01/31/2011
Author: Pastor John Powell
All of the New Testament Epistles have both a doctrinal and practical emphasis. What we know cannot be separated from what we do with it. Our revised statement of faith, under Christian Living in statement 8 clarifies this well.
“We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed.”
Ephesians and Colossians are split right in half. In Ephesians 4 right after an Amen in Ch. 3 Paul starts out “I therefore a prisoner of the Lord urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling…” Colossians 3 begins “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above…set your minds on…”
But Romans is not so symmetrical. Of the 16 chapters, the first 11 are doctrinal. Many doctrinal subjects are covered in succession. But 12-16 are practical, too, just as in the shorter Epistles. It took 11 chapters for God to reveal His plan of redemption for Israel and the nations.
So to respond to 11 chapters of doctrine we need a careful plan of implementation. I must say that Romans 12:1,2 have gotten a great deal of my attention over the years, especially in my youth. In fact, one of my first sermons (I still have the study notes I made for several years around 1975-80) was on 12:1,2. This is where it all starts. “I appeal to you therefore brethren by the mercies of God (shown in Ch.1-11) …”
Most of us have looked at this fairly carefully. We want to know and do God’s will. But few of us stand back and look at the whole of chapter 12 and ask how it lays out the practical steps to applying the doctrine laid out in the earlier chapters. So, as a congregation we are going to do just that over the next six weeks. Starting with an introductory week and ending with a celebration Sunday (which will include a baptism and an opportunity for you to tell what God has done in you as you focused on applying chapter 12 to your daily walk) we will spend time personally and in small groups learning together.
Only one New Testament Epistle (Philemon) was written to an individual! All the rest address local churches and assume that they will work on applying the teaching together. Discipleship happens best in the body as part of a team. So join me as I preach through Romans 12 but also join a group and rub shoulders together as you apply it. Given in Romans 12,the profile of an authentic disciple is ...
• Relationship with God - Surrendered to God - Romans 12:1
• Relationship with the world- Separate from the world’s values - Romans 12:2
• Relationship with yourself- Sober in self-assessment - Romans 12:3-8
• Relationship with believers- Serving in love - Romans 12:9-13
• Relationship with nonbelievers- Supernaturally responding to evil with good - Romans 12:14-21
There it is in a nutshell! This is our focus for the next six weeks. If we are to avoid the pitfalls warned about in Romans 1-11. If we are to truly live in a grace environment by faith in Christ in the power of the Spirit who baptized us into Christ and His life, death and resurrection we will not only think like an authentic Christian, we will act like one!
The world is waiting for authentic Christians to walk out of church and into their lives. Let’s be that kind of Christian. Let’s be that kind of church!
Romans 12 and the Practical Christian Life
