04.34. LESSON 34

LESSON 34 The conclusion to the doctrine of Romans 1:1-32, Romans 2:1-29, Romans 3:1-31, Romans 4:1-25, Romans 5:1-21, namely that condemned humanity—all men patients in one hospital stricken with the same deadly malady—may be justified, is found in Romans 5:1 : "Being therefore justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The conclusion to the doctrine of Romans 6:1-23, Romans 7:1-25, Romans 8:1-39, namely, that justified reconciled men are enabled to be holy, saintly men, "conformed to the image" of God’s Son, is found in Romans 8:1 : "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus."

Another "therefore," summing up the doctrinal part (Romans 1:1-32, Romans 2:1-29, Romans 3:1-31, Romans 4:1-25, Romans 5:1-21, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 7:1-25, Romans 8:1-39, Romans 9:1-33, Romans 10:1-21, Romans 11:1-36) and introducing the hortatory part (Romans 12:1-21, Romans 13:1-14, Romans 14:1-23, Romans 15:1-33, Romans 16:1-27) of Romans, is found in Romans 12:1 : "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice... to God." Romans crystallizes into these great logical "therefore’s"—the "therefore" of Justification and of Sanctification and of Consecration.

Romans 12:1-2 That the hortatory part of Romans, pertaining to the various relationships of Christians to church, state, and society in general, is linked to the doctrinal part by "therefore" proves that practical religion depends upon doctrinal religion—doctrine is the oil in the lamp, exhortation is lighting the wick, and the Christian character is the burning lamp. Doctrine is related to practice, to use another figure, as root to fruit. To think that doctrine within itself is sufficient is as an orchardist who cares for only the roots of his trees. On the other hand to think that the Christian life is possible without Christian doctrine is as foolish as to expect grapes without the vine. God does not ask men to climb the lofty peaks of love and self-renunciation found in Romans 12:1-21 and in the Sermon on the Mount until they know the doctrine of his mercies toward them in their desperate need; he knows such living is impossible to fallen men, unaided. Verily, it takes the coalescing of doctrine and practice to make Christianity, which rests solidly upon the goodness of God.

These verses also make it plain that the way Christian doctrine grows into Christian behavior is by making the mind Christian: "And be not fashioned after this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." This begins not by putting a new coat on the old man, but by making a new man, renewed down to the very roots of his nature. Even the necessary old activities he brings over into his new life are new in motive and purpose. A Christian’s being regenerated in mind within makes it, since the body is the agent of the mind, reasonable and spiritual for him, as a flower grows from within to without, to present his body without to God. Because the true test of whether we actually give ourselves to God when we think we do is the use we make of our bodies, Paul beseeches us to present our bodies to God, not our souls. The body is the ultimate in sacrifice. Christ used his body as his bridge across to men, and he uses our bodies now as his bridge across to men.

Man is a being consisting of three essential parts, "spirit and soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23), which, but for sin, would never have been separated. When his redemption from the ruin of sin is complete at his resurrection, he will again be a triune being. The body is so dear to God that he permits the devil to have the body of Moses (Jude 1:9), or of any other servant of his, only temporarily. The gospel is good news for the body as well as for the soul and spirit, both before and after death. Christianity is the only religion that gives the body its proper dignity and honor. "Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ?... Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which we have from God? and ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:15-20). The man who takes up Paul’s challenge to be moved "by the mercies of God, to present" his body, through the means of his regenerated mind, as a living sacrifice to God finds that the plan does what it proposes to do. As he might find, not by human philosophy and logic, but by sowing an unfamiliar seed, that it produces a choice, new flower, so he finds that God’s will to save him by grace through faith, inasmuch as he progressively becomes wiser, better, and happier, with sins of mind and bad habits of body conquered, is not only a "good and acceptable and perfect" way, but that it gets better and more satisfying all the time.

Moreover, a Christian is rewarded by being so transformed in nature that he is able to discern God’s plan for his life. As he obeys and prays for guidance, he will in the perplexities of life be guided by means of his regenerated mind around pitfalls into good things. Let him in good faith accept Christ’s invitation, "Come unto me... and ye shall find rest," and he will find that in the measure he trusts Christ, he believes God is directing his way through life. Every earnest man owes it to himself to put Christianity to the proof of life that he may find out for himself it is not merely a doctrine to discuss, but a reality to be known only by personal experience. "Prove me... saith Jehovah... if I will not open you the windows of heaven" (Malachi 3:10). A final thought on these two verses: after naming "the mercies of God" as the mighty driveshaft upon which Christianity depends for its operating power, they on the human level, give the fundamental principles of Christian consecration. The remainder of Romans is but their prolonged echo.

Romans 12:3-8

"For 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." This warning has reference especially to the miraculous gifts of the day, but it is not limited to them. That Christians should soberly estimate their ability and not attempt things beyond their capacity is still as true as it ever was. In miraculous gifts, I think, God supplemented the gifts he had already given by natural means. He is too wise an economist to discard natural gifts, for they blend with supernatural gifts. Would not God in giving miraculous wisdom select as recipient a man of naturally clear thought? Or in giving supernatural hortatory power a man of naturally warm, fervid feelings? Would he to get a better exhorter in song select a man without ear and voice for music? After men could use the complete Bible, probably miraculous gifts would not improve their teaching, exhorting, and singing.

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