odor;
3. This is the holy fire, not strange fire;
4. The fire will burn from our bodies and burn
into our soul and spirit;
B. The second “fire” ---- towards believers:
1. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love …fervent in spirit” (v.10-11);
2. Only when the fire of God has burnt in us,
we can have normal church life and are fervent in the ways we get along with
other members;
C. The third “fire” ---- towards the world:
1. “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.” (v.20)
2. To those who are hostile to and oppose and
disbelieve the faith, the holy fire in us will be spread out to those who get
in touch with us.
3. The fire will thoroughly melt the stubborn
thoughts of the enemy.
Three Principles of
Being a Good Member
A. One shall think that “he is useful to” the
body (v.3-5):
1. “Think soberly”,
it reminds us of our importance.
2. “Think soberly”,
it reminds us that we should humbly know the importance of every member.
B. One shall know that “he is of God” (v.6):
1. Everyone in the church has his gifts and
talents, just as we
have many members in one body ;
2. Our gifts and talents are given by God and
should be unto Him;
3. God can bestow gift and talent to men. He
could, and He can and He will always be able to;
C. One shall be with “the sense of
responsibility” for the church (v.7-8):
1. We should clearly know that our talents
shall be used in the church to serve God so as to glorify God.
2. Such sense of responsibility is an active
attitude ---- one serves God in the church with his own talents.
Gifts
A. Particular gifts (v.3-8);
B. Common gifts (v.9-21);
We Should …
A. We should think soberly (v.3-4).
B. We should be individually members of one another (v.5-15).
C. We should be humble (v.16-21).
Treatment Toward
Others
A. We should serve one another with our gifts
in the assembly and be individually
members of one another (v.3-5).
B. We Christians should treat each other as
brother in love (v.9-16).
C. We should treat the enemies as friends
(v.17-21).
Members
A. We should think soberly (v.3).
B. We should be individually members of one another (v.5).
C. We should serve according to our faith and stature (v.6-8).
D. We should be kindly affectionate … and give
preference to one another (v.10).
E. We should help each other and identify with
each other (v.13, 15).
Three Principles of
Being a Good Believer in the Assembly
A. To believers ---- one should have true love
(v.9-10, 13):
1. Such true love is “without hypocrisy” by nature;
2. True love includes the principle of “abhorring what is evil and clinging to what is good”;
3. True love will be presented in the attitude
of “being
kindly affectionate to one another”;
4. True love will show “honor and modesty” worthy of saints;
5. True love has a willingness of “distributing to the needs
of others and giving others hospitality”;
B. To God ---- one should have faithful service
(v.11):
1. Faithful service is “persistent” service;
2. Faithful service is “fervent” service;
3. Faithful service is serving heartily;
4. Faithful service is “diligent” service;
C. To the environment ---- one should have the
determined will of victory (v.12-13):
1. The first secret of overcoming the
environment is “rejoicing
in hope”.
2. The second secret of overcoming the
environment is “being patient
in tribulation”.
3. The third secret of overcoming the
environment is “being continuing
steadfastly in prayer”.
Love
A. Holy love ---- Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor
what is evil. Cling to what is good
(v.9);
B. Affectionate love
---- Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love (v.10);
C. Fervent love ---- Be fervent in spirit (v.11);
D. Amazing love ---- Bless those who persecute you; bless
and do not curse (v.14);
E. Sympathetic love ---- Rejoice with those who
rejoice (v.15);
F. Humble love ---- Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things
(v.16);
G. Modest love ---- Repay no one evil for evil. Have
regard for good things in the sight of all men (v.17);
Five Aspects of the
Life of Christians
A. To others (v.9-10, 13, 15-16);
B. To God (v.11);
C. To one’s self (v.12);
D. To persecutors and the enemies (v.14,
17-21);
E. To all men (v.17);
To Be a Good
Believer Among the Gentiles
A. One should know how to treat others well
(v.14):
1. To treat others with “goodness” may move and
impel the persecutors to God;
2. To treat others with “goodness” can be
children of God the Father;
B. One should know how to show loving care for
others (v.15):
1. A good believer who knows how to show loving
care for others can “rejoice
with those who rejoice”;
2. A good believer who knows how to show loving
care for others can “weep
with those who weep”;
C. One should know how to show respect to
others (v.16):
1. A good believer who knows how to show
respect to others can preserve himself from “setting his mind on high things”;
2. A good believer who knows how to show
respect to others can preserve himself from “being
wise in his own opinion”;
D. One should know how to show mercy to others
(v.17-21):
1. One should have the determination of “repaying no one evil for evil”；
2. One should have the wisdom of “having
regard for good things”;
3. One should have the willingness of “living
peaceably with all men”;
4. One should have the great ambition of “overcoming evil with good”;
a) We have no right of judgment, for there is
not one who has the right of judgment, except for God;
b) Only mercy can melt man’s heart and convert
enemies into friends, “heap
coals of fire on his head”.
c) What should be conquered is not others, but
our heart that devices vengeance.
The Same…
A. The same joy ---- “rejoice with those who rejoice” (v.15);
B. The same tears ---- “weep with those who weep” (v.15);
C. The same mind ---- “Be of the same mind toward one another (v.16).” How can we be of the same mind toward one
another? “Do
not set our mind on high things”.
D. The same association ---- “but associate with the
humble (v.16)”. One should
not think highly of himself nor look down on others, but be willing to
cooperate with others.
E. The same sight ---- “Have regard for good things
in the sight of all men (v.17).” “Have sight”: “making preparation for”; a
spiritual man is not a stubborn man, but a man who has the spirit of
corporation and is willing to cooperate with others in everything.
F. Be friends together ---- regard the enemies
as friends or convert enemies into friends (v.19-21);
1. Do not avenge yourselves, “but
rather give place to wrath”.
2. To overcome evil with love;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou