Scripture References <strong>Romans</strong> <strong>12</strong>:1–2 <strong>Romans</strong> 6:<strong>12</strong>–13 <strong>Romans</strong> 8:29 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:16–18 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 Galatians 2:20 Study Questions 1. <strong>Romans</strong> 1–11 demands <strong>the</strong> response set out in <strong>12</strong>:1–2. Have I been guilty of failing to apply my biblical knowledge? If so, in what specific areas? How can I become a doer of <strong>the</strong> Word and not merely a hearer (James 1:22)? Who can hold me accountable to applying <strong>the</strong> Scriptures? 2. What “mercies of God” is Paul thinking of in Rom <strong>12</strong>:1? How do <strong>the</strong>se “mercies” motivate me to live a Christhonoring life? Why are God’s mercies such a crucial impetus to Christian living? How can I share with o<strong>the</strong>r believers how God’s mercies motivate me to obey? 3. How can I “present” my body to God as an act of worship (Rom <strong>12</strong>:1)? What does this look like on a daily basis? What parts of my body are most prone to disobey (e.g., eyes, lips, feet)? What sins am I most susceptible to? What area(s) of my life is God asking me to sacrifice to Him? 4. How can I “renew” my mind (Rom <strong>12</strong>:2)? Since <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit does <strong>the</strong> renewing and transforming (Titus 3:5; 2 Cor 3:18), what is my part in <strong>the</strong> process? Why is it so difficult to retrain <strong>the</strong> mind? How can I encourage o<strong>the</strong>rs in my life to think biblically? 5. What does it mean to “prove what <strong>the</strong> will of God is” (Rom <strong>12</strong>:2)? In what area of my life do I deeply desire to know God’s specific will? Today, will I commit to obeying God’s revealed will so that He may choose to lead me in more specific ways?
Notes 1 Moo writes, “<strong>Romans</strong> <strong>12</strong>:1–2 is one of <strong>the</strong> best-known passages in <strong>the</strong> Bible—and deservedly so, for we find here a succinct description of <strong>the</strong> essence of <strong>the</strong> believer’s response to God’s grace in <strong>the</strong> gospel of Jesus Christ. It functions as <strong>the</strong> heading for all <strong>the</strong> specifics Paul will unpack in <strong>the</strong> subsequent chapters. Our response is rooted in God’s grace.” Douglas J. Moo, <strong>Romans</strong>. NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 394. 2 In his thirteen epistles, Paul often uses this literary device, see Gal 1–4, 5–6, Eph 1–3, 4–6; Col 1–2, 3–4, 1 Thess 1–3, 4–5; cf. Heb 1–11, <strong>12</strong>–13. This is not to say that duty and application are never addressed in <strong>the</strong>se first sections or that doctrine and <strong>the</strong>ology are absent from <strong>the</strong>se final sections. But <strong>the</strong>re is a distinct difference in <strong>the</strong> flavor of <strong>the</strong>se sections and how Paul “breaks” each down. 3 Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, <strong>Romans</strong>. Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2000), 363. 4 John P. Correia, “A Passionate Commitment” (Rom <strong>12</strong>:1–8): unpublished sermon notes. 5 These verses provide <strong>the</strong> summary for <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> letter. Schreiner remarks, “If all <strong>the</strong> exhortations contained here [<strong>12</strong>:1–15:13] could be boiled down to <strong>the</strong>ir essence, <strong>the</strong>y would be reduced to <strong>the</strong> words: Give yourselves wholly to God; do not be shaped by <strong>the</strong> old world order, but let new thought patterns transform your life.” Thomas Schreiner, <strong>Romans</strong>. Baker Exegetical Commentary on <strong>the</strong> New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998), 640. 6 Boa and Kruidenier, <strong>Romans</strong>, 361. 7 Gk. oun, see Rom 3:20; 5:1; 8:1. 8 Moo comments: “‘Therefore’ must be given its full weight: Paul wants to show that <strong>the</strong> exhortations of <strong>12</strong>:1-15:13 are built firmly on <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ology of chaps. 1-11. The English verb ‘exhort’ captures well <strong>the</strong> nuance of <strong>the</strong> Greek parakaleo in contexts such as this. Its semantic range lies somewhere between ‘request’ and ‘command’: an exhortation comes with authority, but <strong>the</strong> authority of a preacher who is <strong>the</strong> mediator of God’s truth ra<strong>the</strong>r than <strong>the</strong> authority of a superior issuing a command.” Douglas J. Moo, The Epistle to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Romans</strong>. New International Commentary of <strong>the</strong> New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 748-49. 9 James 1:22: “But prove yourselves doers of <strong>the</strong> word, and not merely hearers who delude <strong>the</strong>mselves.” 10 The term parakaleo often introduces a discrete section in a letter (1 Cor 1:10; 2 Cor 10:1; Eph 4:1; Phil 4:2; 1 Thess 4:1; 1 Tim 2:1). 11 See also Everett F. Harrison and Donald A. Hagner, “<strong>Romans</strong>” in <strong>the</strong> Revised Expositors Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), 182. Ash writes, “The word ‘urge’ is stronger than a mere request (‘Now here’s an idea. Go away and think about it.’) but different from a command with sanctions (‘Do this or else’). It means to exhort or appeal.” Christopher Ash, Teaching <strong>Romans</strong>, Volume 2 (London: Proclamation of Trust, 2009), 151. Stott rightly reminds us that “in spite of our newness in Christ . . . holiness is nei<strong>the</strong>r automatic nor inevitable.” John R. W. Stott, <strong>Romans</strong>: God’s Good News for <strong>the</strong> World (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1994), 317. <strong>12</strong> Harold W. Hoehner, “<strong>Romans</strong>” in The Bible Knowledge Word Study (Colorado Springs: Victor, 2006), 188. BDAG s.v. parakaleo 2: “to urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage.” 13 The noun oiktirmon (“mercy”) appears five times in <strong>the</strong> NT (Rom <strong>12</strong>:1; 2 Cor 1:3; Phil 2:1; Col 3:<strong>12</strong>; Heb 10:28). 14 See Rom 9:11, 15, 16, 18, 23; 11:30–32. It is true that mercy occurs in <strong>Romans</strong> only in chapters 9-11 (9:15, 23; 11:31) and not in chapters 1-8, but most believe that mercy sums up <strong>the</strong> grace and compassion of God throughout <strong>the</strong> epistle. As Stott, <strong>Romans</strong>, 320 says, “The gospel is precisely God's mercy to inexcusable and undeserving sinners, in giving his Son to die for <strong>the</strong>m, in justifying <strong>the</strong>m freely by faith, in sending <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> life-giving Spirit, and in making <strong>the</strong>m his children.” Boa and Kruidenier, <strong>Romans</strong>, 367 writes: “This concludes Paul's introductory exhortation following eleven chapters of doctrinal foundation. It would not be off <strong>the</strong> mark to say that all of <strong>Romans</strong> 1-11 could be summarized under <strong>the</strong> rubric of ‘<strong>the</strong> mercy of God.’ Starting with <strong>the</strong> initial chapters when <strong>the</strong> utter sinfulness of humans is revealed, it quickly becomes obvious that mercy is all that can save <strong>the</strong> human race. By <strong>the</strong> time we get to <strong>the</strong> end of chapter 11, Paul declares that God’s grand purpose is to have mercy on all (<strong>the</strong> elect) without exception. Therefore, when Paul says in <strong>Romans</strong> <strong>12</strong>:1, ‘in view of God’s mercy,’ he is saying, ‘in view of <strong>Romans</strong> 1-11’; ‘in view of your sin, God’s salvation, your sanctification, and God’s sovereignty, it really is a spiritually reasonable thing for you to sacrifice yourself for him.’ That is Paul’s conclusion to <strong>Romans</strong> 1-11 and his introduction to <strong>Romans</strong> <strong>12</strong>-16.” 15 The NIV’s “God’s mercy” conceals <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong> Greek word for “mercy” is in <strong>the</strong> plural (“mercies”). 16 Paul appeals to <strong>the</strong> mind (“Therefore”), to <strong>the</strong> emotions and to <strong>the</strong> heart (“by <strong>the</strong> mercies of God”), and to <strong>the</strong> will (“you”). See Michael Eaton, <strong>Romans</strong>. Preaching Through <strong>the</strong> Bible (Kent, UK: Sovereign World Trust, 2010), 224– 25. 17 Michael Eaton, <strong>Romans</strong>: A Practical Exposition, forthcoming.
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