Taught by Grace

The Christian is to interact with all men in a way that is a contradiction to the system of this world. They bless those who curse them. They rejoice with those who rejoice instead of growing jealous. They weep with those who weep instead of responding harshly. They view others with humility instead of pride. Christian relationships are not marked by self-centeredness, but others-centeredness. Truly, this is the Christian way to interact with all men.

Christians do not give by coercion, force, or guilt, rather, they give because they recognize the abundance of the grace that has been displayed to them in Jesus Christ. 

There must be a heart of generosity within every believer because we understand what Christ has done for us.

The Christian is to be steadfast through difficult circumstances. There is no reason for the believer to be tossed to and fro when difficulties arise. The hope we have in Christ helps us persevere in tribulation while remaining constant in prayer.

The display of true Christianity is revealed in a few ways throughout Romans 12. 

Christians are to love genuinely (9a) 

Christians are to pursue holiness relentlessly (9b) 

Christians are to enjoy familial affection for one another (10a) 

In this episode, we see that is also displayed in service. True Christian service is marked by passion, not apathy. It is marked by diligence, not laziness. Why must this be true? These characterize the believer's service because this service is unto the Lord!

The love that Christians display to one another should be the result of the love that believers have for one another because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Each believer is brought into a familial relationship with other believers, therefore, we must love one another in that manner.

This week, we're going to take a brief break from our study in Romans 12 to look at Psalm 8. 

This Psalm communicates two key truths to us: God is great and God is good. May our hearts be turned to praise as we consider how our God is transcendent above the universe while still involved in our lives.

The Christian's response to both evil and goodness is not one of indifference or apathy, but a passion. We are to respond to sinfulness with a godly hatred and we are to embrace righteousness. There is no middle ground, but the believer is to be on the Lord's side in the matter of righteousness and sinfulness.

How are believers to love one another? Paul gives us an answer for how we are to love one another by showing us how not to love each other. Love is to be without hypocrisy. It is not to be a mere show, but it is to be genuine. 

This love was perfectly displayed for us in Jesus Christ. Meditate on His love to know what true, genuine love is.

Spiritual gifts. They are often misunderstood, underemphasized, or just plain neglected. There are many disagreements regarding what spiritual gifts are and are not in activity today. That will not be the focus of this episode. Rather, we are going to explore these verses to come away with the main truth being emphasized. Your spiritual gift is not for you, but to help others. If you preach or teach, then study, pray, and proclaim God’s Word with all of your heart. If you minister, then humbly serve others. If you give, do it without a desire for self-glory. If you rule or administer, do it to the best of your ability. No matter how God has gifted you, your gift is necessary for the sake of the body of believers that you belong to.

There are no superior spiritual gifts. Each spiritual gift is essential for the body to function. Take your role and use it for God’s glory and honor in serving fellow believers. Remember, His glory is the goal of the Christian life. Use your gift to bring Him glory!

There are no insignificant spiritual gifts because there are no insignificant Christians. Every believer is essential to the body, therefore, every believer’s spiritual gift matters. Join me as we examine the definition, reality, and purpose of spiritual gifts in part one of two episodes on this subject.