Lessons

The lesson on June 14 started the practical section of Romans. Romans can be divided into three sections. As we have learned, chapters 1-8 teaches on doctrinal issues, chapters 9-11 are dispensational, and chapters 12-16 focus on practical living. Romans 12:3-8 was the scripture reading as the lesson started teaching the practical aspect from Romans. When you become a Christian, life isn’t a bowl full of cherries. You don’t win the lottery, you don’t make every green light, you don’t close every deal, your loved ones don’t get healed, and you may go broke. If you feed yourself spiritually one hour a week on Sundays, you are starving yourself and that God is saying through Paul in Romans 12. It starts in verses 1 and 2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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.” We are all guilty of not doing this and that what makes the Christian walk so hard. Me, myself, and I fight against doing what is right and that’s what Paul is beseeching us to get a handle on in verse 1. If we are honest with ourselves, we recognize that we are saved only by the mercy of God and His mercy is the only way we have the opportunity to serve God. This lesson could be divided into three sections: a way, a walk, and a witness. 2 Corinthians 5 reminds us that the mercy of God we have received has enabled us to be ambassadors for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 says “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” A living sacrifice is so much harder than a dead sacrifice. We are to live for Christ.