Articulating Our Faith
a. Romans 1-11: Presentation of the gospel
b. Romans 12-15: How the gospel looks—faith lived out
c. Romans 16: Closing greetings (some see Romans 16 as possibly a separate letter to Rome that was added later.
d. This structure sums up the “greatest commandment in the Law” per Jesus; words: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40)
e. This structure is seen first in the giving of the Ten Commandments, as well as other letters of Paul
i. Ten Commandments: first four commandments relate to love for the Lord, the next six relate to how we treat one another
ii. Ephesians: Chapters 1-3 deal with who we are in Christ, and Chapter 4-6 deal with how we are to then live. The same structure is also true of Colossians, and also to some extent of Galatians.
f. The essence of Romans 12-15: we live by faith
i. What constitutes right relationships with God and with each other is faith:
ii. Loving one another has to do with relating to one another by faith.
a. Our reasonable service / spiritual worship
i. Distinctive message: transformation
ii. How? By the renewing of our minds: a change in perception about who we are
b. The “two roads”—common in the theology of Israel:
i. Example of “formation” and “the heart” in Hebrew – the way of good and the way of evil
ii. Deuteronomy 30:11-20: life and death, blessings and cursings
iii. Jeremiah 6:16 – Standing at the crossroads
iv. Jeremiah 17:5-8—The way of blessing and the way of cursing
v. Psalm 1—the wicked and the righteous
c. The “two roads” in Romans because of gospel, led by the Spirit
i. Do not follow the pattern of the world, but allow your mind be transformed (by the Spirit). The result: testing and approving the will of God (Romans 12:2)
ii. Do not follow pride, but think with sober judgment in accordance with faith—according to the gift given (Romans 12:3-8)
Articulating Our Faith
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iii. Actions:
1. Love what is good, hate evil (Romans 12:9-10). Note this love involves brotherly devotion and honor
2. Do no lose spiritual zeal, keep spiritual fervor (Romans 12:11-13)—note the components of spiritual fervor in Romans 12:12-13).
3. Bless, and do not curse (Romans 12:14, and see Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Luke 6:27-26)
4. Live in harmony with one another, not disunity resulting from conceit and pride (Romans 12:15-16)
5. Do not repay anyone for evil, but do what is right in the eyes of everybody (Romans 12:17)
6. Do no take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath (Romans 12:19-20)
7. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)
8. Submit to governing authorities, do not rebel (Romans 13:1-8)
9. Love as illustrated in the commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Romans 13:8-10
10. Put aside deeds of darkness, and put on armor of light (Romans 13:11-13)
a. Illustration of what the deeds of darkness are (v. 13)
b. Cloth ourselves with Christ (see Colossians 3:1-3, 12-14).
c. Choose what we think about:
i. Things above where Christ is seated
ii. Gratification of the sinful nature.