The Result of Grace

In Romans 12:1-2, Paul makes a summary statement.

¹Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:1-2

In essence he is saying, "If all that I have said is true, therefore, you should respond in the following way. Become living sacrifices. If God's grace has justified you from your sins and provided the Holy Spirit to enable you to be transformed by the process of sanctification, then your response is to manifest the work of God's grace through the Holy Spirit in your every day lives."

In the final chapter of this book I will summarize the instructions that Paul gives to his readers based on what he has taught them about the grace of God in the first 11 chapters of his book. Essentially, Romans 12-16 contain a description of what the transformation he talks about in Romans 12:1-2 is supposed to look like. It is the nuts and bolts of every day sanctified living. He mentions three basic virtues that encompass the sum of the sanctified life lived by those who have been transformed through the grace of God, the topic upon which this book is based ("Grace in the Book of Romans").

• Humility
• Love of other
• Submission

Those who live the sanctified life are the final result of grace, and when these people come together to worship God they are referred to as the Church of Christ (Romans 16:16).

Marks of Transformation

If everything that Paul says is true, then our lives should bear the marks of transformation, the first being humility.

1. Humility

³For 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. ⁴For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, ⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶Since 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; ⁷if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:3-8

Some think that a humble person is one who is shy, speaks softly or has a passive nature, but in this passage Paul describes the truly humble person as one who has an accurate assessment of himself, not less or more. Humility enables a person to say "thank you" when complimented and "I am sorry" when in error. Humility is demonstrated through service not shyness.

The point Paul is making is that our transformation moves us towards humility of mind (accurate vision of self) and humility of actions (the use of our gifts and talents in the service of others rather than self). The fleshly, proud man will use his talents to serve his ego, comfort, security, goals and to "build bigger barns." The transformed man seeks to multiply his talents in the building of the kingdom, not his own house. Humility is the first mark of transformation.

2. Love – Romans 12:9-31

The second mark of transformation is love. In this passage Paul describes some facets of the kind of love that evidences a legitimate transformation. He mentions seven marks:

A. Sincere

Let love be without hypocrisy.
- Romans 12:9a

Not a show of love, but real love, felt love, sincere, loyal and pure love. Not sexual, social or family love, but sacrificial love that will pay a price for the other. The kind of love that goes to a cross for a friend, not double crosses a friend.

B. Pure

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Romans 12:9b

A love that is high and noble and pure and right. A love that seeks the good for the other.

C. Edifying

¹⁰Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; ¹¹not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹²rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, ¹³contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
- Romans 12:10-13

This love builds everything and everyone it touches. It esteems and builds the brethren it loves. It works hard in serving in the kingdom, and perseveres in both good and bad times (fervent in the Spirit).

D. Gracious

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- Romans 12:14

A love that is willing to overlook an offence and is not easily provoked. It deflects criticism and gives the benefit of the doubt.

E. Empathetic

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
- Romans 12:15

This love not only feels the other's pain but shares the other's pain and joy. It is not afraid to get involved in someone else's life. True involvement is not meddling, but a willingness to listen and care.

F. Meek

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
- Romans 12:16

Humility is an accurate view of self. Meekness is the absence of the need to have one's own way all of the time. Being of the same mind means compromise, it means giving up one's will in order to create unity. The willingness to do it the other guy's way in order to build him up, this is meekness. We must not compromise truth and goodness, but most division in families and in churches occurs because one person or group wants its own way (usually because one thinks their way is best). We can have all the outward markings of the true church but if there is no meekness within we are like the Pharisees, concerned with externals and not truly transformed.

G. Peaceful

The work of the saved is reconciliation. We are ambassadors for Christ to an estranged world. In a war, ambassadors do not fight. Love in a transformed heart is peaceful and actively seeks peace with others ("Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9). Paul explains not only the peaceful quality of transformed love, but also how one arrives here.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
- Romans 12:17a

Deny yourself the pleasure of revenge.

Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
- Romans 12:17b

Respect what is right. You can protect yourself, stand up for what is right, use what is right to achieve justice and goodness, but do not return evil for evil.

¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰"But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."
- Romans 12:18-20

Seek the peaceful way as a solution. This can be costly and seem like a disadvantage at times, but Paul reassures us that God will meet out justice in the end. This is His promise so we should not worry.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Romans 12:21

Do not revert back to the actions and methods that you used in your old life, allow the "transformed" man to respond. Let grace work, not sin.

3. Submission – Romans 13-14

In chapters 13 and 14 Paul goes on to talk about the third mark of a transformed life: submission. An attitude of submission is the ability to recognize and accept authority. Whether it be the authority of a person or a system, or merely the authority imposed on us by a set of circumstances, the Christian is able to recognize and submit to authority in all of its forms.

This is an obvious and central trait of the one who knows God and His grace. If one truly knows God (has an appreciation and understanding of this being called God) and not merely knows "about" God (academic knowledge), submission is a natural reaction. In the Old Testament whenever God manifested Himself, men fell on their faces in submission and worship. There was no bargaining on their part, they went into immediate submission.

Those who say they belong to God's kingdom and are Christ's disciples are claiming that they know God in Christ, and if they do they must learn submission because that is man's place in his relationship with God (Muslims have this idea as the core of their religion: the term Islam means surrender).

Submissiveness does not come naturally, we have to learn it (even Jesus learned about submission through the confining nature of His humanity and through the things He suffered because of it). As God, He did not obey, but as man He did. We also learn about this submissive attitude of spirit through various avenues, and this is what Paul describes here:

Submission to General Authority

¹Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. ²Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. ³For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; ⁴for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. ⁵Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. ⁶For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. ⁷Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
- Romans 13:1-7

Paul lived at a time when the most ruthless world government reigned and yet explained that the attitude of Christians towards government in general was submissiveness. The role of Christians in this world is not to promote the kingdom of men, but to establish and maintain the kingdom of God. Rome fell without the political intervention of Christians, the kingdom of God eventually overtook it, as it will all other kingdoms that man establishes (Daniel 2:24-45).

Christians can be involved in politics, but only if they remember that they serve in the political arena as ambassadors for Christ. Their loyalty is to a higher government. All government should submit to God's authority and those who do not, God will depose in His time and manner. Christians show the work of the Spirit within themselves in that they recognize the true nature of government in God's plan and respond to it with this understanding.

Submission to Neighbors (Respect)

⁸Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ⁹For this, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ¹¹Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. ¹²The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
- Romans 13:8-14

One who is in submission to God and the government respects the society created by God and overseen by government.

Verses 8-10 summarize the attitude of the Christian in regard to society in general. The Old Testament Law regulated every form of conduct in regards to treatment of others within that society. Paul reduces all these regulations to one single command: love your neighbor. The Christian's submissive nature is seen in his attitude of love towards society in general. He lives by the rules of love to create an environment which promotes peace, respect and goodness in society including family.

Submission to Brethren (Regard)

¹Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. ²One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. ³The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. ⁴Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. ⁵One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. ⁷For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; ⁸for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ⁹For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. ¹⁰But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall give praise to God." ¹²So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. ¹³Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. ¹⁴I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. ¹⁶Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; ¹⁷for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. ¹⁹So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. ²⁰Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. ²¹It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. ²²The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

¹Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. ²Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. ³For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." ⁴For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. ⁸For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, ⁹and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles, And I will sing to Your name." ¹⁰Again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people." ¹¹And again, "Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him." ¹²Again Isaiah says, "There shall come the root of Jesse, And He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, In Him shall the Gentiles hope." ¹³Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 14:1-15:13

Paul closes the circle (government/society, family/church). Your family is not necessarily your brethren, but your brethren will always be your family. In the last few chapters he describes the submissive attitude that needs to exist between brethren as a mark that they are both born of the same Spirit. The key verse is

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
- Romans 15:7

The issue at the time was the fact that some, who were more confident in the grace of Christ, permitted themselves certain things (e.g. the eating of meats once used in pagan rituals) which in itself was not wrong, but which others (less confident in that grace) did not. Conflict arose because those who had the confidence to eat without guilt became impatient with the fear and uncertainty of those who could not partake because of a weak conscience. This impatience demonstrated itself in unkindness (passing judgment on the "immaturity" of the weak; "What is his problem?"). The weak, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to criticize and condemn others who participated in something that they would not themselves do because of conscience, not the Lord's command. The result was division and isolation brought on by pride, lack of love and failure to submit.

Paul tells them to measure their attitude towards each other against Christ's attitude toward them: acceptance. The strongest of all did not judge us in our weakness. He became weak in order to save the weak.

Mutual submission in Christ sees the strong becoming weak in order to help the weak grow strong so all can be powerful in Christ and thus glorify God.

Final Exhortations

After describing the three manifestations of a life dedicated to God (humility, love and submission) Paul completes his letter with final greetings and exhortations to people he knows in the church.

Just Do It! - Romans 15:14-21

Listen carefully to what he has preached, respond to it and encourage each other to do so as well.

My own message to you, the reader, is the same. You may not understand or agree with everything in this book, but you should respond in obedience to what you do understand and what you agree is from God.

The only way grace begins its work is when we respond to God in obedience (Romans 1:17-18).

Pray - Romans 15:22-33

Paul asked them to pray for his ministry and that he might be with them in his travels.

I also ask for your prayers that God bless my own service of preaching and teaching through the BibleTalk.tv ministry.

Greetings and Praise - Romans 16:1-27

Paul has a series of personal greetings full of affection and encouragement. He warns them to be careful regarding false teachers and how to deal with them (point them out and turn them out). He finishes with a final word of praise to God for having revealed the way by which all men can be saved: a salvation offered by His grace and received through our faith in Jesus Christ expressed in repentance and baptism.

I also finish by thanking you for reading this book and hope that it has blessed you in some way. I leave you with the reminder that in the end, all I can do is explain to an extent His kindness, mercy and love, but only God is worthy of praise in Jesus' name. Amen.