The Revelation of God's Righteousness
Mike Bowler
Romans 12: 1-8, Matthew 16: 13-20
The passage from Romans that Alison read to us today is part of a remarkable document that we have within the books of the Holy Bible.
There are 13 letters attributed to Paul in the New Testament. The Letter to the Romans, was written by Paul most probably in the early spring of 57 AD, whilst Paul was on his Third Missionary Journey. He was most likely in or near Corinth at the time.
The original recipients were the people of the church in Rome, who were predominantly Gentile with a Jewish minority. The theme of the letter is the basic gospel, God’s plan of salvation and righteousness for all human kind, both Jews and Gentiles. The letter to the Romans is the most systematic of his letters and reads more as a theological essay than a letter. It is Paul’s summary of the Gospel. William Barclay quotes that Luther wrote in a preface to the New Testament: ”John’s gospels and St. Paul’s epistles, especially that to the Romans, and St Peter’s first epistle are the true kernel and marrow of all the books.”
Paul had successfully planted churches in the Eastern Mediterranean, and now was looking to the west. He sent the letter to the Church in Rome to prepare for his intending visit, and onward mission to Spain, though we do not actually know if he ever made it to Spain.
Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
God is merciful, and by His grace, we are saved. Paul was very aware of his previous role in persecuting the church. He witnessed the stoning of Stephen who this church is named after. “And Saul was there, giving approval to his death” Acts 8:1 But God had saved him by Grace, even though he deserved death for what he had done. Every Christian owes the God everything with the eternal debt of love.
Paul used a Greek word for body (Soma) which refers to not just the external body, but the unity of body and spirit. Paul’s Jewish background viewed the body holistically. There was nothing incompatible between body and spirit. Both important, both sacred, both essential for human life. Both compatible with Christian Discipleship. In contrast, the Greeks at the time tended to be influenced by Plato, who separated the visible world, the physical and material, from the spiritual aspects.
What is a sacrifice? It is the slaughter of an animal, or person, or the surrender of a treasured possession to a deity.
Paul knew from his earlier life that a sacrificial animal was closely examined by the priests at the Temple to ensure its quality and fitness. Sacrifice is referred to many times through the books of the Bible. Those bloody sacrifices were superseded by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, upon the cross for us.
But here we are being asked now to offer ourselves as living sacrifices! Our living sacrifice is not the offering of a dead body, but a living, breathing, doing body, a body that is filled with the new life of the Holy Spirit. A body that also encompasses the heart, the mind and the will. It is to be a bloodless sacrifice, offered in grateful service to a merciful God. This living sacrifice needs to be vital and alive, not half hearted with anything held back. This gift is not to secure our salvation, but to express our thankfulness to God for our salvation.
We are no longer living in times when special people (the priests) offered special animals (sacrifices) to God in special places (temples) at special times. We as ordinary people can now offer ourselves as living sacrifices, not only where we pray, but also where we live and work and enjoy our leisure.
Our worship is not just confined to Church on Sundays but continues on through the week in what ever we are doing. This is a point where we are being asked to express our faith in action. This is to be Christian living in Action.
We are part of this world, with its wonders and beauty. A world created by God and it was Good. However, we live in an age since the fall of Adam. Paul says we should not conform to the pattern of this world, to not be shaped by the age. This message is as pertinent to us now as it was to the Roman church Paul was writing to. He was particularly pointing to the evil and corruption and exploitation, the perversions and idolatry that existed then. We only have to look at our own world, both real and virtual, the online “influencers” that are used to manipulate our thoughts, the greed and excesses, the materialism and fads, the destructive and selfish behaviour. If it feels good, it must be good. This is rebellion against God.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Chapter 1 v 4, he refers to The Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age.
The values, thinking and opinions of this world, must be replaced by the values, thinking and opinions of God’s Kingdom. We are encouraged to transform, which is a continual process, not just a single event. In Romans 6: 11 Paul says we are “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”. By His gift of the Word and Spirit, God is continuing to renew our minds, as we continue to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Through teaching, study, reading and growth in our Christian lives, we can transform our lives. We can also express this transformation in the loving service to others. This transformation is personal and is to grow in Christ-like ness.
Paul makes a pointed comment that the behaviour of the children of God now must be fit for the future Kingdom of God. This transformed living must, in the language of modern corporate culture, be measured with KPIs or Key Performance Indicators, that is, a united church, and in members relationships with one another and the wider community.
Paul was writing to a church in Rome that was diverse. It encompassed Jews and Gentiles, with different historic and ethnic backgrounds. In the last chapter of the letter, Paul greets at least 13 people, perhaps indicating that there were at least that number of clusters of believers. One of the purposes of this letter was to try and consolidate the groups into one Christian body. Paul likens the members of the church to that of a human body. This is a concept that he uses in other letters as well. A body has many parts that have very diverse and different functions. All are needed, in good working order, for the healthy functioning of the body. There is unity in diversity.
Our church, as was the case of the church in Rome, is often held apart by petty mindedness, historic differences, irrelevant boundaries and misunderstanding. This results in a weakened Body of Christ. As Christians we need to see ourselves as connected to and needing one another because of our differences and laying aside our attitudes of superiority. The power to fulfil ministries within the Church comes from God, and since it is God given, there is no room for superior attitudes or self righteousness. We must have a realistic understanding of our strengths and weaknesses and seek to serve others. Pride and arrogance do not have a place in God’s purpose and were a root cause of the divisions in the Church of Rome.
I find it amazing that there are no two humans on this earth today who are the same. My brother and I are twins, and a few years ago, we found that we were genetically identical twins, so theoretically we should be the same. God has, thankfully, made us quite different, both physically and emotionally, despite perhaps using the same mould. Whilst we are all made in His likeness, we are all unique.
In our communion liturgy, we are shortly going to acknowledge that “We who are many are one body”
Every Christian has been given a different form of Grace, and in the letter to Corinthians, Paul writes “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good”. 1 Cor 12:7
We should understand the gifts we have been given and also help other members of the Body of Christ to discern the gifts that they have also been given. Paul lists in his letter 7 gifts,
1) Prophesy, which he ranks second only to Apostleship, as it is a gift that strengthens, encourages and comforts and spiritually builds a Church up more.
2) Serving, a gift needed in the process of unifying the Church.
3) Teaching, a gift that was required for the renewing of the mind that brings transformation,
4) Encouragement, part of prophesy but seen by Paul in the practical sense of appreciation for others, speaking well of them and urging them to do more of what they are already gifted for and actively doing.
5) Contributing to the needs of others was as important in the Roman church as it is still in our own.
6) It is interesting that Paul put Leadership in second last place. It comes after the need to contribute to others. Indeed, Christ taught that leadership begins when a person lays down their own ambitions and begins to actively seek the very best for the other person. Jesus says in Matthews gospel, Matt 20:26 ”..whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”
7) The last gift of mercy recognises God’s gift of mercy to all humanity. The Church needed an appreciation for each other that is based on an understanding that all believers are in Christ solely because of God’s grace and mercy.
And we are told to perform the last three generously, eagerly and cheerfully.
This passage from the Paul’s letter, is as relevant for us today in our Church as it was when it as written 1963 years ago to the Church in Rome.
It gives us instruction for Christian living.
It is rather like being in the army, you don’t get to have discussions about an order, you just do it. This now moves from the abstract to the physical. It is where the rubber meets the road. Therefore give ourselves in the service to God. Look at our own strengths, gifts and weaknesses and be thankful that we are part of the Christian Community.
Feel empowered as we go from the church today that we can, through the Holy Spirit, use the greatest gift that God has given us, our lives, in His service, and for His purpose.
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Lectionary reflections Year A Jane Williams;
Romans The revelation of God’s Righteousness Paul Barnett:
Introducing the Bible William Barclay
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/romans-121-8/
The NIV Study Bible
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Paul-the-Apostle
https://bibleforlife.co.uk/books/romans/taster/summary
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-12/