Romans 12:9–21 NASB95PARA 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. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The theme of Romans 12:9-21: Love sincerely.

1. By being an AFFECTIONATE member of the FAMILY of God.

2. By ESTEEMING other believers HIGHER than yourself.

Philippians 2:3 ESV 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

3. By PROACTIVELY meeting the NEEDS of other believers.

4. By living SYMPATHETICALLY and HARMONIOUSLY.

This isn’t unrealistic, pie in the sky dreams. Churches can love and do life like this!

Acts 4:32 NASB95 32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Love your ENEMIES sincerely.

1. By praying for God to FAVOR (i.e. bless) them.

Luke 6:27–28 NASB95 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

2. By refusing to RETALIATE.

3. By leaving VENGEANCE to God.

4. By returning evil with acts of kindness so that they may be ASHAMED of their deeds and ultimately God will be GLORIFIED.

Whether it’s loving other believers sincerely or loving enemies sincerely, the critical ingredient is INTENTIONALLY.

Since we are already more than conquerors in Christ (8:37), the question is do we want to do what TRUE conquerors do: OVERCOME evil with good?

Exhortation: Stay on FIRE for God, JOYFULLY and patiently enduring the trials of this world, by fixing your HOPE on the return of Jesus and the world to come. (Rom 12:11-12)

Then you can live like who you already are: more than a conqueror!

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95PARA 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 renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 9:16 NASB95PARA 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

GRATITUDE for God’s mercy is our MOTIVATION for holy living.

Considering the mercy of God and Jesus’ sacrifice for us, isn’t offering our bodies back to God both RATIONAL and REAONABLE?

Worship that pleases God is both SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NASB95PARA 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Galatians 1:4 NASB95PARA 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Our minds need to be renewed in order to DISCERN in a given situation which actions are pleasing to God and those that aren’t.  

2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB95PARA 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Putting it all together:

To best express our gratitude to God for His mercy that was so clearly displayed on the cross, we need to DAILY offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, which is made possible by INVESTING time in God’s presence (i.e. in the WORD and worship) so that our minds can be renewed, leading to our behavior being transformed, and our bodies made a holy and acceptable sacrifice to God that day. And we do the same thing the next day. That is how we say thanks!

Luke 24:1–9 ESV 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

John 20:4–7 ESV 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 3:18 ESV 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 ESV 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Philippians 3:21 ESV 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Matthew 20:28 ESV 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Timothy 2:3–6 ESV 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Your Notes:

Matthew 26:36–46 NASB95 36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 “Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

Isaiah 53:3–6 NLT 3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:10–11 NLT 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. 11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

Notes:

1. Jesus WILLINGLY surrendered to the WILL of God and died on the cross for our sins.

2. Jesus was in agony in the garden because He was about to suffer the full WRATH of God’s judgment, including His REJECTION.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

3. Don’t lose PERSPECTIVE. While surrendering to God’s will can be AGONIZING, but whatever we SUFFER for the will of God will never compare to what Jesus SUFFERED for us!

4. True surrender means surrendering to both God’s PLAN and God’s WILL.

5. Out of obedience to the Father and love for us, Jesus SURRENDERED to God’s will and did what only He could do: take our PLACE on the CROSS.

Romans 3:26 NASB95 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 ESV 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

6. Now, out of love for God and appreciation of Jesus’ willing sacrifice, will you SURRENDER to God’s WILL for your life?

1 John 5:3 ESV 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Romans 12:1 NKJV 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Luke 4:16–20 ESV 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Jesus’ mission can be summed up in one word: LIBERATION.  He proclaimed it and made it possible for everyone.

Romans 7:15, 19, 24–25 (ESV) 

15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

We were all in SPIRITUAL bondage before Jesus. 

Romans 6:17–18 ESV 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

But Jesus’ mission was not what He lived for...

Jesus lived to be OBEDIENT to the FATHER.

John 4:34 ESV 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Philippians 2:7 NIV 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Why is that important to remember?

1. To keep us HUMBLE. The UNIVERSE does not REVOLVE around us.

2. To give us an EXAMPLE. We can love the unlovable because of our love for and obedience to the FATHER.

Luke 19:10 ESV 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Mark 16:15 ESV 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

As Jesus’ disciples, we EMBRACE His mission: to share the good news of salvation (i.e. liberation) with everyone by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. 

And we do it for the same reason: love for and OBEDIENCE to the Father.

Action Item: INVITE at least one person to CHURCH this Easter.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

The depth of God’s KNOWLEDGE is such that His ways (i.e. paths) are impossible for man to PLOT. So who could dare claim to know the mind of the Lord??

Psalm 33:13–15 NASB95 13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; 14 From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth, 15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The depth of God’s WISDOM is such that His JUDGEMENTS are impossible for man to fully understand. Who could possibly give God counsel or advice??

The depth of God’s riches of KINDNESS  and  MERCY are such that God is in no man’s debt. Who could claim that God owes them something??

Romans 2:4 NASB95 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Romans 9:23 NASB95

23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,

Romans 10:12 NASB95

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

Although no one has the fullness of God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge, God has GIVEN us all these things in CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB9530 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and r edemption,

1 Corinthians 2:16 NASB95 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Romans 11:25–32 NASB95 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Mystery - greek musterion; some sacred thing hidden or secret which is naturally unknown to human reason and is only known by the revelation of God. (Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary)

Rom 11:25-27

The Meaning:  

•    God’s partial hardening of Israel, which was always part of His redemption plan but was unknown before the gospel, is TEMPORARY until the full number of Gentiles comes to faith in Christ.

•    The believers need to know and be reminded of God’s plan to keep them from becoming ARROGANT.

Application: When we are ignorant of or reject God’s revelation about man’s nature, then arrogance, RACISM, and DIVISION are inevitable.

Acts 17:26 NASB95 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

Romans 3:23–24 NASB95 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

Romans 11:28-29

Meaning: In regards to the GOSPEL, Israel is God’s enemy, but in regards to ELECTION, they are still His beloved. 

Application: When we evaluate people, our standpoints or perspectives are always LIMITED. Since only God can see them all, exercise HUMILITY.

Colossians 1:21–22 NASB95 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—

Romans 11:30-32

Meaning: All human beings share two things in common: 1) all have been DISOBEDIENT to God, and 2) all have received God’s MERCY.

Romans 11:16–24 NASB95 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

The Tree Illustration:

1.    The root of the tree (i.e. the PATRIARCHS - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the tree branches (i.e. ISRAELITES) have both been set apart by God for a unique purpose.  (11:16)

(Reminder: Your FAITHFULNESS to God in the present not only blesses you, but also the future GENERATIONS that come behind you.)

2. Some branches were broken off the tree (the HARDENED).

Grafting is the process of joining two plants together to grow as one.

3. GENTILE believers are wild olive branches that God graciously grafted into the tree.

“If you Gentiles were grafted into the tree, and that’s the only reason you have borne fruit, how can you BOAST against the NATURAL branches of that same tree??”

Warning: Natural branches were cut off because of UNBELIEF, and the same thing can happen to you.

Applications:

1. Christians are saved by faith in Christ alone and can’t BOAST about anyone or anything besides JESUS.

Galatians 6:14 NASB95 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

2. Believers are all part of the same TREE, the same VINE, and the same BODY. We are one. Be discerning, and resist the DIVISIVE spirit of our age.

John 15:5 NASB95 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

If you’re not in the tree, there’s still time!

Romans 11:11–15 NASB95 11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

The Question: “Has Israel permanently fallen away?”

Paul’s answer: “No, Israel has stumbled but has not fallen to ruin. She’s in step TWO of God’s three step master plan:”

Step 1: Israel’s REJECTION of Christ opened the door for Gentiles to be SAVED.

Step 2:  Observing Gentiles receive the blessings of SALVATION will cause many in Israel to become ENVIOUS and give their lives to Christ.

Step 3:  Israel’s growth to its FULLNESS will result in even greater BLESSINGS for the Gentiles (i.e. the world).

Luke 14:21–23 NASB95 21 “And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 “And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.

Lessons:

1.  God works all things (including OUR SIN) together for our good and His glory.

Romans 8:28 NASB95 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

So don’t put a PERIOD where GOD has placed a COMMA!

2. An indirect, EVANGELISTIC consequence of the church being the church is outsiders becoming jealous of our relationship with God and each other and desiring that for themselves.

1 Peter 2:12 NASB95 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Applying these truths to life: 

When our service for the Lord appears FRUITLESS, one source of encouragement is knowing everything we do for the Lord has RIPPLE EFFECTS far beyond what we can see.