Interpersonal relationships – the source of the strongest bonds of love and the most intense animosities and hostilities. When Paul wrote Romans, he was writing to a church that was composed of both Jews and Gentiles. In the past three chapters (9-11), Paul taught them about unity from a theological perspective. Now, he has to teach them about unity from a practical perspective.
“Therefore,” Paul begins chapter 12, Christians need to offer their bodies in humility to God as living sacrifices (vs 1). In doing so, we can live our lives in a way that pleases God as well as provides the best opportunity to have strong relationships with those around us. This “offering of a sacrifice” begins in the mind (vs 2).
So, we should not think more highly of ourselves than is healthy (vs 3). The church, each congregation of the church, is composed of many members (vs 4). But there is only one body (vs 5). We have different functions but we all contribute to the health of the whole. Those different functions, or gifts as Paul calls them, are given by the grace of God (vs 5). Let us use them appropriately for the sake of building up the church as a whole.
Whether it is prophesying (we would say “preaching” in this age), or serving (perhaps a reference to deacons), teaching, or exhorting, giving or leading (perhaps a reference to elders), or showing mercy, we should seek to build up others, especially fellow Christians (vss 6-8).
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In verses 9-13, Paul lists a series of commands to help Christians offer their bodies as living sacrifices to God. Love should be pure and without hypocrisy. We should stay away from what God defines as evil and immerse ourselves in what is good. We should be devoted to fellow Christians with the love of brothers, giving preference to fellow Christians. We need to be diligent and fervent in our spirits, serving the Lord with enthusiasm. When we are discouraged, we should rejoice in hope. We should persevere in our tribulations and we should always be devoted to prayer. Other Christians should be the recipients of our generosity.
Finally, offering our bodies as living sacrifices, metaphorically speaking, offering our bodies as an act of worship to God (vs 1), also involves having the right mental attitude toward those who consider themselves our enemies (vss 14-21). We should ask God’s blessings on them. We should rejoice with those who have been blessed. We should be humble in spirit and not think we are smarter than everyone else. We should not return evil toward those who have done evil against us.
As much as it lies within our power, we should live peaceably with all men and not take revenge against others. Let God do that, as even the OT teaches us in Proverbs 20:22 and 24:29. But, when people commit evil against us, we should respond with good. In doing so, we might just win them to Christ!
Paul Holland
