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  2. Tue: Isaiah 11-13
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Thursday · Week 5
The Epistles & Revelation

Romans 12-13

Week 5 · about 5 min
  1. Fri: Ezekiel 11-12
  2. Sat: Job 16-19
  3. Sun: Genesis 26-29

After eleven chapters explaining the gospel, Paul shows what it looks like in everyday life.

Where Doctrine Turns Into Daily Life

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

Chapter 12 begins with “therefore,” and everything Paul has said so far leads to it. Because of God’s mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Then it gets practical in a hurry. Don’t think too highly of yourself. Use the gift God gave you. “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Feed your enemy if he’s hungry. “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” In chapter 13 Paul tells believers to respect government and pay taxes, and he wrote that while Nero was emperor. He sums it up with one debt that never gets fully paid: love one another.

Reflect: Which line in Romans 12 would change your week if you actually did it?

Romans 12

1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.

4For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:

5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.

6And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;

7or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;

8or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honour preferring one another;

11in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer;

13communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.

14Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

15Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.

16Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honourable in the sight of all men.

18If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.

19Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.

20But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.

21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13

1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.

2Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.

3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:

4for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.

5Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.

7Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.

9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

11And this, knowing the season, that now it is high time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.

12The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.

14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Revised Version (RV). Revised Version (RV), 1885, public domain.