ROMANS UNWRAPPED 191

"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."     Romans 12v1

We come now to the practical section of Romans, which runs from chapter 12 to chapter 16.   The entire section is dominated by the thinking behind Paul's doxology in chapter 11v33 - 36.     In those verses Paul concludes that the ultimate purpose of the gospel was to induce worship in the lives of those who have been saved by God's grace.   There are some  "worship landmarks" throughout this section as follows: chapter 12v1  "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service (worship);" chapter 15v16  "that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up (worship) of the gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost;"   chapter 15v31  "that my service  (worship) which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;"  chapter 16 v25-27  " now to Him........to God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever Amen."   Uppermost in Paul's mind is the true worship of God, whether it be in our individual lives, in our corporate lives, in our service for the Lord leading to the global worship of the everlasting Lord.   Paul's teaching here is that worship of God is the ultimate purpose of the gospel; that it is not confined to one section of our lives; true worship is an attitude, not so much an act.   What we have here in this practical section of Romans is a whole of life commitment to God in an attitude of worship.   This is broken down in the chapters in the following way.

ROMANS CHAPTER 12- CHAPTER 16: OUR WHOLE OF LIFE COMMITMENT TO GOD:

• Relative to God in our individual lives    chapter 12 v 1-2

          a.   Our bodies   verse 1         b.   Our minds      verse 2

• Relative to the church          chapter 12 v 3 - 13

          a.   Proper understanding of our gifts   verses 3-4      b.   Proper use of our gifts   verses 5-13

• Relative to the world        chapter 12 v 14 - 13 v 14

          a.   Toward individuals  chapter 12v14 - 21         b.   Towards the state     chapter 13

• Relative to our brethren      chapter 14v1  -  chapter 15 v7

          a.   Proper estimation of them   chapter 14      b.   Proper attitude towards them  chapter 15v1-7

• Relative to God corporately     chapter 15 v 8 - 15 v 23

          a.   Must be acceptable to God  verses 8-16      b.   Should be acceptable to the saints.  v 17-33

• Relative to the gospel    chapter 16 v 1 - 24

          a.  Acknowledgements of those who are real  v1-16   b.   Discernment of those who are false                 v  17 - 24

• To God be the glory      chapters 16 v 25 - 27

This outline of the chapters will enable a better understanding, as we proceed on a verse to verse exposition of this practical section of Romans. May God indeed use this study for His glory.