Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
According to some, in chapters 12-16 of Romans, we come to the practical section of Paul’s great letter. According to them, “it is a part of the letter for which many people have been waiting, since ours is a practical age and most people want ‘practical’ teaching. Yet this is probably not the best way to speak about the material in these chapters, because to call these chapters practical suggests that the doctrinal chapters are not practical and that is a serious misunderstanding of the nature of Christian doctrine. Doctrine is practical. And practical material must be doctrinal if it is to be of any use at all. Therefore, it seems better to say that Romans 12-16- contains applications of the practical teaching about justification, grace, salvation, etc. presented earlier.” [BSF]
Since we have been saved and set on the path of godly living, we should live differently from the way we lived before and differently from the way the world lives. Briscoe explains: “There were, of course, two main kinds of offerings [before Christ] first, those which led to ‘reconciliation’ and second, those which were an expression of ‘celebration after reconciliation’ had been accomplished. In the Epistle to the Romans, the sacrifice of Christ as the means of ‘reconciliation’ has been clearly described, and Paul specifies that in response the believer is to offer his body to the Lord out of appreciation and celebration. The body may be seen as the ‘whole person’ or perhaps as the means whereby the whole person is expressed symbolically in a physical setting… The sacrifice is to be unique in that it will be ‘living’ as opposed to the normal dying experience of the victim.” If Christ died for you, if you have applied this principle to yourself, then you have been washed by His blood. Therefore the giving of your body to His service is ‘holy and acceptable’ to Him.
Stott agrees that “He [Paul] represents us as a priestly people, who, in responsive gratitude for God’s mercy, offer or present our bodies as living sacrifices. These are described as both holy and pleasing to God, which is the moral equivalents to being physically unblemished or without defect, and a fragrant aroma.” But Stott adds: “It is not to be offered in the temple courts or the church building, but rather in the home life and in the market place. It is the presentation of our bodies to God. This blunt reference to our bodies was calculated to shock some of Paul’s Greek readers. Brought up on Platonic thought, they will have regarded the body as an embarrassing encumbrance. Their slogan was soma sema estin (‘the body is a tomb’), in which they longed for escape. Still today some Christians feel self-conscience about their bodies. The traditional evangelical invitation is that we give our ‘hearts’ to God, not our ‘bodies’. Even some commentators, apparently disconcerted by Paul’s earthly language, suggest an alternative ‘offer your very selves to Him’ (REB). But Paul is very clear that the presentation of our bodies is our spiritual act of worship. It is a significant Christian paradox. No worship is pleasing to God which is purely inward, abstract and mystical; it must express itself in concrete acts of service performed by our bodies.”
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This is Paul’s version of non-conformity and holiness which is addressed to the people of God throughout Scriptures. For example God’s Word came to Israel through Moses: ‘You must not do as they do…. in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey my Law [Torah].’ Another example is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Surrounded by the false devotion of both Pharisee and pagans, Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Do not be like them.’ (Matt 6:8) ‘We are not to be like a chameleon which takes its color from its surroundings.’ (Barclay) And now Paul issues the same summons to the people of God not to be ‘conformed’ to the prevailing culture, but rather be ‘transformed’. Both verbs are present passive imperatives and denote the continuing attitude which we are to retain. We must go on refusing to be conform to the world’s way and letting ourselves be transformed according to God’s will. J. B. Phillip’s paraphrase catches the alternative: ‘Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remold your minds from within.’”
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure [metron] of faith.
We are to develop a sober judgment of ourselves—first in reference to our faith. John Stott points out: “The main question is whether metron (‘measure’) means here an instrument for measuring or a measured quantity of something. If the latter is correct, as many think, the thought would be that God gives a varying amount of faith to different Christians, and being a divine apportionment, this will keep us humble. Professor Cranfield argues, however that ‘metron’ here means a standard by which to measure ourselves’; that this for all Christians is the same, namely ‘saving faith in Christ crucified’…” Either way: “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor 4:7)
Rom 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Next, our sober judgment of ourselves comes second by reflection on our differing gifts. Briscoe says: “…God equips each believer for a particular task and expects him to discover and fulfill his special role in the context of the believing community. Once this is understood, the believer is delivered from a number of potential miscalculations. He will not aspire to more that God intends him to be, but he will not settle for being less than he was created and redeemed to be. Accordingly, he will be delivered from an arrogance which is destructive of harmony in the body of believers and will be content to make a ‘sober’ evaluation of his own gifts and calling.” We must have a realistic evaluation of ourselves… When believers become heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ, they also become fellow heirs with each other. The environment in which these relationships operate is the assembly of believers—the local church…. Our natural tendency to selfishness and individualism militates against the concept of the body of Christ, but the ‘renewed mind’ produces a different attitude.”
Rom 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Stott says: Just as God’s grace had made Paul an apostle, so His grace (charis) bestows different gifts (charismata) on other members of Christ’s body. Paul proceeds to give his readers a sample of the seven gifts, which he urges them to exercise for the common good. He divides them into two categories, which might be called ‘speaking gifts’ (prophesying, teaching and encouraging) and ‘service gifts’ (serving, contributing, leading and showing mercy).” Peter makes the same distinction of gift categories: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies…” (1 Pet 4:11)
Rom 12:9-13 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
John Stott says: “So far in Romans all references to agape have been to the love of God—demonstrated on the cross (Romans 5:8), poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and doggedly refusing to let us go (Romans 8:35, 39). But now Paul focuses on agape as the essence of Christian discipleship.” The rest of Romans is “as sustained exhortation to let love govern and shape our relationships.” He then uses the teachings of Christ to teach love.
Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Matt 5:43-44 [Jesus said] "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; and weep with those who weep.
We are to “bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”(Gal 6:2) Jesus said: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matt 5:4)
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Jesus said “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5)
Rom 12:17-21 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,"(Deut 32:35) says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." (Prov 25:21-22) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In this world, we will have trials and tribulation, even as we seek to live a godly life. The LORD said in the Old Testament: “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” ( Zech 13:9) Job also said: “... when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold!” (Job 23:10) Malachi asked: “ But who can endure the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.” (Malachi 3:2) If we love those who persecute us rather than retaliate in kind, it will have its affect on others.
“Thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head” This verse has long bothered me until I recently understood it. “The writer once heard of a woman involved in bitter quarrels with her husband. Seeking counsel, she was asked, ‘Have you tried heaping coals of fire on his head?’ She replied, ‘No, but I tried a skillet of hot grease!’ She, like many others, failed to realize that Paul here used a figure of speech, a style of rhetoric often found in the sacred Scriptures. As Richard Batey noted: ‘The original meaning of this figure of speech has been lost, but Paul suggests that the enemy will burn with shame for his abuse of one who loves him’” (Coffman) Adam Clarke Commentary offers Scriptural insight into the Old Testament quote: “Not to consume, but to melt him into kindness; a metaphor taken from smelting metallic ores: ‘So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head: In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below. (S. Wesley)” This seems to be in line with the Old Testament imagery of the LORD as the Refiner and His people as the fine metal refined by the Refiner’s fire. Your “enemy” happens to be one for whom Christ died and who He is trying to draw to Himself and purify in the fire.
“An alternative view is that the proverb refers to an Egyptian ritual in which a man gave public evidence of his penitence by carrying a pan of burning charcoal on his head.” (Bruce) Either way: “Vengeance may break his spirit; but kindness will break his heart” (Barclay) And “Understand as included under the words meat and drink, all acts of kindness. ‘Heaping coals of fire’ seems to be a sort of a proverbial saying, signifying something intolerable, which cannot be borne without producing strong effects.” (Calvin)