2018 STUDY OF ROMANS
Chapter 12, Verses 1-2
“Your Body; Your Living Sacrifice To God!”
[4-14-19]
Review: “Enemies For Our Sake; Beloved For the Fathers’ Sake:
Romans 11:28-36) [NIV] As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
29) for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
NOTE: God never changes His mind! He entered into covenant with Abraham and his children; consequently, God is still in covenant with Israel today. And God saved us because He wanted to! He’s not going to change His mind tomorrow!
God Never Changes:
Malachi 3:6) [NIV] I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Numbers 23:19) [KJV] God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
NOTE: God has never changed His mind about anything, and He never lies! That means we can count on everything He tells us in His Word.
Philippians 1:6) [NIV] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Hebrew 12:2) [KJV] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 8:29-30) [KJV] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
NOTE: God saved you; God will therefore complete/finish what He started; He will carry on the process He began until you are glorified in Heaven!
30) Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
31) so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.
32) For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
NOTE: It was the disobedience of the Jews that opened up the avenue of Gentiles being saved.
NOTE: God showed mercy to us disobedient Gentiles on this side of the cross, as a result of our trusting Jesus, and so He will now show mercy to the disobedient Jews as a result of their trusting Jesus.
33) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34) “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
35) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
NOTE: Paul is amazed at the wisdom of God displayed in the plan of salvation.
This Week’s Lesson: “Your Body, Your Living Sacrifice To God!”
Romans 12:1-2) [NIV] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
(MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
(NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?
Romans 12:1a) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy,
NOTE: Paul is referring to the mercy we non-Jews have received as a result of the disobedience of the Jews [vs. 30-31 of this Chapter].
QUESTION: What is Paul’s point here?
“ii. Think of all the mercies of God Paul has explained to us thus far:
- Justification; • Adoption in Jesus and identification with Christ; • Set under grace not law; • The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit; • Help in all affliction; • Standing in God’s election; • The certainty of coming glory; • The confidence of no separation from the love of God; • Total confidence in God’s continued faithfulness” [Guzik].
ANSWER: God having shown us mercy when we deserved judgment demands a response from us; that response we find in the next section of vs. 1.
Romans 12:1b) to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
(GNB) Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him.
(MSG) Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering.
QUESTION: What is the proper response we should show God as a result of the mercy He has shown us?
ANSWER: We should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to our God!
“It is best to see the body here as a reference to our entire being. Whatever we say about our spirit, soul, flesh and mind, we know that they each live in our bodies. When we give the body to God, the soul and spirit go with it. Present your bodies means that God wants you, not just your work. You may do all kinds of work for God, but never give Him yourself” [Guzik].
QUESTION: How are we to understand the picture of our offering our bodies to God as “living sacrifices”?
“A sacrifice is an offering made to God as an atonement for sin; or any offering made to him and his service as an expression of thanksgiving or homage. It implies that he who offers it presents it entirely, releases all claim or right to it, and leaves it to be disposed of for the honor of God. In the case of an animal, it was slain, and the blood offered; in the case of any other offering, as the first-fruits, etc., it was set apart to the service of God; and he who offered it released all claim on it, and submitted it to God, to be disposed of at his will. This is the offering which the apostle entreats the Romans to make: to devote themselves to God, as if they had no longer any claim on themselves; to be disposed of by him; to suffer and bear all that he might appoint; and to promote his honor in any way which he might command. This is the nature of true religion” [BBC].
ANSWER: God, through the writings of Paul, is asking us to give ourselves, without reservation, to Him, to totally sign ourselves over to Him! He wants all of us because He gave all of Himself for us!!!
Romans 12:1c) this is your spiritual act of worship.
QUESTION: What is Paul’s point here?
ANSWER: The greatest gift we can offer God at the altar of worship is ourselves!!
2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(ERV) Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
(MSG) Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
QUESTION: What does it mean to “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?
ANSWER: When we quit living like “this world,” and walk in the transforming power of God we are offering our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord.
QUESTION: How do walk in the transforming power of God?
ANSWER: We do it “by the renewing of” our “mind.” We must wrap our minds around the liberating truths of the Gospel. We are new creations! Old things have passed away! All things have become new! We have been created to do good works! We are more than conquerors through Christ! Etc.
(BBE) And let not your behavior be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.
QUESTION: What’s the second half of this verse mean?
ANSWER: When we live according to the teachings of the New Testament we experience doing what’s pleasing to God. As we continue to do so we develop a sense of what’s right.
2018 STUDY OF ROMANS
Chapter 12, Verses 3-8
“Ways God Equips Us To Be A Living Sacrifice!”
[4-21-19]
Review: : “Your Body; Your Living Sacrifice To God!”
Romans 12:1-2) [NIV] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1a) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy,
“ii. Think of all the mercies of God Paul has explained to us thus far:
- Justification; • Adoption in Jesus and identification with Christ; • Set under grace not law; • The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit; • Help in all affliction; • Standing in God’s election; • The certainty of coming glory; • The confidence of no separation from the love of God; • Total confidence in God’s continued faithfulness” [Guzik].
ANSWER: God having shown us mercy when we deserved judgment demands a response from us; that response we find in the next section of vs. 1.
Romans 12:1b) to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
NOTE: We should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to our God!
“It is best to see the body here as a reference to our entire being. Whatever we say about our spirit, soul, flesh and mind, we know that they each live in our bodies. [Guzik].
“In the case of any other offering, as the first-fruits, etc., it was set apart to the service of God; and he who offered it released all claim on it, and submitted it to God, to be disposed of at his will. This is the offering which the apostle entreats the Romans to make: to devote themselves to God, as if they had no longer any claim on themselves; to be disposed of by him;” [BBC].
NOTE: God, through the writings of Paul, is asking us to give ourselves, without reservation, to Him, to totally sign ourselves over to Him! He wants all of us because He gave all of Himself for us!!!
Romans 12:1c) this is your spiritual act of worship.
NOTE: The greatest gift we can offer God at the altar of worship is ourselves!!
2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
*NOTE: When we quit living like “this world,” and walk in the transforming power of God we are offering our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord.
NOTE: We walk in the transforming power of God “by the renewing of” our “mind.” We must wrap our minds around the liberating truths of the Gospel. We are new creations! Old things have passed away! All things have become new! We have been created to do good works! We are more than conquerors through Christ! Etc.
This Week’s Lesson: “Ways God Equips Us To Be A Living Sacrifice!”
Romans 12:3-8) [NIV] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
QUESTION: Is Paul changing the subject here?
ANSWER: No! He’s showing us that transformation living has to do with understanding who we are in Christ [as pointed out above], and what our individual giftings are [as will be pointed out below].
QUESTION: Where do we start to understand this?
**ANSWER: We start by not thinking we’re better than others.
1 Corinthians 4:7) [NIV] For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
QUESTION: What does Paul want us to understand?
*ANSWER: Whatever there is that’s good about us is a gift of God to us.
NOTE: If we think we’re superior to someone because we’re smarter, better looking, more talented, or have more money/stuff than they do then we don’t understand God at all. God has simply gifted each of us differently. He has given some a higher IQ! He has given some a more appealing appearance! He has given some a greater ability to do certain things! He has graced some with the ability to make more money than others! Now, if God has done these things then who are you to think that you’re all that because of what He did?
Philippians 2:1-5) [NIV] If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2) then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
QUESTION: What is Paul’s desire for the New Testament Church?
- Tenderness and compassion for one another [vs. 1].
- Like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose [vs. 2].
- Considering others better than yourselves [vs. 3].
- Look out for one another’s interests [vs. 4].
- Which is the very attitude of Christ Jesus [vs. 5].
4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
QUESTION: What does this verse have to do with arrogance?
ANSWER: You’re not better than your brother or sister in the Lord; you’re simply better suited to do your part in the body, i.e., the church, than they are. However, they are better suited to do their part in the body than you are.
QUESTION: Why would your nose feel superior to your ear?
ANSWER: Your body needs both your nose and your ear!
NOTE: Your nose can’t provide hearing for you! Your ear can’t provide smelling for you! Your feet have a more difficult time picking up your Big Mac than your hands do; but they have an easier time moving you from one spot to another than your hands do. You need the various parts of your body working together in harmony; so does God.
6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7) If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8) if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
QUESTION: Why would you, being a spiritual nose, feel superior to someone who is a spiritual ear?
ANSWER: The body of Christ needs all the giftings that God has placed in it.
QUESTION: What are the giftings Paul refers to here?
- The motivational gift of prophecy;
- The motivational gift of serving;
- The motivational gift of teaching;
- The motivational gift of encouraging;
- The motivational gift of giving;
- The motivational gift of leadership;
- The motivational gift of showing mercy.
QUESTION: What are these various giftings referring to?
- Prophecy: reminding the body what the Lord says about a subject;
- Serving: serving others in the area of their needs;
- Teaching: motivated to explain to others in detail;
- Encouraging: always wanting to encourage others;
- Giving: giving of oneself, and of one’s means to meet the needs of others;
- Leadership: having insight into what is necessary to get something done;
- Mercy: motivated to understand others, and help them to do better.
2018 STUDY OF ROMANS
Chapter 12, Verses 9
“Loving With Sincerity!”
[4-28-19]
Review: : “Ways God Equips Us To Be A Living Sacrifice!”
Romans 12:3-8) [NIV] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
***NOTE: Paul’s showing us that transformation living has to do with understanding who we are in Christ [as pointed out above], and what our individual giftings are [as will be pointed out below]. We start by not thinking we’re better than others.
Philippians 2:1-5) [NIV] Paul’s desire for the New Testament Church:
- Tenderness and compassion for one another [vs. 1].
- Like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose [vs. 2].
- Considering others better than yourselves [vs. 3].
- Look out for one another’s interests [vs. 4].
- Which is the very attitude of Christ Jesus [vs. 5].
4) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5) so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
7) If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8) if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
NOTE: The body of Christ needs all the giftings that God has placed in it.
- Prophecy: reminding the body what the Lord says about a subject;
- Serving: serving others in the area of their needs;
- Teaching: motivated to explain to others in detail;
- Encouraging: always wanting to encourage others;
- Giving: giving of oneself, and of one’s means to meet the needs of others;
- Leadership: having insight into what is necessary to get something done;
- Mercy: motivated to understand others, and help them to do better.
This Week’s Lesson: “Loving With Sincerity!”
Romans 12:9) [NIV] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
(NLT) Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them.
(ERV) Your love must be real.
QUESTION: What does “love must be sincere” mean?
ANSWER: God expects us Christians to be genuine in our love for one another. No phony, disingenuousness is allowed in the way we love each other.
QUESTION: What are we, as Christians, to hate?
This is talking about “evil in relation to the subject under discussion” [Barnes].
ANSWER: Hypocrisy in the way we say that we love one another is depicted as “evil” here. We, as Christians, are to “hate” phoniness in this area.
QUESTION: What should we do regarding that which is good?
ANSWER: If hating evil refers to the subject at hand then so does clinging to good. We should grab hold of it and hold on to it as though we have been glued to it. The Greek word speaks of glue.
John 13:34-35) [KJV] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
NOTE: When we love one another it is “good” in the eyes of the Lord. We should “glue” ourselves to such an attitude. Why? It is the only thing that demonstrates to the world that we are the real deal!
2018 STUDY OF ROMANS
Chapter 12, Verses 10-13
“Loving With Sincerity!” Part 2
[5-5-19]
Review: “Loving With Sincerity!”
Romans 12:9) [NIV] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
(NLT) Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them.
(BBE) Let love be without deceit.
(EMTV) Let love be without hypocrisy.
(ERV) Your love must be real.
QUESTION: What does “love must be sincere” mean?
ANSWER: God expects us Christians to be genuine in our love for one another. No phony, disingenuousness is allowed in the way we love each other.
QUESTION: What are we, as Christians, to hate?
This is talking about “evil in relation to the subject under discussion” [Barnes].
ANSWER: Hypocrisy in the way we say that we love one another is depicted as “evil” here. We, as Christians, are to “hate” phoniness in this area.
QUESTION: What should we do regarding that which is good?
ANSWER: If hating evil refers to the subject at hand then so does clinging to good. We should grab hold of it and hold on to it as though we have been glued to it. The Greek word speaks of glue.
John 13:34-35) [KJV] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35) By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
NOTE: When we love one another it is “good” in the eyes of the Lord. We should “glue” ourselves to such an attitude. Why? It is the only thing that demonstrates to the world that we are the real deal!
This Week’s Lesson: “Loving With Sincerity!” Part 2
Romans 12:10-13 [NIV] Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
(ERV) Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself.
Regarding “be devoted to one another in brotherly love,”
“It properly denotes tender affection, such as what subsists between parents and children; and it means that Christians should have similar feelings toward each other, as belonging to the same family” [Barnes].
QUESTION: How do we show this “brotherly love” to one another?
ANSWER: We are to “honor one another above” ourselves.
11) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
(NLT) Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
(ERV) As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him!
QUESTION: How would you put this verse in your own words?
**ANSWER: In verses 9&10 Paul talks about us being genuine in our love for one another. In vs. 11 he shifts gears just a little; but I’m convinced that we can apply this verse to the previous subject, as well as to what follows. I think we could render this verse something like this: “Don’t be haphazard in showing your love to one another; but put some effort into making others realize the genuineness of your love for them. After all, you are serving the Lord when you love His people!!
12) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
(GNB) Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
QUESTION: What “hope” should be a source of joy for us in the struggles of life?
ANSWER: We have the “hope of glory” [Romans 5:2]. That hope should give us joy in our trials.
QUESTION: When our eyes are on the prize what are we able to do?
ANSWER: We’re able to be patient in the midst of the storms.
QUESTION: What helps us to walk in this joyful hope that strengthens us during our trials?
ANSWER: We need to be “faithful in prayer.”
13) Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
(GNB) Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
(ERV) When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
QUESTION: What should we, as Christians, do?
“A necessary injunction when so many Christians were banished and persecuted. The verb indicates not only that hospitality is to be furnished when sought, but that Christians are to seek opportunities of exercising it” [Vincent].
ANSWER: We should be a help to those believers who are “needy.”
QUESTION: What should we keep in mind concerning opening our homes to strangers?
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) [KJV] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
ANSWER: This command in vs. 13 deals with “needy” Christians. This was a time of persecution and Christians often had to flee their homes to escape that persecution. Christians in the areas they fled to needed to help these “needy” Christians, which help sometimes included “hospitality.”
NOTE: We don’t want to become enablers of those who want others to take care of them. We are to exhort them “that with quietness they work and eat their own bread.”
2018 STUDY OF ROMANS
Chapter 12, Verses 14-21
“Paul’s Abbreviated ‘Sermon On the Mount!’”
[5-12-19]
Review: “Loving With Sincerity!” Parts 1 & 2
Romans 12:9-13) [NIV] Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
10) (ERV) Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters. And give each other more honor than you give yourself.
NOTE: We demonstrate our love for others when we “give each other more honor than” we give ourselves.
11) (NLT) Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
**PUTTING VS. 9-11 IN MY OWN WORDS: Don’t be haphazard in showing your love to one another; but put some effort into making others realize the genuineness of your love for them. After all, you are serving the Lord when you love His people!!
12) (GNB) Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.
NOTE: We have the “hope of glory” [Romans 5:2]. That hope should give us joy in our trials.
NOTE: We’re able to be patient in the midst of the storms when we keep our eyes on the prize of Heaven!
QUESTION: What helps us to walk in this joyful hope that strengthens us during our trials?
ANSWER: We need to be “faithful in prayer.”
13) (GNB) Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
“A necessary injunction when so many Christians were banished and persecuted. The verb indicates not only that hospitality is to be furnished when sought, but that Christians are to seek opportunities of exercising it” [Vincent].
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) [KJV] For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
NOTE: This command in vs. 13 deals with “needy” Christians. This was a time of persecution and Christians often had to flee their homes to escape that persecution. Christians in the areas they fled to needed to help these “needy” Christians, which help sometimes included “hospitality.” We don’t want to become enablers of those who want others to take care of them. We are to exhort them “that with quietness they work and eat their own bread.”
This Week’s Lesson: “Paul’s Abbreviated ‘Sermon on the Mount!’”
Romans 12:14-21) [NIV] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
QUESTION: Do we want God to bless the evil deeds of others?
ANSWER: Of course not! Rather, we want God to move in the hearts of the wicked and lead them to repentance. “Curse” refers to the destruction of something/someone, not modern day cussing. We are not to desire bad things to happen to those who persecute us.
Matthew 5:43-48) [KJV] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Perfect – “from telos, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children” [Robertson].
Perfect – “4b) of men; 4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature” [Thayer].
QUESTION: What is Matthew 5:48 telling us?
ANSWER: Walking out Matthew 5:43-47 shows that we are spiritually mature.
15) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
(NLT) When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow.
16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
(NLT) Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
(Murdock) What estimation ye make of yourselves, [make] also of your brethren. And indulge not high thoughts; but unite yourselves with the lowly minded. And be not wise in your own estimation.
(ERV) Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.
QUESTION: What should you do as believers?
- Be happy for those who are rejoicing. Express your condolences to the sorrowful. [vs. 15].
- Enjoy peace and harmony with fellow believers. Don’t be arrogant! Don’t just look to associate with those who are successful; but enjoy the company of those less successful. Don’t think you’re Mr./Mrs. Wonderful [vs. 16].
17) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
(NLT) Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable
(GW) Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.
Matthew 5:39-41) [KJV] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40) And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41) And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
QUESTION: Should we do our best to get even with those who mistreat us?
ANSWER: No! We should act in a way where our conduct doesn’t hinder the Gospel message.
QUESTION: Is it possible to “live at peace with everyone”?
ANSWER: No! However, we should make every attempt on our end to live “at peace” with others.
18) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
(NLT) Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.
Matthew 5:9) [KJV] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
19) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
QUESTION: What’s one way “as far as it depends on you” [vs. 18] can be fulfilled?
ANSWER: We should “leave room for God’s wrath” [vs. 19].
Here’s Some Advanced Education On This Subject:
Luke 23:34) [KJV] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Acts 7:59-60) [KJV] And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
NOTE: We will sleep better if we just pray that God will forgive them.
20) On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
(NLT) Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.
NOTE: Verse 19 quotes Deuteronomy 32:35, and verse 20 quotes Proverbs 25:21-22.
QUESTION: Instead of getting even what should we do?
ANSWER: We should leave the vengeance to God. When we return good for evil it gives God the opportunity to “heap burning coals on his head,” i.e., convict the one who harmed us. Who knows, that conviction could lead to the repentance of the one who did us wrong. That’s how we “overcome evil with good.”