The Importance of Right Relationships – Romans 12

In writing the Book of Romans Paul has addressed great theological issues such as salvation, justification, sanctification, and the sovereignty of God as seen in our divine election. But knowledge of theology without practical application does not fulfill the entirety of the Christian life. The Holy Spirit has taught me an important lesson. Bible study that does not lead me to become more like Christ has little value. Paul always provides practical lessons in his writings and Romans is no different. Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship with God. Paul begins chapter 12 answering the question of what should a relationship with God look like.

Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Doing the will of God is the paramount attribute of how we must relate to God. To accomplish this we must give God our body. This speaks of humility, the most evasive of all qualities in man. Paul instructs us next.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

There is no room for this high self-esteem the world and its psychologists demand we have. Hear the words of Philippians 2:3 which commands us to “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This should be the basis of all our relationships.

In verse 1 Paul instructs us to give God our body and in verse 2 he tells us to do the same with our minds. In other words, God gets all of us. The world and its ruler for now, Satan, fight against God to have both our body and mind. Thus we must surrender all to God.

Paul explains in verses 5-7 that we are all part of one body and that is the Body of Christ. This, my friends, is what the church is. Christ’s body acting in unison through individual gifting of the Spirit cannot be defeated. This is why church is so important.

Paul goes on next to give a picture of what Christians should look like.

Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

That explains what our relationships with others must look like. Take careful note that Paul did not limit this behavior to fellow Christians, but he extends this to show how we must relate to even our enemies. Jesus has previously called us to the same standard. We might not be able to live at peace with all men, but we can let them be the bitter and hateful ones as we love them in the same way Christ loves us all.

Paul is clear. Jesus is clear. As Christians we must love each other and we must love our enemies. Obviously we must love God but what Jesus is saying and Paul is teaching is that loving God means loving others. This has never changed from the OT and the NT because we find the same command in both. When Jesus was asked which of the commandments is the most important He said the same thing as the law commanded the Jews to do.

Matthew 22:37-40
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and most important command.  The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

It is clear what God expects us to do when it comes to relationships. We are to love.