BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Paul’s use of “therefore” at the beginning of chapter 12—meaning “in light of all I have stated previously”—is key in his epistle to the Romans. After discussing humanity’s sinfulness and the remedy through Jesus’ death (ch. 18), and God’s dealings with Israel (chapters 9-11), Paul transitions in chapter 12 to practical Christian living. He begins by urging believers to consecrate themselves to God (v. 1), o ering their whole selves as living, holy, and acceptable sacrifices. The Greek verb for “present” in the aorist tense emphasizes a decisive, one-time act. Unlike Old Testament sacrifices, Paul calls for a “living” sacrifice, set apart for God’s use. In verse 2, Paul explains that consecration leads to transformation. Christians are not to conform to the world but be transformed through the ongoing renewal of the mind. In verses 3-8, he emphasizes humility, urging believers not to take pride in their gifts but to recognize them as God-given. Unity within the body of Christ is essential, and believers must serve one another humbly. The word “prophecy” refers to inspired speech, not future predictions, while “ministry” means service, including both spiritual and material support. Paul continues by urging love and humility among believers and within society. He calls for genuine love (v. 9), honouring fellow Christians (v. 10), and being energetic in service (v. 11). Christians are also instructed to rejoice, be patient, pray in hardship (v. 12), care for the saints (v. 13), and bless enemies (v. 14). They should share in joys and sorrows (v. 15), live humbly (v. 16), avoid evil (v. 17), and strive for peace (v. 18). Finally, they should leave vengeance to God (v. 19) and overcome evil with good (vv. 20-21). In chapter 13, Paul shifts to the Christian’s responsibilities as citizens. He advocates submitting to governing authorities, who are ordained by God (vv. 1-7), and fulfilling duties like paying taxes (vv. 6-7). In verses 8-10, he stresses the unending obligation of Christians to love others, fulfilling the law through love (v. 10). In verse 14, Paul emphasizes living a sanctified life by putting on Christ and rejecting sinful desires. In chapter 14, Paul addresses the relationship between weak and strong believers. The “weak” are those with hypersensitive consciences, while the “strong” are more liberal in their practices. The strong are instructed not to judge the weak, and the weak are told not to condemn the strong (vv. 1-4). Using the example of eating meat sacrificed to idols (vv. 2-3), Paul encourages believers to respect each other’s consciences, as each is accountable to God. In verses 5-6, he addresses di ering views on observing Jewish festivals, urging them to act in a way that honours God without judging others (vv. 10-12). Paul stresses the importance of not causing others to stumble (vv. 13-23). Mature believers should be willing to forego personal liberties for the sake of weaker brethren, avoiding behaviours that might lead others to violate their consciences. The phrase “Let not then your good be evil spoken of” (v. 16) warns against misunderstandings of good intentions. Paul concludes by urging believers not to let personal convictions damage the unity of the church or lead others into guilt (v. 23). The liberties Paul endorses are not about disregarding morality but concerning non-essential matters like ceremonial observances.

A TESTIMONY FROM OUR DAY

True love for God is shown by fulfilling His commands, including the mandate to love others. Rees Howell (1879-1950), founder of The Bible College of Wales, learned this lesson early in his Christian walk. After his conversion in 1904 and returning to Wales during the great revival, Rees consecrated himself and his resources to the Lord and received the Holy Spirit. Soon after, the Spirit placed a burden on his heart for a man named Jim Stakes, a notorious drunkard. Jim’s conversion caused a stir, but Rees sensed the devil was trying to pull him back. As Rees prayed, he vowed to do anything to keep Jim from falling back. Later that day, Jim came to Rees for help, revealing he was two years behind on his rent. Without hesitation, Rees promised to cover one year’s rent, but as he went upstairs to get the money, the Holy Spirit convicted him to give the full two years. Rees returned to Jim and gave him everything he needed, saying, “I am to deliver you in such a way that the devil can’t use this situation anymore.” This act of love brought joy and transformed Jim’s wife, who also converted. In today’s key verse, Paul emphasizes that followers of Christ owe a debt of love to others, for “he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Rees Howell was under no legal obligation to help Jim, but the Holy Spirit prompted him to act. Love led Rees to respond, regardless of the personal cost. Loving others might not always involve prayer, money, or social acceptance, but it might. Will we, like Rees Howell, surrender ourselves fully and let God love others through us, no matter the cost? In Romans 14:10, Paul reminds us that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so we should live with that day in mind. We are not to judge others but focus on our own lives and interactions to ensure they meet God’s approval. It’s spiritually beneficial to emulate the godly qualities in others, rather than criticize their flaws. Since “everyone of us shall give account of himself to God” (v. 12), we should judge ourselves and evaluate our walks with God. Are we respectful, encouraging, humble, and careful not to cause others to stumble? Our attitude toward others reflects our inward character, so we must strive to meet God’s expectations with His help.

A CLOSER LOOK

Question 1
Paul’s words in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you . . .” indicate a fervent appeal. In essence, he was saying, “I strongly appeal to you; I implore you.” He went on to urge the believers to present (or consecrate) themselves completely to God. What three words did the Apostle use to describe the sacrifice he was encouraging them to make? What was the significance of each word?
Question 2
Paul went on in Romans 12:2 to state that believers were not to be “conformed” to the world, but rather “transformed.” The Greek word translated conformed literally means “to be molded or stamped according to a pattern.” Withstanding pressure to conform will take e ort. What are some ways we can actively resist being “molded” or “stamped” with the characteristics and philosophies of the world?
Question 3
In verses 9-21 of chapter 12, Paul gave a series of brief injunctions that emphasized how an inward transformation was to be evidenced in love for the brethren. Review the list of instructions in these verses. Which directive stands out to you as being particularly applicable to the circumstances of your life, and how might you put the principle into action?
Question 4
To whom or what does Paul say every soul is to be subject? How would you explain Romans 13:7 in your own words?
Question 5
In Romans 13:8, Paul stated that followers of Christ have an obligation of love to others, “for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” He repeated the same thought in verse 10. Why do you think the Apostle regarded love as a “fulfillment” of the Law?
Question 6
In chapter 14, Paul addressed interactions between strong and weak (or spiritually immature) believers. He admonished strong Christians to be cautious and protective in their dealings with the weak, not to pass judgment on a weaker believer’s perspective, and to refrain from contending with him about insignificant details. In verses 2-3, what example did Paul use to make his point clear?
Question 7
What are some actions we could take to encourage spiritually vulnerable believers?

TAKE HOME

God has called each of us. Are you thriving in your place in God’s kingdom? Although we can never repay the tremendous debt of love we owe to God, we are called to keep His commandment to love others freely and sacrificially. We must be careful not to adopt the attitude of a judge in our relationships — that is God’s role! Our focus should be on making sure our personal attitude is always one of encouragement and support for others.