The Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Studies in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Lesson 28 : The Believer’s Call to Obedience (12:1–21)

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT (12:1–15:13) – THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VERSES 1 AND 2 – DO NOT CONFORM TO THIS SINFUL, DYING AGE – “CONFORM” AND GREEK GRAMMAR – “PROVE, APPROVE” THE WILL OF GOD – GUIDANCE FROM THE RENEWAL OF OUR MINDS – PAUL USES HIS APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY TO GIVE CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF THE TRANSFORMED LIFE – GOD HAS ‘MEASURED TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH’ – THE METAPHOR OF THE BODY – PAUL’S EXHORTATION TO USE OUR GIFTS – GIFTS SOVEREIGNLY BESTOWED – PROPHECY: PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S TRUTH – ACCORDING TO THE PROPORTION OF FAITH – ONE WHO SHARES: DO SO GENEROUSLY, STRAIGHTFORWARDLY AND WITHOUT ULTERIOR MOTIVES – ONE WHO RULES: DO SO WITH EAGERNESS, DILIGENCE – SHOW MERCY: DO SO WITH CHEERFULNESS – LOVE “WITHOUT HYPOCRISY” – TWO STRONG EXHORTATIONS CONNECTED WITH “SINCERE LOVE” – BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN BROTHERLY LOVE – HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES – DO NOT BECOME LAZY IN REGARDS TO OUR LOVE AND ESTEEM FOR EACH OTHER – SERVE THE LORD THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE NATURAL PARTNERS OF HOPE, ENDURANCE AND PRAYER – FELLOWSHIP (NOT WITH CHRISTIANS BUT) WITH THE “NEEDS” OF CHRISTIANS – GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO PROVIDE HOSPITALITY – CALL ON GOD TO BESTOW FAVOR ON THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU – GENUINE LOVE IDENTIFIES WITH OTHERS’ JOYS AND SORROWS – HAVE THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS THAT SPRING FROM A RENEWED MIND – PRIDE: THE BARRIER TO UNITY – “BUT WITH THE LOWLY BE CARRIED AWAY WITH” – DO NOT USE OURSELVES AS THE STANDARD FOR WISDOM – DO NOT RETALIATE AGAINST OUR PERSECUTORS – PLAN TO DO GOOD – FORGIVE OTHERS AS WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN – GIVE WAY TO “THE” WRATH – GOD’S PROPHETIC ANNOUNCEMENT: “I WILL AVENGE” – “HEAPING COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD”