STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 61

THE BODY OF CHRIST – LIFE DIRECTIONS

Romans 12:9-15 (KJV)

⁹ Let love be without dissimulation (to disguise or hide true feelings, thoughts, or intentions)*. 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.

* added definition Encarta Dictionary

Romans 12:9-15 (CEB)

⁹ Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. ¹¹ Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! ¹² Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home.¹⁴ Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying.

1.    DIRECTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

Ø  Don’t pretend

Ø  Hate evil, hold on to what is good

Ø  Love each other like members of a family should

Ø  Honor others by putting them before yourself

Ø  Do your business with care and energy

Ø  Be enthusiastic and full of the fire of the Spirit of God

Ø  Be happy in your hope

Ø  Stand your ground when in trouble

Ø  Devote yourselves to prayer

Ø  Contribute to the needs of God’s people & welcome strangers into your home (you can influence them for Christ)

Ø  Bless those who harass or persecute you – don’t curse them – bless them

Ø  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep

DOING THESE THINGS WILL KEEP YOU IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST AND KEEP YOU HAPPY.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 60

THE BODY OF CHRIST – GIFTS & ABILITIES

Romans 12:6-8 (KJV)

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.

Romans 12:6-8 (CEB)

⁶ We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. ⁷ If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. ⁸ If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.

1.    THE BODY HAS GIFTS/ABILITIES V. 6A

Ø  By grace: God’s favor – the gift/ability you have fits you for the service He expects

2.    PROPHECY V. 6B

Ø  Prophetic words, actions, direction and foretelling

3.    MINISTRY/SERVICE V. 7A

4.    TEACHING V. 7B

5.    EXHORTATION/ENCOURAGEMENT V. 8A

6.    GIVING V. 8B

Ø  Simply, with no strings attached (this applies to anything given)

7.    RULING/LEADING V. 8B

8.    MERCY V. 8C

Ø  Be glad (and show it) that you can and do give mercy to those needing it

THE GIFTS/ABILITIES OF THE BODY ASSURE ITS PROPER FUNCTION & SUCCESS.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 59

THE BODY OF CHRIST - US

Romans 12:4-5 (KJV)

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.

Romans 12:4-5 (CEB)

⁴ We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other.

1.    MANY = ONE V. 4A

Ø  Many: members, organs, parts & functions = one body

2.    DIFFERENT OFFICES OR FUNCTIONS V. 4B

Ø  Heart, brain, hands, fingers, etc.

3.    REPITION SOLIDIFIES FACT V.5A

Ø  When God repeats something it shows 2 things: it is important and fact

4.    WE ARE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND NEED EACH OTHER, JUST AS A BODY NEEDS ALL ITS PARTS TO FUNCTION RIGHTLY V. 5B

 

WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST – HE THE HEAD, WE THE BODY.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 58

TRANSFORMED RELATIONSHIPS

 

Romans 12:3 (KJV)

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.

Romans 12:3 (CEB)

³ Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.

1.    PAUL SAYS…through the grace (favor, permission and direction) given to me

2.    TO – EVERY MAN (MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN) AMONG (ASSOCIATED) WITH YOU

3.    DON’T THINK MORE HIGHLY OF YOUR SELF THAN YOU OUGHT TO THINK – KEEP THINGS IN BALANCE

4.    THINK SOBERLY (SERIOUSLY, CAREFULLY)

5.    ACCORDING – IN LINE WITH, MEASURED & BALANCED BY

6.    GOD HAS GIVEN (PROVIDED) THE PROPER MEASURE OF FAITH TO EVERY PERSON

Ø  Much discussion has been given to this ‘measure of faith’, just understand that God knows not only the amount necessary for a man to believe ‘unto salvation’ but the quality needed for it to grow AFTER he has believed in, trusted and relied on the Lord for the WHOLE plan of salvation

WHEN WE THINK RIGHT, WE WILL BELIEVE RIGHT AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 57

THE TRANSFORMED LIFE

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

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.

Romans 12:2 (AMP)

² Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Galatians 5:16 (AMP)

¹⁶ But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

1.    WHAT NOT TO DO V. 2A

Ø  Be conformed [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs] AMP

2.    WHAT TO DO V. 2B

Ø  Be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude]

3.    WHY? V. 2C

Ø  So you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God

Ø  See Galatians 5:16

THE TRANSFORMED LIFE PLEASES GOD AND BRINGS POSITIVE SUCCESS.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 56

A LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1 (KJV)

12 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.

Romans 12:1 (CEB)

12 So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service.

Romans 12:1 (AMP)

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

1.    BESEECH - Encourage, appeal, ask with earnest emphasis, beg

2.    MERCIES OF GOD - From the beginning of time, God has shown Himself merciful, so in consideration of His attitude toward us, our attitude toward Him should be one of unquestioned service

3.    PRESENT YOUR BODIES – your area of greatest sin performance

4.    LIVING SACRIFICE – as opposed to a dead sacrifice – means continually doing God’s will, not your own AND in holy living which is accepted by God

5.    REASONABLE SERVICE - 1 Corinthians 6:20 (AMP) ²⁰ You were bought with a price [purchased with a ^[a]preciousness and paid for, ^[b]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

IT IS REASONABLE TO SERVE GOD AS HE DIRECTS.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 55

OUR AWESOME GOD

Romans 11:33-36 (KJV)

³³ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? ³⁵ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? ³⁶ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36 (CEB)

³³ God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep! They are as mysterious as his judgments, and they are as hard to track as his paths! ³⁴ Who has known the Lord’s mind? Or who has been his mentor?^{[a] 35} Or who has given him a gift and has been paid back by him?^{[b] 36} All things are from him and through him and for him. May the glory be to him forever. Amen.

1.    DEEP RICHES V. 33

2.    HIS MIND V. 34

3.    OUT GIVE GOD? V.35

4.    HIS COMPLETENESS V. 36A

5.    HIS GLORY V. 36B

OUR GOD IS ALL GLORIOUS AND WE SHOULD PRAISE HIM! ALWAYS!

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FOOTNOTES

^[a] Isaiah 40:13 (CEB) ¹³ Who directed the Lord’s spirit and acted as God’s advisor?

^[b] Job 41:11 (CEB) ¹¹ Who opposes me that I must repay? Everything under heaven is mine.

 

STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 54

THE MERCY OF GOD

Romans 11:28-32 (KJV)

²⁸ As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. ²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. ³⁰ For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: ³¹ Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. ³² For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Romans 11:28-32 (CEB)

²⁸ According to the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but according to God’s choice, they are loved for the sake of their ancestors. ²⁹ God’s gifts and calling can’t be taken back. ³⁰ Once you were disobedient to God, but now you have mercy because they were disobedient. ³¹ In the same way, they have also been disobedient because of the mercy that you received, so now they can receive mercy too. ³² God has locked up all people in disobedience, in order to have mercy on all of them.

1.    THE GOSPEL VS. ELECTION V. 28

2.    THE GIFTS & CALLING OF GOD V. 29

3.    OBTAINING MERCY V. 30-32

Ø  Because of the Jews not believing God, the door was opened for the Gentiles to receive the mercy of God

Ø  Now our responsibility is to live and proclaim the availability of this mercy to the Jews so they can receive it as they become believers

Ø  God has made us all equal in this: all have sinned so all must believe in God’s mercy & believe on Christ Jesus

“THE MERCY OF GOD IS AN OCEAN DIVINE, A BOUNDLESS AND FATHOMLESS FLOOD”

(GOSPEL SONG: LAUNCH OUT )

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 53

LESSON OF THE BRANCHES PART 2

Romans 11:22-27 (KJV)

²² Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? ²⁵ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶ And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷ For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Romans 11:22-27 (CEB)

²² So look at God’s kindness and harshness. It’s harshness toward those who fell, but it’s God’s kindness for you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise, you could be cut off too. ²³ And even those who were cut off will be grafted back in if they don’t continue to be unfaithful, because God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ If you were naturally part of a wild olive tree and you were cut off from it, and then, contrary to nature, you were grafted into the cultivated olive tree, won’t these natural branches stand an even better chance of being grafted back onto their own olive tree? ²⁵ I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret,^[a] brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in. ²⁶ In this way, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion. He will remove ungodly behavior from Jacob. ²⁷ This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.^[b]

Isaiah 59:20 (CEB) ²⁰ A redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who stop rebelling, says the Lord.

1.    GOD’S KINDNESS & HARSHNESS V.22-26

2.    ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED V.27

Ø  Isa. 59:20

WALK CAREFULLY IN CHRIST AND PRAY FOR ISRAEL TO BE SAVED.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 52

LESSON OF THE BRANCHES

Romans 11:16-21 (KJV)

¹⁶ For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; ¹⁸ Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. ¹⁹ Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. ²⁰ Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: ²¹ For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Romans 11:16-21 (CEB)

¹⁶ But if part of a batch of dough is offered to God as holy, the whole batch of dough is holy too. If a root is holy, the branches will be holy too. ¹⁷ If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the root that produces the rich oil of the olive tree, ¹⁸ then don’t brag like you’re better than the other branches. If you do brag, be careful: it’s not you that sustains the root, but it’s the root that sustains you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Fine. They were broken off because they weren’t faithful, but you stand only by your faithfulness.^[a] So don’t think in a proud way; instead be afraid. ²¹ If God didn’t spare the natural branches, he won’t spare you either.

1.    HOLINESS AFFECTS IT ALL V. 16

2.    BRANCHES BROKEN OFF (ISRAEL) V.17A

3.    BRANCHES GRAFTED IN (US) V. 17B

4.    SUSTENNANCE COMES FROM THE ROOT V. 17C

5.    BOAST NOT V. 18

6.    BROKEN BRANCHES BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF V. 20A

7.    GRAFTED BRANCHES STAND ONLY BY FAITH V. 20B

8.    WALK WITH CAUTION V. 20C

9.    IF GOD DIDN’T SPARE THE NATURAL BRANCHES, HE WON’T SPARE YOU EITHER. V. 21

WE WERE INCLUDED, BUT WE CAN BE EXCLUDED IF WE ABANDON OUR FAITH AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TO GOD IF THEY EXERCIZE FAITH IN CHRIST.

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