Moving from the eschatological perspective to the present age, Paul urges...
Moving from the eschatological perspective to the present age, Paul urges his readers to live in the Kingdom here and now, so that on the day of the Savior's return they will not find themselves outside this joyful event. The apostle considers spiritual transformation to be the main task, and this is what makes up the meaning of the Christian life. Remembering the path of righteousness, Paul speaks, on the one hand, of sacrifice and, on the other, of renewal (vv. 1-2). In speaking of sacrifice, the apostle evidently has in mind the truth, well known in his day, that every sacrifice in the normal case was nothing other than a form of communion with God; and the call to make oneself and one's life a sacrifice that God will sanctify by His presence became, in the apostle's mouth, a call to what later in Christian tradition was sometimes called a "dedicated life."
There have been times in the history of the Church when only a few thought about such a life and it came to be considered the lot of the chosen. But Paul evidently regards it as the norm for every Christian, which is not surprising: in the proper sense of the word, only someone who seeks the Kingdom and lives in it can be called a Christian. Such a life, of course, is impossible until the one seeking the Kingdom is inwardly transformed and freed from the power of sin that weighs on everyone in the fallen world.
Yet this deliverance is possible only when the one walking the path of righteousness has already come into contact with Christ and with the Kingdom; otherwise a person has no way to be freed from his own sinfulness. Transformation, in turn, is inseparable from service, which presupposes witness to the Kingdom. The apostle lists many such services, covering very different sides of church and public life, emphasizing that all of them are good and have spiritual meaning (vv. 4-8). But in order for this meaning not to disappear, one very important condition must be fulfilled, which Paul describes in the words: "...think with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith that God has assigned to each" (v. 3).
This is not simply a call to modesty. It is obvious to the apostle that any of the services he mentions is important only insofar as it can become a witness to the Kingdom. And this is possible only if the one carrying out the service does not simply, as people often say today, "express himself," but precisely bears witness, acting in such a way that what is seen is not so much the minister himself as the light of the Kingdom passing through him. For such witness, of course, a certain measure of transformation is already needed; otherwise the light of the Kingdom will not penetrate the thickness of sin that every fallen person carries upon himself.
But the point is that transformation itself is possible only in the process of service; it is inseparable from service and proves to be part of it. In our world, not yet fully transformed, life in the Kingdom, transformation, and service-witness are inseparable from one another and impossible without one another. Understanding this, the apostle urges his readers not to wait for better times, better conditions, and better witnesses, but to become inhabitants and witnesses of the Kingdom here and now.
12
12:1 I exhort you - St. Paul uses to suit his exhortations to the doctrines he has been delivering. So here the general use from the whole is contained in the first and second verses. The particular uses follow, from the third verse to the end of the Epistle. By the tender mercies of God - The whole sentiment is derived from Rom. i. - v. The expression itself is particularly opposed to "the wrath of God," Rom 1:18. It has a reference here to the entire gospel, to the whole economy of grace or mercy, delivering us from "the wrath of God," and exciting us to all duty. To present - So Rom 6:13; Rom 16:19; now actually to exhibit before God.Your bodies - That is, yourselves; a part is put for the whole; the rather, as in the ancient sacrifices of beasts, the body was the whole. These also are particularly named in opposition to that vile abuse of their bodies mentioned, Rom 1:24.Several expressions follow, which have likewise a direct reference to other expressions in the same chapter.A sacrifice - Dead to sin and living - By that life which is mentioned, Rom 1:17; Rom 6:4, etc Holy - Such as the holy law requires, Rom 7:12.Acceptable - Rom 8:8.Which is your reasonable service - The worship of the heathens was utterly unreasonable, Rom 1:18, etc; so was the glorying of the Jews, Rom 2:3, etc But a Christian acts in all things by the highest reason, from the mercy of God inferring his own duty.
12:2 And be not conformed - Neither in judgment, spirit, nor behaviour. To this world - Which, neglecting the will of God, entirely follows its own. That ye may prove - Know by sure trial; which is easily done by him who has thus presented himself to God. What is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God - The will of God is here to be understood of all the preceptivepart of Christianity, which is in itself so excellently good, so acceptable to God, and so perfective of our natures.
12:3 And I say - He now proceeds to show what that will of God is. Through the grace which is given to me - He modestly adds this, lest he should seem to forget his own direction.To every one that is among you - Believers at Rome. Happy, had they always remembered this! The measure of faith - Treated of in the first and following chapters, from which all other gifts and graces flow.
12:5 So we - All believers. Are one body - Closely connected together in Christ, and consequently ought to be helpful to each other.
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace which is given us - Gifts are various: grace is one. Whether it be prophecy - This, considered as an extraordinary gift, is that whereby heavenly mysteries are declared to men, or things to come foretold. But it seems here to mean the ordinary gift of expounding scripture. Let us prophesy according to the analogy of faith - St. Peter expresses it, "as the oracles of God;" according to the general tenor of them; according to that grand scheme of doctrine which is delivered therein, touching original sin, justification by faith, and present, inward salvation. There is a wonderful analogy between all these; and a close and intimate connexion between the chief heads of that faith "which was once delivered to the saints." Every article therefore concerning which there is any question should be determined by this rule; every doubtful scripture interpreted according to the grand truths which run through the whole.
12:7 Ministering - As deacons. He that teacheth - Catechumens; for whom particular instructers were appointed.He that exhorteth - Whose peculiar business it was to urge Christians to duty, and to comfort them in trials.
12:8 He that presideth - That hath the care of a flock.He that showeth mercy - In any instance. With cheerfulness - Rejoicing that he hath such an opportunity.