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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