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CHRISTIAN ETHICS
ROMANS 12:1-15:13
In this section of his letter, Paul turns to the practical implications of the Gospel. In all his letters, Paul has a practical section, which follows a theological section. This practical section starts here at 12:1 and continues to chapter 15, verse 13. It is divided into two mains sections:
- in the first he deals with Christian Service (12:1–13:14) and
- in the second he deals with the problem of the Weak and the Strong (14:1–15:13).
ROMANS 12:1-13:14
The first thing that Paul deals with in this practical section is Christian Service. First he deals with the
- basis of Christian Service (12:1-2), then with the
- will of God (12:3–13:7), and with
- love as the fulfillment of the law (13:8-10),
and then gives an exhortation based on hope (13:11-14).
ROMANS 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
In these two verses, Paul deals with the basis of Christian Service.
ROMANS 12:3-13:7
In the following verses (12:3–13:7), Paul explains the will of the God for the believer in four areas:
- the body of Christ (12:3-8),
- the fellow believers (12:9-13),
- those outside (12:14-21),
- the state (13:1-7).
ROMANS 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, as God divided to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body, and all 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 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each use them: if prophecy, in proportion to 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 contributes, with simplicity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
In these verses, Paul deals with the Will of God for the believers toward the Church, body of Christ.
ROMANS 12:9-13
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another warmly with brotherly love; preferring one another with honor. 11 Never lack in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
In these verses, Paul deals with the Will of God for the believers toward fellow believers.
ROMANS 12:14-21
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, 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; never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
In these verses, Paul deals with the Will of God for the believers toward those outside the body of Christ.
ROMANS 13:1-7
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
In these verses, Paul deals with the Will of God for the believers toward the state.
ROMANS 13:8-10
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
In these verses, Paul connects the Christian ethics of love to the Old Testament Law: love fulfills the law.
ROMANS 13:11-14
11 Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; 12 the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 13 let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Paul concludes this section on Christian Service with exhortations based on hope.