from Mark Rater's sermon on 5/17/20
Romans 12:3-8 (NASB)
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the 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 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of 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 gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
-be humble, each has been allotted by God a measure of faith and specific gifts to be exercised in the church
“Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Head of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another, and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us. But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest, under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.”-Matthew Henry
Romans 12:3-8
Mark Rater
V3: An exhortation to humble thinking
on the basis of: grace , as with any exhortation
Grace given to Paul by God to:
Save him
Give him the apostolic calling and authority
directed to: “everyone among you, “ which is the church/believers
The exhortation: there’s a way that we ought to think:
Do not: think proudly, arrogantly about ourselves
Do: think with sound, modest, humble, right mindset
The basis for a humble mindset is that:
God has given each one of us a measure of faith in God and Christ
our portion of faith is from God, not of ourselves
V4-5: Believers serve different functions within the church
V6: An exhortation to use the differing gifts that God has given us
V7-8: A list of some God given gifts and how to use them
Prophecy-speaking forth God's revealed truth within the bounds of that revealed truth and within the bounds of the God given capacity that one possess for this gift
Service-ministry of the Gospel, relief, aid, attending to needs
Teaching-interpreting and communicating God's truth
Exhortation-calling, motivating, encouraging, admonishing others to obey God's truth
Giving-giving/sharing a part with generosity
Leading-ruling/having authority informally or presiding over officially, both to be done with diligence
Mercy-acts of compassion to be done with cheerfulness
Exploring the Text
How should Christians think about themselves? (12:3)
What facts should keep a person from feeling superior or inferior to other Christians? (12:3-6)
What did Paul use the human body to illustrate? (12:4-5)
What makes Christians different from one another? (12:4-6)
In what way are all Christians alike? (12:4-6)
What are the gifts of God? (12:6-8)
How should each person use his or her gifts? (12:6-8)
Applying the Text
How can the gifts God bestows on Christians help others in the church or community?
What gifts from God do you see in others?
What gifts from God do you see in your life?
Being Doers of the Word This Week
How can you put a spiritual gift to work for others this week?
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