Romans 12:3-8

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 88 Chapter 12:3 – 8

By Pastor Randy Johnson

“Righteousness Practiced By Our Relationship To The Lord’s Church.” - Part 1

1. Verse 3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
1. The greatest gift a Christian and church member can have, outside of salvation is humility, I preached three sermons on the first three Sunday morning’s at this years beginning on the subject of humility because humility makes all of us a better Christian and a better church member and this why God starts this relationship with humility.
2. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…”

a. It is the gift of Gods grace that prevents us from failing to be humbled. As Paul described himself on two separate occasions. (1.) 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” And (2.) 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

b. Gods grace prevents us from “thinking of himself more highly than he ought to think…” God gives to every Christian as He chooses; therefore we will never have anything to boast of as Christians. If God has blessed you more than another Christian or church member that does not make you more powerful or more worthy. Romans 11:20 “Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” – in fear because of our responsibility to God, that we also not be broken off.

c. Proverbs 26:12 “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

d. Ecclesiastes 7:16 “Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” – Being to righteous or to wise of yourself brings destruction to yourself.

e. We need to remember we are what we are by Gods grace, and we will only go as far as Gods grace carries us.

3. “…but to think soberly…” – that is to think with a clear head – which is impossible without humility. – A Christian or church member who is proud, or conceited, or looks down on other church members, or thinks of themself as not being equal, is not clear headed or in his right mind. 1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” – that is that the same grace that delivered you to salvation continues to deliver you. Romans 7:24 – 25a “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25.) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…”
4. “…according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” – What measure of faith has God given to you? As much as He has chosen. If God give one member more faith than another it dose not make the lesser less valuable to the body. Every member is just as valuable as the other. We are what we are by Gods wonderful grace.
1. Verse 4 – 5 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5.) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
1. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”

a. The body has many members but they are not the same, hands to feel with, eyes to see with, ears to hear with, legs to walk with, and etc. which is more important?

b. 1 Corinthians 12:12 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

c. Ephesians 4:15- 16 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16.) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

2. Verse 5 “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” – even though we are many members we are one single body working together to form a health and well functioning body.
3. While all the works of the membership may not be equal, i.e. which is more important a pastor or a piano player, but all work together to form a complete body. We are what we are by the measure of Gods grace which should humble us all no matter what we are.