Learning to Living How Doctrine Influences Relationships in the Body of Christ

Introduction We’re going to be spending our time together today in the beautiful book of Romans. If you would please grab your , if you have the Cornerstone app on your phone I want to point out to you that the sermon notes and outline are on there along with the NASB version of the which is what I’ll be teaching out of today.

Romans is a beautiful book. Martin Luther praised Romans: “It is the chief part of the and the perfect gospel . . . the absolute epitome of the gospel.”

The majority of the content we will be working on today is going to be found in Romans 12

However, if you take a look at your outline, you see a lot of ground that must be covered before we get to Romans 12. You see, the book of Romans is a masterpiece of theology. I can’t bear the thought of diving into the final major section of this book without doing my best to remind us what comes in the previous 11 chapters.

If we don’t know the “what” that Paul is responding to in Roman’s 12 then we will probably lack ​ ​ an understanding of why he is giving us this beautiful chapter and all its contents. ​ ​

We’re going to be using a 4 part outline of the book of Romans this morning.

1:1-17 Introduction Part 1 1:18-3:20 Condemnation - The Wrath of God Revealed Part 2 3:21-8 Salvation - The Righteousness of God Revealed Part 3 9-11 Vindication - The Wisdom of God Revealed Part 4 12-15 Exhortation - The Will of God Revealed 16 Conclusion

So, grab your outline or open your app to follow along as we now take a brief journey through the masterpiece of -11.

Context: We know from the first verse of this book that Paul is its writer under the inspiration of the .

You probably know Paul - Formerly Saul of Tarsus, a dedicated prosecutor of the church now turned Apostle following his conversion on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9.

Author of over ⅔ of the New Testament. This is certainly his masterpiece.

Church of Rome The church in Rome held a special place in Paul’s heart. Throughout the book, he has many wonderful things to say and he really never condemns them for anything.

This book can pretty much be summarized as a theological explanation of man’s depravity, God’s plan of redemption and then how we must respond as the body of Christ.

One item about Rome that is helpful to note is that the Roman church was made up of both believers and Jewish believers. There were naturally some differences among the believers over secondary issues that Paul addresses such as circumcision vs. uncircumcision, kosher vs. bacon… Praise that bacon was declared clean… But there are some differences among them which Paul will get to but let’s quickly walk through a summary of the opening 11 chapters.

I. What We Know

Introduction 1:1-17 makes up the introduction to the book, his encouragement in the believers in Rome and ​ then a distinctive shift begins in 1:18 to highlight first God’s power and his righteousness.

This begins the first major movement of the book.

Part 1 (1:18-2:20) Condemnation - Humanities Guilt Revealed Through God’s Righteousness

1:18-32 is a great summary of humanity's guilt before a righteous and powerful God. ​

We all agree that the world is sinful. All we have to do is look at our phones and we see the sinfulness of mankind on display for all to see. Yet Paul makes a point in these early verses to not just cast judgement on the immoral godless society of the world, but even on the high moral religious establishment of the day, Judaism.

Because of the righteousness and power of God, Paul calls into question the guilt of all human kind - both Jew and Gentile. All people and all nations are trapped in sin and idolatry.

2:1-3:20 displays that is just as sinful, broken and in need of a savior as the rest of ​ mankind. In fact, Paul even points out in the beginning of chapter 3 that due to their increased knowledge of God and the Law of , they are more to be blamed for their lack of humble repentance.

Here comes our first major transition in the book of Romans. Part 2 (3:21-8) The Salvation For Humanity is Revealed Through God’s Righteousness

Contrary to popular belief at this time, the law doesn’t supply salvation, it supplies condemnation.

God’s righteousness reveals humanity's inability to find justification in the law.

Enter Jesus Christ. Chapters 3:21-31 outline the good news of Jesus Christ that while no one can be righteous on ​ their own and that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and that Jesus Christ has become the propitiation for us all by taking on our sin and paying the sacrifice so that we may be considered righteous.

Questions and Contrasts

Chapter 4 Chapter four really begins to ask two major questions. First - How was considered ​ righteous? Paul simply answers the question by pointing us back to Genesis. ​ “Abraham believed God and it was counted to Him as righteousness.” :3, Genesis ​ 15:6.

The second question then is who is a part of God’s covenant? Again, Paul brings us back to ​ ​ Genesis by stating that not only is God’s covenantal promise of salvation with those who are of the Law (Israel) but also those who are of faith ().

Summary Paul has now made the case that ALL humanity is trapped in sin and in desperate need of justification. Justification won’t come by keeping the law but through the righteousness of God in ​ Jesus Christ. ​

(Therefore, both Jew and Gentile are saved through the justification through Christ. We’re made ​ ​ right through Christ, we’re forgiven through Christ, we’re included in God’s people through ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Christ and we’re transformed through Christ.) ​ ​ ​

Now Paul begins to show us how he is creating a new humanity through Christ. ​ ​ ​

In Chapter 5 Paul displays Adam’s choices as representing humanity. He then contrasts ​ ​ Adam’s actions with Christ’s actions and contrasts the transgressions of Adam with the justification of Christ.

Chapter 6 displays how following Jesus means leaving the ways of Adam-like humanity with the ​ broken transgressions of humanity and entering the new Jesus-like humanity. Paul uses the analogy of baptism as a symbol of the transformation of the heart. The old way has died with Jesus on the cross and the new way has been resurrected with him from the dead.

Paul also draws out the analogy of being freed from slavery to sin. When in slavery to sin, we were incapable of following the law no matter how hard we tried. Now, being alive to Christ we are free to love God and to love others.

Chapter 7 highlights the purpose of the laws (Torah) that Israel continued to break. Remember, ​ Jesus essentially summarized the law of the Torah in Matthew 22:36-39 as “love God and love others.” Israel couldn’t keep these laws. Paul goes out of his way to avoid condemning the law, but rather embraces the law as good! Yet as hard as we try, sin has made it impossible for us to keep the law. That’s really the point leading into chapter 8 that sin has corrupted the heart so much that it has rendered the heart incapable of being good.

Chapter 8 then introduces the solution of Jesus Christ. ​ The law has been a magnifying glass on the hearts of Israel. Much like the last 4 months has been a magnifying glass on many of our hearts, displaying the areas where we were not doing well in our relationship with God and with others, the law displays the sin in our hearts as well.

The end of chapter 8 reminds us that Jesus paid the penalty of our sin and made us alive together in Christ and that nothing can take us away from this great love.

Part 3 9-11 Vindication - The Wisdom of God Revealed

Chapters 9-11 then return our focus to Israel. Paul’s heart weeps for the who have ​ not come to God through faith but who still desperately try to come to God through works.

Chapter 9 Paul clearly shows that just because you’re an Israeliete doesn’t mean you’re among ​ God’s redeemed. God has carefully selected a line of promise from Abraham. Yet, through all of Israel’s history, God is sovereignly working things out to advance his plan of salvation! From Pharaoh to Israel’s present rejection, God is working for His glory and we now see that wisdom revealed.

Chapter 10 displays Paul’s desire for the people of Israel to have a desire for the salvation of ​ God, not just a desire for a knowledge of God. For generations the Jewish people have missed out on the Good News that God continually presented to them. Sadly, this veil clouded their ​ understanding of Christ and kept them from finding rest in Jesus through faith.

Chapter 11 Paul asks the question “Has God rejected Israel? No!” ​ “...By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!” :11b-12 ​

This is a beautiful Plan! God has used Israel’s rejection not only to advance the gospel quicker and stronger to the Gentiles but also to save more of Israel through jealousy!

Paul then gives us a wonderful example of God’s covenant family through the image of a giant olive tree. We, the Gentiles, have been grafted into this olive tree. Paul warns us not to be proud or arrogant of our position as being grafted in and not to forget who was first branches on the tree (being Israel). He then concludes chapter 11 by saying that some day, God will save his people Israel.

Pick up with me in Romans 11:36 “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

That’s Romans 1-11.

So why spend all this time on the overview of the book of Romans before jumping into chapter 12? Well, that is how Paul wrote the book. As I mentioned before, we have to see what Paul was saying to understand why he is telling us what we’re about to see in chapter 12.

Also, I would argue that Cornerstone is a very similar church to Rome. We have good theology and doctrine. We know the gospel. We have memorized the verses. We do Bible studies. Our previous and our current lead pastor have earned doctorate degrees while serving this church. We took 3 years to study through the entire Bible in extra-curricular bible studies. We seek biblical wisdom, theology and doctrine.

All that to say: Please listen to what Paul is about to tell us because it is very important for us as well.

So, how do we transition all this learning to living? How do we allow the doctrines of Christ to influence the relationships we have in the body of Christ?

We have a diverse group of believers from young believers who have little background in to those whose family heritage is Christianity! From those who have been here in this church for 40 years to those who have only been here for 1 week. We have old ways and new ideas. If you don’t think that creates some sort of tension then oowwee you have some learning to do my friend!

Disagreements and tension is not a bad thing… it is what we do with it in light of what we know that is important.

Chapters 12-15 enters Paul’s 4th part of this message to the believers in Rome. In these ​ verses Paul now takes all of What we know in the first 11 chapters and tells us What We Do ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ with this knowledge in regards to our relationships.

II. What We Do A. Our Relationship with God

Pick up with me in Romans 12:1-2 “1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and ​ holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be ​ ​ conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Because of what God has done, this is how we are urged to live in our relationship with God.

I don’t need to remind you that when there is a “therefore” in Scripture, it is referring back to something previously stated. Since we just came through chapters 1-11, we see the mercies of God at work through the history of redemption and therefore, since we have done nothing to merit God’s mercy, we are urged to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

We see three things given to God here in these two verses. (Summarize 1-3)

1. We give up our bodies a. Living Sacrifice 2. We give up our minds a. Conforming the mind to this world is acting like the world expects you to act. b. Transforming the mind is revealing what is inside of you through the redemption of Christ to the World as something contrary to the sinful . i. The best example of the use of this word is back in Matthew 17:2 when Jesus was temporarily transfigured into the likeness of his inner essence. c. Essentially, we are not to emulate who we were, but who we are. 3. We give up our wills a. In doing this, we take on the will of God - God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect.

(Whiteboard) Our bodies are controlled by our minds. Our minds are controlled by our will. If we are to constantly and completely give our bodies to Christ then our minds must be transformed, reflecting the redemption inside of us. In doing this, our will becomes God’s will. If our will is God’s will, which is good and acceptable and perfect, then our minds are transformed and our bodies are continually offered as a living sacrifice.

So what does this new life look like in action?

II. What We Do

B. Our Relationship with the Body Pick up with me in Romans 12:3-16 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of ​ himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the ​ ​ members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and ​ ​ individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace ​ ​ given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he ​ ​ ​ ​ who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to ​ ​ ​ one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind ​ ​ in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, ​ ​ devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. ​ ​ 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, ​ ​ ​ and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be ​ ​ haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Here is where I want to stop for a moment and just talk and discuss what we know thus far.

1. The Church of Rome knows an incredible amount of theology and doctrine. 2. We are a church that knows an incredible amount of theology and doctrine. 3. Romans 1-11 is essentially a summary of how mankind is incapable of keeping the law. Therefore, God has made a way through Jesus Christ so that we are alive and free to fulfill all the laws through Jesus Christ. 4. Jesus summarizes all the laws into these two commandments. Love God, Love your Neighbor. 5. When we hear neighbor, we think about loving the world, right? 6. It dumbfounded me that over 90% of the imperatives that Paul left the church in Rome in chapter 12 are directed, not toward our interaction with an unsaved world, but to the relationships within the body of Christ. 7. Are we to love the world and tell those who are unsaved about the gospel? Absolutely.

8. Yet, in God’s divine wisdom, he chose to use Abraham to bless all the nations of the World, grafting in the Gentiles through the redemption of Christ thus extending the covenant relationship to all who are saved by grace alone through faith alone and therefore making Israel jealous in order that their return to God may be all the more great. If it is his plan for Israel’s redemption then is it his plan also for the church? Why would anyone be jealous of our relationships in the body of Christ if 1) our relationship with God doesn’t look any different than the world’s relationship with their god’s and 2) if our relationship with other believers doesn’t look any different than the world’s relationships with friends? 9. In summary: The practical application that we find in Romans 12 is to respond to the message of Romans 1-11 by 1) loving God by offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and 2) loving our neighbor by humbling evaluating our position within the body of Christ and loving one another.

In our Small Group last week, we were looking at this passage and discussing a few thoughts to help me prepare for this message and our groupie Michelle asked the question: How do we actually love one another?

It was like one of those moments in a movie when everything around the main character stops and it’s just the main character and his thoughts. I sat there, the group discussion fading into the background, thinking about how on earth I answer that question.

How do we love one another like brothers and sisters? How do we actually do that? How are we doing in that area?

In a church this size, we have disagreements. Honestly, there is nothing wrong with disagreements. It’s what you do with those disagreements that matters. In a church this size, we have different styles. That’s alright. How do you work alongside someone with a different style? I guarantee there are different political views in this room, different views on alcohol, different views on education, discipline, food choices… that’s okay!

As long as we find ourselves as a living sacrifice and being transformed because of the work of Christ within us, our differences will not become divisions but opportunities to choose to love our neighbor as ourselves.

In a few minutes, we’re going to be entering a time of communion. One of the things that Paul tells us about communion in 1st Corinthians 11:27-29 is that we’re to take communion rightly.

27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, ​ shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and ​ ​ in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats ​ ​ and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

One of the issues in the church of Corinth is that some were taking communion wrongly. They were taking communion to have a meal or even get drunk. Ultimately, they were doing it for self-gratification rather than Chrsit-glorification.

Essentially, Paul is saying here to have a “heart check” before taking communion. Is the heart in the right spot? Are we divided among ourselves or are we unified in Christ? Are we doing this simply out of routine or are we doing this fully satisfied in God’s redemption and will for our lives?

Now, before we jump into communion, I want to walk through Paul’s exhortation to the Church of Rome in response to all that we have heard today and point out a few items that will be helpful for your reflection this week upon this passage.

I think we can summarize this section of Romans 12:3-16 into three parts. 1. Honest Evaluation of Ourselves (3) 2. Faithful Cooperation within the Body of Believers (4-8) 3. Loving Participation among One Another. (9-16)

Honest Evaluation of Ourselves 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of ​ himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Do not think of yourself as more highly than you ought.

Warren Weirsbe has said “Nothing causes more damage in a local church than a believer who ​ overrates himself and tries to perform a ministry that he cannot do.”

Sometimes, it can even be the exact opposite that someone will undervalue themselves and thus not serve as well. Both are equally harmful.

Paul then jumps into discussion of cooperation within the body in verses 4-8 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same ​ function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of ​ ​ another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to ​ ​ exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ cheerfulness.

Basically Paul is saying here that each of us has a different gift for the purpose of working together within the body of Christ. 1. Some are called to prophecy. I know the word prophet can be confusing because we think of prophets as foretellers of coming events. While that was the role of a prophet, in actuality, much of their work was to take God’s words and uniquely apply it to the current situation and culture that the listener found himself in. I’m not saying I have the answers on what this gifting means but I think it is a gift that has continued into the church today…

I think it can be understood wrongly but I think some in this congregation do have this gift and are useful for teaching God’s Word and how it relates to our current situation and how it guides us into the future.

Some would argue, and I would agree, that prophecy is displayed best in modern day preaching of God’s Word and how it applies to our lives.

2. Some are called to service which could literally be translated to “deaconing” or practical help. 3. Some are called to teaching. Teaching is a systematic explanation of doctrine. Dr. MacArthur would say that this differs in prophecy not in it’s content but in its proclamation. 4. Some are called to exhortation. In 2 Timothy 4:2 Paul explains this as encouragement, comfort and strengthening of struggling believers. 5. Some are called to giving with liberality. Openhearted generous giving. 6. Some are called to leadership. If I’m not mistaken this word is only used in reference to households and churches in the New Testament. This is the role of the husband and the elders and draws upon the position of the individual who steers the ship. 7. Some are called to show mercy and we’re to do that cheerfully.

So now that Paul has called us to humbly evaluate ourselves and I would add be evaluated by others (affirmation) and explained that there are different roles within the Body of Christ that God has established… not all of us are leaders, some of us are servants and givers… And that’s OKAY! None of these gifts are highlighted as more important than another but for the benefit of the whole body of Christ.

Pick up with me in verses 9-16 and we will wrap up our time together. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in ​ ​ ​ ​ tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. ​ ​ 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, ​ ​ ​ and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be ​ ​ ​ haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

1. Let love (Agape) be without hypocrisy. a. Abhor - Hate b. Cling - Be glued to. 2. Be Devoted (tenderly loving) to one another. a. My wife would probably tell you that I need to be more tender on occasion. I would probably tell you that we all need to be more tender on occasion. 3. In Brother love (Philadelphia) 4. Give Preference to one another in honor a. Allow others to literally go before you as a leader and value them. 5. Don’t be lazy but do all of this now and diligently. 6. Fervent is an idea of boiling… be hot. 100%. 7. Serving the Lord - Literally be a slave to the Lord (Master) 8. Contributing to the Needs of the Saints - Think shareholder in a business. You are one another therefore if someone is in need in your business you want the entire business to be profitable so you help wherever help is needed. 9. Bless and do not curse - speak well of.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate ​ ​ with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Then the final few verses Paul gives us instructions on our relationship with the World. This is Romans 12. We love God by offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and being transformed to display a redeemed heart. We love others by humbly acknowledging our gifts to be used for the benefit of the whole body of Christ and we show love for one another in the way that we interact.

You probably have before you the elements for communion. I mentioned that Paul tells us to make sure we take communion rightly and to have a heart check. I asked this week that we make sure we have communion next week as well because I know that in a room this size after a message this convicting, that there are some here who really need to take some time to process through Romans 12 and the message that we received from it before entering into communion.

That is okay. In fact, this week more than any other week, we’re actually encouraging you to wait. You can stick your communion in your pocket and bring it back next week. Because if God’s Word is working and the Holy Spirit is convicting then there are some things he is prompting us to do before we enter communion.

If you’ve given that some thought and in your heart you know you are ready for communion and that you are doing this rightly, then by all means, take communion today.

I’m going to give you just a little time to reflect on this time before us and if you haven’t received your communion elements just go ahead and raise your hand and over the next few minutes ​ ​ our ushers will make sure you have what you need to take communion.

Explain the cups…

Two Minute Reflection (Take My Life)

Paul, in his letter to the church in Corinth gives these instructions 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the ​ night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it ​ ​ and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Let’s take the bread together.

25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant ​ in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Let’s take the cup together.

Prayer.

Closing Song: Take My Life

Learning to Living

How Doctrine Influences Relationships in the Body of Christ Romans 12:1-21

Outline I. What We Know 1:1-17 Introduction Part 1 1:18-3:20 Humanities Guilt Revealed Through Righteousness Part 2 3:21-8 Salvation For Humanity Revealed Through Righteousness Part 3 9-11 Vindication - The Wisdom of God Revealed Part 4 12-15 Exhortation - The Will of God Revealed 16 Conclusion

II. What We Do A. Our Relationship with God (12:1-2)

B. Our Relationships with the Body (12:3-16

C. Our Relationship to the World (12:17-21)

One Thing: 1) Spend time reflecting on Romans 12-15 and find areas that God is highlighting ​ as potential growth areas in your heart. 2) Tell a close friend or your small group what you feel God is compelling you to do through these chapters. 3) Ask someone to think about what they see in your life that needs to change in light of Romans 12-15.

Discussion Questions: 1) How are we actively showing love towards other believers? 2) How ​ should we show love towards other believers? 3) When we hear “love God love others” who comes to mind in the “others” category? 4) Are we susceptible to forget to show love to other believers? 5) What gifts according to Romans 12:3-8 do you see in your small group?