SO THEN, MY BROTHERS. In the first eleven Chapter s, Paul showed us man's guilt and God's offer of salvation. Now he shows us the obligation which God places on those who reach out through faith to seize the sacrifice of Christ and make themselves part of it. See notes on _law_ at the end of _chapte... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT CONFORM OUTWARDLY. This is an evil age/world (Galatians 1:4) and Satan is the evil god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). The exact opposite of "offering yourselves as a living sacrifice," is to _let the world squeeze you into its mold._ BUT LET GOD TRANSFORM YOU. This is written to Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BECAUSE OF GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFT TO ME. His authority as an apostle. DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELVES MORE HIGHLY. Spiritual gifts were likely as much of a problem (or would be a problem) as at Corinth. Rank has no place in the messianic community (_compare_ John 13:1-17). Everything you have has been _... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE MANY PARTS. Our human bodies are made up of many different parts, each fulfilling its separate function for the good of the whole.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY. Christians form one body or messianic community under the rule of Christ who is the head. WE ARE ALL JOINED TO EACH OTHER. Just as the parts of our natural body are joined together. Each Christian is "Spirit-filled" (Acts 5:32), and the Spirit welds us together into one body (1 Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE ARE TO USE OUR DIFFERENT GIFTS. Each one in the messianic community has his duties, just as the hand or foot or eye of the body. Compare 1 Corinthians 12:4-7. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GRACE. Compare Romans 12:3. Seven gifts are now mentioned. The first four are "official," and some are supernorm... [ Continue Reading ]
OR IF IT IS TO SERVE. Acts 6:2-3. IF IT IS TO TEACH. A church leader/elder was supposed to be a teacher.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IT IS TO ENCOURAGE _OTHERS._ Acts 4:36; Acts 9:26-27. WHOEVER SHARES. 2 Corinthians 9:11-13. AUTHORITY. 1 PETER 5:1-4. KINDNESS. 2 Corinthians 9:7; Galatians 6:1-2.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE MUST BE COMPLETELY SINCERE. Compare _1 Corinthians 13._ HATE WHAT IS EVIL. A Christian cannot love evil and love God at the same time. HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD. We are to seize good and make ourselves part of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Being "one in Christ" is not _make-believe!_ A _real_ love and kindness welds us together and makes us honor each other. John 13:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
WORK HARD. A Christian may "burn out," but never "rust out!" SERVE THE LORD. The "spiritual temperature" is to be _high_ in the messianic community!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR HOPE KEEP YOU JOYFUL. The _evidence_ of the Holy Spirit living in the Christian is: faith, hope, and love. From heaven's view, they are the supreme miracles of divine grace. BE PATIENT IN YOUR TROUBLES. Romans 5:3-5. PRAY AT ALL TIMES. Luke 18:1. We see this in the life of Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHARE YOUR BELONGINGS. Galatians 6:10; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 6:1-7. OPEN YOUR HOMES TO STRANGERS. The things in this verse were especially important in the first century, when persecution often forced Christians to "run for their lives." Christianity is a faith with an open hand, an open heart, and an... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK GOD TO BLESS. If you can do this, you are a transformed person! See note on Matthew 5:44. Christ did this as he hung on the cross!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
BE HAPPY. A Christian will share the joys and sorrows of others, especially other Christians.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE THE SAME CONCERN FOR ALL ALIKE. Treat your fellow Christian as you would want him to treat you. Compare James 2:1-4. DO NOT BE PROUD. "Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty." Jesus made himself the servant of others. DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELVES AS WISE. Compare Luke 18:9-14.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT PAY HIM BACK WITH EVIL. Our human nature wants revenge! It may be hard to return good for evil, _but it is required,_ and the rewards are great. _See_ John 13:35 and note. TRY TO DO. See Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. Sometimes it is impossible, but it must never be the Christian who is at fault. Compare Matthew 5:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVER TAKE REVENGE. If someone does you wrong, _you harm yourself by_ taking revenge. Some condition in the church at Rome must have been the reason for this strong statement from Paul. Not the one who thinks he has been wronged, but rather God, is the moral judge of all. Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTEAD, AS THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21-22 Septuagint. Compare 2 Kings 6:22; Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28. A Christian is not passively non-resistive, but _actively repays_ hostility with love!!! The purpose of Christ is not to destroy, but to save!!! This must be our purpose as wel... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT LET EVIL DEFEAT YOU. If the Christian takes revenge and returns evil for evil, he has been defeated. This is Paul's point here. Conquer evil with good. This is the only answer. Good is stronger than evil, even though this may not seem true at the time. Taking revenge does not change your enem... [ Continue Reading ]