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    Romans Chapter 12:1-21
    ​Lesson 307     
    ​
    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    The transformed life.
    Christian responsibilities (part one of two).
    Be a living sacrifice (12:1-2). 
    Spiritual gifts (12:4-8).
     
    What does God expect from us?
    How to live with unbelievers (12:17-21).
     
    Beginning with this lesson and running through
    verse 15:13 (lesson 310), practical applications of Christian faith. 
     
    Note the similarities of this chapter to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29).
    Look for teachings on humility, the church, spiritual gifts, love, patience, prayer, hospitality, empathy, and service.    ​
    Study Tip:
     
    As you study the Bible, use the investigative journalists five W's technique. 
    As you read each passage, ask yourself who, what, when, where, and why.​     ​

    The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

    The King James Bible    ​



    Romans 12:1-21
    Living sacrifice

    1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
     
    2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
     
    3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
     
    4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
     
    5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
     
    6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
     
    7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
     
    8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
     
    9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
     
    10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
     
    11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
     
    12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
     
    13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
     
    14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
     
    15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
     
    16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
     
    17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
     
    18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
     
    19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
     
    20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
     
    21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

    ​
    Margin notes:
     
    "I beseech you." (12:1) - Means "I beg you."
     
    "Therefore." (12:1) - A connecting word tying the last verse (11:36) to what Paul is about to say.
     
    "By the mercies of God." (12:1) - God is the "Father of mercies" (2 Corinthians 1:3).
     
    "Present your bodies a living sacrifice," (12:1) - Mosaic Law required a never-ending series of animal sacrifices.  Animal sacrifices are no longer needed.  Under the New Covenant, "God wants us to offer ourselves, not animals, as living sacrifices - daily laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our  energy and resources at his disposal and trusting him to guide us.  We  do  this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven."  (The "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2251).
     
    "Your reasonable service." (12:1) - Means, "Your spiritual work."
     
    "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (12:2) - Change your life by changing the way you look at things.  Be a new person with a new way of thinking (Colossians 3:10).
     
    "That ye may prove what is good." (12:2) - "That you may show what is good." 
     
    "The grace given unto me." (12:3) - The "grace" Paul refers to is his "mission" to preach the Gospel to Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8; 4:7).  Each believer has a mission, and the Holy Spirit gives them the tools to carry out that mission (1 Corinthians 12:11).
     
    "We have many members in one body." (12:4) - This means there are many parts to a human body. 
     
    "All members have not the same office." (12:4) - "Not all parts have the same job."
     
    "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us." (12:6) - God dispenses gifts (talents) to each person differently based on His wisdom and plan.  We can recognize the talents given us by doing a "sober" appraisal of ourselves (12:3).  Are you serving God with the talents He gave you? 
     
    "Or ministry." (12:7) - "Or serving."
     
    "Exhortheth." (12:8) -  To advise, comfort, or encourage. 
     
    "Do it with simplicity." (12:8) - "Do it with generosity."
     
    "He that ruleth, with diligence." (12:8) - "Those who lead, do it with diligence."  
     
    "Let love be without dissimulation." (12:9) - Don't allow your love to become fake or hypocritical. Keep love sincere and readily shown.  God, via the Holy Ghost, is the source of our love for each other (5:5).
     
    "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." (12:9) - From Amos 5:15.
     
    "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." (12:10) - This means be devoted to each other.
     
    "Rejoicing in hope." (12:12) - Be joyful in the hope of God's promise of salvation.
     
    "Patient in tribulation." (12:12) - "Patient in troubled times."
     
    "Continuing instant in prayer." (12:12) - "Continuing in constant prayer."
     
    "Distributing to the necessity of saints." (12:13) - Means be charitable to believers in need.
     
    "Bless them which persecute you." (12:14) - An excellent verse to remember when people fail you.  See also Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-33.
     
    "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (12:15) - "Be happy for those who find good fortune and cry for those facing hard times."  As Job did (Job 30:25).  See also 1 Corinthians 12:26.
     
    "Be of the same mind." (12:16) - "Be at peace with each other."  This teaching is reinforced in Philippians 2:2.
     
    "Be not wise in your own conceits." (12:16) - From Proverbs 3:7, meaning "Don't be full of yourself."
     
    "Recompense to no man evil for evil." (12:17) - Don't seek revenge.
     
    "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you." (12:18) - "If it's possible, as much as it depends on you."
     
    "Give place unto wrath." (12:19) - Leave revenge to God. 
     
    "It is written, Vengeance is mine." (12:19) - "Written" in Deuteronomy 32:35.  Punishment awaits sinners.
     
    "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." (12:20) - This same message appears in Proverbs 25:21.
     
    "Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." (12:20) - Paraphrased from Proverbs 25:22.  It means making someone feel embarrassed (red-faced) and remorseful over their bad behavior.  But making them remorseful should be done out of love and not out of anger or revenge.  It should be a learning lesson to encourage repentance.  See Luke 6:27-42 (lessons 116 and 117) for guidance.


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Romans 12:1-21
    A Living Sacrifice to God
     
    1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

    2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
     
    3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

    4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,

    5 so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
     
    6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

    7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

    8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
     
    9 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

    10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

    11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

    12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

    13 When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
     
    14 Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.

    15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

    16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
     
    17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

    ​18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
     
    19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
     
      "I will take revenge;
          I will pay them back,"
          says the Lord.
     
    20 Instead,
     
      "If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
          If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
       In doing this, you will heap
          burning coals of shame on their heads."
     
    21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:

    1. What is Paul's message to the Romans (and us) in this segment?​




    "The Bible is the most priceless possession of the human race." 

    Henry H. Halley (1874-1965)
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​
    1. In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul showed the doctrines of the Gospel and their connection to Jew and Gentile.  Beginning with this segment, Paul starts pulling it all together.  This chapter is Paul's first lesson on what it means to follow Christ and how to live as Christians.  In order to honor God, Paul urges us to be obedient from the heart (1 Samuel 15:22) and to worship by offering ourselves as living sacrifices (12:1).  We do this by putting aside our own desires, turning our backs on sin, spiritually renewing our minds (12:2; Ephesians 4:23), and refusing to conform "to this world" (12:2).  
     
    Paul also tells us to show gratitude to God by being of service to others (12:3-8) and outlines our obligations to each other in verses 12:9-21.​

    ​ 
          
    Application thought for the day:
     
    "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
    that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (12:2)
     
    Do you cling to an evil habit in your life?
    Even though you are of this world, don't let it mold you into a selfish, corrupt person. 
    To discover the will of God and become the person He wants you to be, let Him renew your mind.  
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    © 2024 evolke  ​