Romans 12:9-21 – Living Out The Truths of Scripture
What’s The Point?
The previous chapters of Romans are all about things we should know and believe. This chapter moves into things we should do and how we should act. The ideas are very simple to grasp, but not always easy to put into action—easier said than done. The layout of this part of the study will be different; we will walk verse by verse through this section and seek to apply these Scriptures.
v. 9) The idea here is to love without hypocrisy. That is a good challenge, especially in a world where so much is fake and curated. Hate evil; hold fast to good.
v. 10) Too often we try to one-up each other in silly things. We are all eager to exalt ourselves and talk about ourselves. This verse challenges us to have urgency and zeal in how we honor one another, not ourselves.
v. 11) God is active. We should not be lazy but should imitate God in our work. The word for fervent is the same word that is used for boiling water. The idea is that our service to the Lord and our work in the Spirit should be bubbling over.
v. 12-13) These are such simple ideas, but they are so hard to put into practice. Work hard to make your faith take action. Hope, patience, prayer, generosity, and hospitality are all realities believers should exhibit in their lives.
14) Christ was the ultimate example of this, when from the cross he said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Also, Christ loved us, even when we were dead in sin and children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).
15) This is so simple but so good. Sometimes people need a wise word or a problem solved, but oftentimes the greater need is for someone to join in their celebration or empathize with their sorrow.
16) Just live humbly. All of us are needy sinners. There is no room in the Church for pride and arrogance.
17) Our knee-jerk reactions are not always Spirit-filled. Knowing this, we should “give thought” or be intentional with our actions, to make sure they are honoring Christ and others.
18) There are two ways to think about this: First, with believers, always strive for unity in Christ. Look to find common ground rather than differing opinions. Second, with unbelievers, love them well, be kind, know that you are representing Christ and his Church.
19-20) Worldly wisdom says get revenge or get even. Biblical wisdom says love people no matter who they are, serve people no matter how they treat you. God will ultimately judge everyone, and we should trust his timing.
21) What a beautiful summary for the last few verses. All of this only makes sense because evil will eventually be overcome by good. Christ has finished the work and overcome the sin in our lives, and one day he will return, wipe away every tear, heal every affliction, and reign forever.
Romans 12 is one of the most practical chapters in the whole Bible. We should read this chapter frequently and always seek to live it out. But there is one important thing to note with such a simple, straightforward piece of Scripture. We cannot separate these simple commands from all the rich theology Paul covers in the previous eleven chapters. The power behind these directives comes from the weight of the truth at the front-end of Romans. We cannot separate Scripture from itself.
Scripture Memorization
Romans 12:9-10
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. [10] Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.“
Prayer
Father God, help me apply this Scripture to my life. Holy Spirit, please work in my heart and mind to help me love people well, serve the Church, and model my life after Christ. I confess that I am selfish and quick to serve myself and seek my own gain; change me from within so that I would love serving others and would think more often of them rather than myself. I need you Lord. Amen.
Reflection
- Which of these practical things has the Lord grown you in the most, and which one do you fail the most at?
- Spend some time thinking/praying through each of these commands. Ask the Lord to help you live out the Christian life.
- Work through each verse in your mind or in a journal and think about how Christ is the example in every one of these verses.
Discussion Questions
- Which one of these commands is something you need to work on?
- Which one of these commands have you seen the most growth in?
- If you could summarize all of Paul’s commands from Romans 12 in one sentence, what would you say?
If you have any questions feel free to reach out: harry@swoutfitters.com. All of the Scripture referenced in this study is from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.