Romans 12:1-13

VI. THE PRACTICE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS 12:1-15:13

In contrasting chapters 1-11 with chapters 12-16 of Romans, perhaps the most important distinction is that the first part deals primarily with God’s actions for humanity, and the last part deals with people’s actions in response to God’s. This is an oversimplification of the book, but the distinction is a valid one. God’s provision contrasts with man’s responsibility to behave in a manner consistent with what God has done, is doing, and will do for him (cf. Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 2:12-13). The first part is more information for belief whereas the last part is more exhortation for action. The first part stresses right relations with God and the last part right relations with other people.

"Doctrine must always precede exhortation since in doctrine the saint is shown his exalted position which makes the exhortation to a holy life, a reasonable one, and in doctrine, the saint is informed as to the resources of grace he possesses with which to obey the exhortations." [Note: Kenneth S. Wuest, Romans in the Greek New Testament for the English Reader, p. 204.]

Essentially this exhortation, which is both positive and negative, deals with behavior within the spheres of life where the believer lives. These areas are his or her relationship to God, to other members of the body of Christ, and to the civil state. There is a general correspondence here with the instruction that God gave the Israelites through Moses for life in Israel. Paul dealt with the same areas of life: moral, religious and civil life. The differences with the Mosaic Code are as striking as the similarities. Romans does not contain all the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), but each of the other New Testament books makes its unique contribution to our understanding of God’s will for Christians.

"One of the most striking features of Romans 12:1 to Romans 15:13 is the way in which its various themes resemble teaching that Paul gives elsewhere [cf. Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 4:17-24; Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11-17; Romans 12:9-21 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 and 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 13:8-10 and Galatians 5:13-15; Romans 13:11-14 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13 and 1 Corinthians 8-10]." [Note: Moo, p. 745.]

Chapters 12-13 give directions for Christian conduct generally, and Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13 deals with a specific problem that the Roman Christians faced and which all Christians share.