‘According to the grace given us’ (Romans 12:3-8)

‘According to the grace given us’

 

 

[Romans 12:3-8]

 

 

Am I really living a life of faith?  Have you ever asked yourself this question?  I think there is no one who has not asked himself this question at some point in his life of faith.  Why are we asking ourselves this question?  Perhaps one of the reasons is because when we look back on our own lives of faith, we have a guilty conscience that we are not doing something right.  How can we know whether or not we are living a life of faith properly?  Superficially, when we look at each other and say, ‘Oh, brother and sister, you are working hard in your life of faith’, what do we see and say that?  For example, when we see these things, such as diligently coming to the church to worship God, praying very well (of course, attending the early morning prayer meeting diligently), and serving the brothers and sisters diligently while serving the church diligently, we usually say things like, 'Oh, brother and sister, you live a life of faith very diligently,' 'I think your faith is really good,' etc.  What do you think?  Of course, this is what we think when we look at it superficially.  Internally, God knows whether we are not properly living a life of faith, and God the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us through the words of the Bible.  So, as we read, listen, learn, and meditate on the words of God, God the Holy Spirit also gives each of us the realization that we are not living a life of faith properly through His words.  Indeed, how does God the Holy Spirit give us that realization?  Through the words of the Bible, God the Holy Spirit enables us to see ourselves in front of the holy God, so that we can realize whether or not we are living a righteous life of faith.  In other words, God the Holy Spirit allows us to grow in the knowledge of God through the words of the Bible so that we can know ourselves.  In other words, God the Holy Spirit makes us realize the greatness and depth of our sins through the Word of God, so that we can realize God's rich, great, and deep grace.  So, believers who lead a righteous life in front of God are living a life of faith with God's total grace while deeply realizing their sins: a life of obedience!  Are you really living your life of faith?  If you and I are living a righteous life of faith, we serve the church, which is the body of the Lord, by the grace of God.  We serve with a grateful heart and with a willing heart.

 

Looking at today's text Romans 12:6, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to the saints in Rome and said, “…  according to the grace given us ….”  I would like to think about two things today, focusing on Romans 12:3-8, under the heading ‘According to the grace given us”: (1) What is the community called church?  (2) What is the gift that the Lord has given to each of us so that we can serve the community called church?  I hope that God will give us more and more grace at this time today, so that we can have the correct ecclesiology, serve each of us according to the gifts He has given to each of us, and humble ourselves in the work of the Lord who builds the church, which is the body of the Lord.

 

First, what is the community called church? 

 

In Romans 12:4-5, Paul writes a letter to the saints in Rome, teaching them what the church is as a community.  In other words, he emphasizes that the church, community, is the body of Christ, but “one body” (vv. 4, 5) and this body of Christ is said to have “may members” (v. 4) or “many” (v. 5) people.  The church is one body of Christ, and in that one body there are many members (1 Cor. 12:12).  And this is what God has placed each member in the body as He wants (v. 18).  In a word, diversity and unity coexist in the church.  So, I personally think that the heart given to our church is that we the church members should devote ourselves to advancing unity in diversity while acknowledging the diversity of the church, which is the body of the Lord.  Here, “unity” is the fact that the church is “one body” of Christ (vv. 4, 5).  And in this “one body” there are various members, but it is true that “each member belongs to all the others” (v. 5).  Paul says this in Ephesians 2:21-22: “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”  What does it mean?  It means that as members of the one body of Christ, we are connected to one another, and we are being built together.  So, Paul is saying that God has united us in Christ (Eph. 1:10).  What should we do?  We must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:3).  In other words, as peacemakers, we must strive to keep the unity of the church.

 

What, then, is the “diversity” of the church?  It is said in two ways in today's text.  It is none other than the diversity of the church, firstly that there are “many members” or “many” people and secondly that they do not all have “the same function”.  Just imagine.  If the members of our body are not diverse, but all are mouths, all noses, and all arms, what would happen?  Can't you imagine?  Just as we have a nose, mouth, arms, and so on, God has chosen the church, which is the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:24).  Why has God combined the church, the body of Christ?  Look at 1 Corinthians 12:24b-25: “…  But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”  God has combined the body of Christ, the church, so that there are weaker-looking members of the body (v. 22), and less honorable members (v. 23), and unpresentable members (v. 23).  Why did God combine it so even?  The purpose is to add honor to the members who are lacking so that there is no strife in the body and to look after each other with the same mind.  But why are there constant disputes in the church today?  Why are two or three churches splitting apart, which should be united?  The reason why we Christians cannot keep the unity of the church and cannot set an example to the world due to quarrels and strife is that we do not recognize the diversity of the church.  In other words, the cause of the church's dispute is that we do not acknowledge the fact that not all of our members have the same function (Rom. 12:4).  Although each of us has different gifts from the one body of Christ (v. 6) and different roles (functions) (v. 4), we do not respect each other's gifts and roles, nor do we properly fulfill our respective roles.  If not, the church gets caught up in a dispute while other members are held accountable.  In a word, the cause of disputes in the church is arrogant thoughts and overflowing thoughts.  Why do we have arrogant thoughts beyond our means?  The reason is because we do not properly realize the grace of God.  So, in Romans 12:6, Paul says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us ….”  First of all, the gifts given to you and me are different, and furthermore, the gifts given to us are the full grace of God.  If we know this grace of God, we must humbly use the gifts God has given us with a grateful heart to build the church, which is the body of the Lord, together.

 

Second, what is the gift that the Lord has given to each of us?

 

If we look at Romans 12:6 to 13, Paul speaks about gifts in 7 ways (MacArthur):

 

(1)    The gift of prophecy

 

Look at Romans 12:6b – “…  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.”  This refers to speaking the truth of God to comfort and strengthen the hearts of the listeners, rather than talking about the future.  In other words, the gift of prophecy refers to the ability to convey the word of God well in public places.  Paul urges those who have received this gift of prophecy to “use it in proportion of his faith” (v. 6).  In other words, Paul is telling us to prophesy in the full revealed message or body of Christian faith.

 

(2)    The gift of service

 

Look at Romans 12:7a – “If it is serving, let him serve ….”  Here, “serving” has the meaning “deacon”.  This gift of service is similar to the gift of helps in 1 Corinthians 12:28.  People with the gift of service give practical help of all kinds.

 

(3)    The gift of teaching

 

Look at Romans 12:7b – “…  if it is teaching, let him teach.”  This gift is the ability to interpret, clarify, organize, and articulate God's truth.  In particular, it is a gift that is desperately needed for pastors in the church.  It is also a necessary gift for teachers.

 

(4)    The gift of encouragement

 

Look at Romans 12:8a – “if it is encouraging, let him encourage ….”  Those who have this gift effectively call believers to follow God's truth in obedience.  If this gift is applied negatively, it can be used to rebuke in love the brothers and sisters who have sinned correctly (2 Tim. 4:2).  But when it is applied positively, this gift is used to comfort, exhort, and strengthen the believers who are struggling.

 

(5)    The gift of giving

 

Look at Romans 12:8b – “…  he who gives, with liberality ….”  Even in the church, there are brothers and sisters who have received this gift of giving and like to give what they have to meet the needs of others.  It is a very precious gift.  Those who have this gift must do it with sincerity.  In other words, those who have the gift of giving are expected to give generously or with liberality.

 

(6)    The gift of leading

 

Look at Romans 12:8c – “…  he who leads, with diligence ….”  The word “leads” here literally means “to stand before.”  Paul refers to this gift as “the gift of administration” in 1 Corinthians 12:28.  A person with this gift of leading (administration) guides others like a man at the helm of a ship.  Those who have this gift of leading must lead with diligence.

 

(7)    The gift of showing mercy

 

Look at Romans 12:8d – “…  he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”  A person with this gift is sensitive and sympathetic (empathy) to those who are suffering and grieving.  Therefore, the person who has this gift is willing to use his or her resources to help alleviate the pain and sorrow of that person in pain and sorrow cheerfully.  What gift do you think you have received?  We must humbly use the different gifts that God has given us with a grateful heart to build the church, the body of the Lord, together.

 

                Yesterday Saturday, at the early morning prayer meeting, I sang hymn “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord” with the members, and then we prayed aloud for the church, which is the body of the Lord.  Personally, when I sing that hymn, there are times when the lyrics 1 and 3 come to mind: (v. 1) I love Thy Kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood, (v. 3) For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.  When I think of these lyrics and sing praises to God, because of the grace God has bestowed on me in Jesus Christ, I become fervent in my desire to love and serve the church, the body of the Lord, by devoting myself more and more before the Lord.  The grace that God has given me and you is great.  As we realize more and more the grace of this great God, I hope and pray that we will work hard to maintain the unity of the church in diversity by humbly and properly using the gifts given to each of us with the strength of the grace given by the Lord.