Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus:
- Identity: Our true identity comes from the Father. Only when our identity comes from God can we be obedient in ways that satisfy our person to our core.
- Obedience: Genuine and satisfying obedience comes out of our identity. Our true identity comes only from our Father.
What an incredible chapter!
I think this is one of the most challenging chapters in the Bible, yet I
think this is also one of the chapters in the Bible where I feel the most at
home. Reading this chapter is like
cuddling up in a favorite blanket in a safe place for me.
Look at the challenge put forth in this chapter. It screams identity at us in the
beginning. “Do not be conformed to this
world.” “Be transformed.” God wants us to be challenged into a new
identity. God isn’t interested in a
Christianized version of my sinful self.
God is interested in a godly version of me. He doesn’t want “me with a Christian spin.” He wants a person who is casting of himself
and genuinely following Him with my whole heart. He wants my identity to be fully vested in
Him.
Look where Paul then takes this at the end of the chapter. Paul tells us what a Christian looks
like. The list is rather
challenging. Be patient in tribulation. Contribute to the needs of the saints. Seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do
not curse them. Live in harmony with one
another. Do not be haughty. Associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil. Live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave
it to the wrath of God. If your enemy is
hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Overcome evil with good.
Do you hear the challenge of those concluding verses of Romans
12? They are all about obedience. God is saying to us through Paul that if we
are actually going to be transformed then we need to be obedient to what He is
doing within us. We should be living as
He leads – if in fact He is truly leading us.
It is difficult to be a Christian in the world around us. But if our identity rests in God, then our
obedience to God will come out in our life as well.
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