Lesson 16 – Amends
Romans 12:1-21 …Foundational Christian Living
Principle 6: Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I 've done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others.
Step 8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. (Luke 6:31)
A Admit the Hurt and the Harm- (Luke 6:37 "Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you." (Luke 6:37 GNB)) You need to once again face the hurts, resentments, and wrongs others have caused you, or wrongs you have caused others. Holding on to resentment leads to relapse.
M Make a List – (Luke 6:31 "Treat others as you want them to treat you.") In your Inventory in column 1 and 4.
E Encourage One Another – (Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.") With the help of your Accountability Partner and your Sponsor, you will receive encouragement and motivation.
N Not for Them – (Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back.") You need to approach those to whom you are offering your forgiveness or amends humbly, sincerely, and willingly. Don't expect anything back.
D Do it at the Right Time – (Philippians 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.") This step not only requires courage, good judgment, and willingness, but, a careful sense of timing. Pray, pray and pray.
S Start Living the Promises of Recovery – (Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.") If we work this step to the best of our ability, we will know a new freedom and happiness, with no regrets.
Making AMENDS is nothing more than a Christian life (Promises of Recovery) lead by the foundational truth of the Scriptures.
When you do what the Bible says, you get what the Bible Promises.
Living the Christian Life – it starts with Step 3…turning our will and our lives over to Jesus.
A. (Rom 12:1) The living sacrifice.
J.B. Phillips has an outstanding and memorable translation of Romans 12:1-2:
With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the Plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.
a. Give Him you bodies, consecrated (set apart/dedicated to God), and acceptable by Him.
i. The body is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.
b. DON'T let the world reshape your thinking…DO let God change your thinking from within.
c. WHY…so you can prove that God's plan for you is GOOD!
d. THE RESULT….true maturity.
e. How do I do it?" By the renewing of your mind. The problem with many Christians is they live life based on feelings, or they are only concerned about doing. "Feelings are real, but they may not be true."
ii. The life based on feeling says, "How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my wife? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?" This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
iii. The life based on doing says, "Don't give me your theology. Just tell me what to do. Give me the four points for this and the seven keys for that. Or even…12 Steps for better living." This life of doing will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
iv. God is never against the principles of feeling and doing. He is a God of powerful and passionate feeling and He commands us to be doers. Yet feelings and doing are completely insufficient foundations for the Christian life. The first questions cannot be "How do I feel?" or "What do I do?" Rather, they must be "What is true here? What does God's Word say?"
B. (Rom 12:3) A warning to live in humility.
[3] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
a. Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think: Paul does not tell the believer to take an attitude that finds pleasure in humiliation or degradation. Rather, the idea is that we should see the truth about ourselves and live in light of it. When we see ourselves as we really are, it is impossible to be given over to pride.
2. (Rom 12:4-5) Unity and diversity in the body of Christ.
[4-5] For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
a. Many members in one body: The church is a unified whole (one body), yet we are distinct within that one body (individually members). In the body of Christ there is unity but not uniformity.
In sobriety there is one brokenness, but not all the same things broke.
3. (Rom 12:6-8) An exhortation to use (and how not to use) the gifts God has granted to the individual members of the church.
[6-8] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
a. Spiritual gifts are given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:11 says, But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
1. (Rom 12:9-13) Relating to those in the Christian family.
[9-13] Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
a. So here we find a practical set of deeds that needs to be part of our recovery.
Good
Kind
Loving
Give preference (be partial)
Attentive
Enthusiastic in spirit
Serve
Rejoice in hope (things will get better)
Patient during troubles
Pray
Give to other Christians
Welcoming
2. (Rom 12:14) Relating to those outside of the Christian family.
[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
a. Bless those who persecute you: We are not to have a hateful attitude towards anyone, not even towards those who persecute us.
b. Do not curse: Jesus spoke of this same heart in Matthew 5:46: For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? The surpassing greatness of the love of Jesus in us is shown in that it can be extended to our enemies.
3. (Rom 12:15-21) How to get along with people both inside and outside the church.
[15-21] Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
a. Think the best of people, especially in recovery. People should be able to see what is good and what is not based on our conduct.
b. Live peaceably with all men reminds us that though we are in contrast to the world, we do not seek out contention. If it is possible, we will be at peace with all men. Make amends quickly and humbly.
i. "If it be possible indicates that it may not always be possible."
20 Christian Behaviors to emulate. One for each week.
Amends = We can destroy our enemies by making them our friends.
