Romans 12:11 - Diligent Spiritual Service not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; Truth to Learn A Christian’s life should be characterized by diligent service. Behind the Words “Lagging” is from oknēros, from the verb okneō, meaning “to be slow, to be lazy, or to delay.” The...
Romans 12:10 – Being an Example
Romans 12:10 - Being an Example Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; Truth to Learn Christians are to treat other Christians in a special way. Behind the Words The word translated “kindly affectionate” is found nowhere else in the Bible....
Romans 12:9 – Sacrificial Evidence
Romans 12:9 - Sacrificial Evidence Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Truth to Learn Here is the evidence of a living sacrifice. Behind the Words The word translated “without hypocrisy” is the Greek word anupokritos, which is a compound word made up...
Romans 12:8 – Joy In Serving
Romans 12:8 - Joy In Serving he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Truth to Learn Spiritual gifts are to be used with joy in the body of Christ. Behind the Words The word translated “exhortation”...
Romans 12:7 – His Gifts, His Choice
Romans 12:7 - His Gifts, His Choice or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; Truth to Learn We all have gifts to be used within the church, but God determines which gift or gifts we have been given. Behind the Words The word...
Romans 12:6 – Benevolent or Malignant
Romans 12:6 - Benevolent or Malignant Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; Truth to Learn Each Christian is gifted for the benefit of the body of Christ. Behind the...
Romans 12:5 – It’s Not Personal
Romans 12:5 - It's Not Personal so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Truth to Learn In Christ you do not exist alone, but as part of a greater whole. Behind the Words Paul starts off this verse with the Greek word...
Romans 12:4 – Sacrificial Body Parts
Romans 12:4 - Sacrificial Body Parts For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, Truth to Learn We are to function in the body of Christ as He chooses. Behind the Words Paul once again starts off the verse...
Romans 12:3 – He’s Great, Not Us
Romans 12:3 - He's Great, Not Us For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Truth...
Romans 12:2 – Transformed, Not Conformed
Romans 12:2 - Transformed, Not Conformed And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Truth to Learn Don’t be like everyone around you and don’t let...
Romans 12:1 – Living Sacrifices
Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Truth to Learn We are to turn over ownership of our lives to God. Behind the Words The...
Romans 11:36 – It’s All His
Romans 11:36 - It's All His For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Truth to Learn God deserves all our praise for only He is worthy. Behind the Words There is a three-fold expression that Paul uses in the...
Romans 11:35 – Who’s In Charge?
Romans 11:35 - Who's In Charge? "or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?" Truth to Learn God does not owe you a thing, nor is He obligated to do what you want Him to do. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “has...
Romans 11:34 – The Greatest Mind
Romans 11:34 - The Greatest Mind "For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has become His counselor?" Truth to Learn God is infinitely more intelligent and wise than we are; therefore, we have no reason to question his actions or plans. Behind the Words “Known” is...
Romans 11:33 – Immeasurable Riches
Romans 11:33 - Immeasurable Riches Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Truth to Learn God has given us a gift of immeasurable worth. Behind the Words The word translated “depth” is...
Romans 11:32 – Freed Prisoners
Romans 11:32 - Freed Prisoners For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Truth to Learn We were once imprisoned by sin, but God has set us free. Behind the Words The word translated “has committed them all” is the Greek word sugkleiō....
Romans 11:31 – Give Away the Treasure
Romans 11:31 - Give Away the Treasure even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. Truth to Learn We can hoard the truth and be poor, or we can give it away and enjoy spiritual riches together with all...
Romans 11:30 – Believe It or Not
Romans 11:30 - Believe It or Not For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, Truth to Learn We can obtain mercy from God when we believe Him. Behind the Words The grammatical construction that ties this verse with the following one...
Romans 11:29 – Irrevocable Gifts
Romans 11:29 - Irrevocable Gifts For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Truth to Learn God’s choosing is final and unchangeable. Behind the Words “Gifts” is from charisma, which means “a gift of grace” or “an undeserved benefit.” In the New Testament it is used only of...
Romans 11:28 – Not Your Enemies
Romans 11:28 - Not Your Enemies Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Truth to Learn The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are God’s beloved people whom He will rescue one day. Behind the...
Romans 11:27 – God’s Covenant
Romans 11:27 - God's Covenant For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Truth to Learn If God has graciously taken away your sins, you should be humbly and thankfully producing fruit. Behind the Words The word “covenant” is from the Greek word diathēkē, which...
Romans 11:26 – Our God, Our Deliverer
Romans 11:26 - Our God, Our Deliverer And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; Truth to Learn Our God and Savior is deserving of all praise and glory. Behind the Words...
Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery
Romans 11:25 - The Wondrous Mystery For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Truth to Learn God...
Romans 11:24 – Comfort or Zeal?
Romans 11:24 - Comfort or Zeal? For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Truth to...
Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant
Romans 11:23 - The Returning Remnant And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Truth to Learn The Jews will return to faith in Jehovah and His Messiah. Behind the Words The word translated “continue”...
Romans 11:22 – Goodness and Severity
Romans 11:22 - Goodness and Severity Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Truth to Learn God demonstrates both His goodness and His severity! Behind the Words...
Romans 11:21 – The Almighty Gardner
Romans 11:21 - The Almighty Gardner For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Truth to Learn God rejected the Jewish people because they refused to believe that Jesus was their Messiah. Since He was willing to do this, He is just as...
Romans 11:20 – Faith and Fear
Romans 11:20 - Faith and Fear Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. Truth to Learn Salvation should not produce pride, but reverential fear. Behind the Words “Well said” is translated from the Greek word kalōs, meaning...
Romans 11:19 – Pride or Humility
Romans 11:19 - Pride or Humility You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Truth to Learn When we read Scripture we need to receive God’s truth in humility, being careful not to filter it through our pride. Behind the Words The words “You...
Romans 11:18 – No Proud Branches
Romans 11:18 - No Proud Branches do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Truth to Learn We should not boast about ourselves or our position, because it is God who is responsible for...
Romans 11:17 – God’s Holy Fruit
Romans 11:17 - God's Holy Fruit And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Truth to Learn God works contrary to the...