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I memorized Romans 12 (NASB) in 1974, and the chapter became a mainstay in my life. Let’s read it today. (Go ahead, I’ll wait.)
The chapter has three sections. The first begins with the word “mercy.” The second “grace,” and the third “love.” A scholar said. . .
When considering Romans 12, remember that mercy is God withholding the judgment that we deserve, grace is God giving us blessings we don’t deserve and that both grace and mercy are motivated by the love of God that we should emulate.
This quote summarizes Romans 12, but let’s take a closer look at each section. (If you didn’t read it at the beginning of this blog post, please pause and do so now.)
First section: Mercy!
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship (v. 1, NASB).
As a radical and just-saved believer, Romans 12:1 became my Christian “life cry” as I wanted to present myself as a living — not dead — sacrifice to God. My life purpose and all my desires should be a “spiritual service of worship” focused on God.
Then, I discovered that Romans 12 teaches an unusual pattern of growth.
I’ve heard coach-types say, “Change your mind, and your actions will follow.” This chapter teaches the opposite by “presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice” or “change our actions, then our minds will follow.”
It’s true — love, and you will want to love; give, and you will want to give; pray, and you will want to pray. And in this “action-before-mind” attitude pattern of spiritual maturity, we discover God’s will for our lives. . .
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (v. 2).
To summarize: Romans 12:1-2 focuses on God’s mercy or the withholding of the consequences of failure through which we develop the grateful discipleship of serving Him in a good, acceptable, and perfect manner by actions yielding a renewed mind that reveals God’s will.
Section Two: Grace!
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (vv. 3-4).
For the first 10 years of meditating on Romans 12, the phrase “a measure of faith” bothered me. It sounded like some of you get more faith than me and I want more faith than you!!!
This passage seemed to be elevating some while decrying others.
Then I realized that the Greek word for “measure” is “metron,” which means a “standard” or “same for all”! Whew, I get the same standard or measure of faith that you do. No need for me to be jealous!
And the Apostle Peter confirms the Apostle Paul’s thoughts when he writes. . .
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1).
To summarize: We all have access to faith, but we have the problem of how we use it, not whether it’s there. Referring to verses 1 and 2, faith actualizes with a sacrificial life, yielding a renewed mind that knows and seeks to fully walk in God’s perfect will.
Okay, I’m not finished with this chapter. Tomorrow, I will continue with Interruption #1479. I look forward to reading Romans 12 further.