Christianity - Living in the Body of Christ

How does the Christian affect the church? What does being a brother or sister in the church mean? Is the church a building or is it more about believers? What are God's requirements of every Christian in the church? The church world is an awesome place to learn to serve one another. If Romans 13 is the model of how Christians ought to relate to the world around them, then Romans 12 is how Christians ought to relate to each other in the Body of Christ; the church.

Submitting Yourself as a Sacrifice to God: Romans 12:1-2

1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Put another way, our life is to be an ongoing, living sacrifice that the old sacrifices given to God in the Old Testament. The only difference is that our lives: our time, energy, love, money, and prayers should be given as part of our worship to God. The word for "transformed" in verse 2 is the same word that is used for the transfiguration that is recorded in Mark 9:2-9 where Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John to see the glory of God that Jesus had as both God.

Who is Paul talking about here? _____________________________________________

What are the ways in which this can be lived out? _______________________________

Where do these verses apply? _______________________________________________

When are there opportunities to live this out? ___________________________________

Why is this important? _____________________________________________________

How can we fulfill these commands? _________________________________________

Submitting to One Another in the Body of Christ (the church): Romans 12:3-8

3 "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

Paul is saying that we are to esteem others better than ourselves. We can do this by serving others by the God-given gifts that He has given to every believer. There is no believer who has no gifts of the Holy Spirit, therefore we are without excuse to say that we can not serve somewhere in the church or serve someone in the church.

Who is Paul talking about here? _____________________________________________

What are the ways in which this can be lived out? _______________________________

Where do these verses apply? _______________________________________________

When are there opportunities to live this out? ___________________________________

Why is this important? _____________________________________________________

How can we fulfill these commands? _________________________________________

Submitting to One Another in Love: Romans 12:9-16

9 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position Do not be conceited."

Love is expressed in service. It is patient, longsuffering, not accusing, honoring others, doesn't brag, isn't revengeful, is harmonious, and let's God be God and allowing Him to be judge. God is no respecter of persons and so neither should we be. God rejoices with us in our triumphs, hurts with us in our losses, mourns with us in our mourning, and celebrates with us in our victories.

Who is Paul talking about here? _____________________________________________

What are the ways in which this can be lived out? _______________________________

Where do these verses apply? _______________________________________________

When are there opportunities to live this out? ___________________________________

Why is this important? _____________________________________________________

How can we fulfill these commands? _________________________________________

Submitting to God as the Avenger: Romans 12:17-21

17 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

When we pay back others for persecuting us or hurting us, we take the place of God as judge and jury. Only a sovereign judge like God has the right and the authority to be judge over humanity. When we take matters into our own hands, we are nothing less than a one-man vigilante and nothing good ever comes from the wrath of man. In fact, God loved us, called us, and saved us even while we were still His enemies so when someone hurts us, we should love them, pray for them, and forgive them because this is exactly what the grace of God is all about; it is unmerited, undeserved, and unconditional.

Who is Paul talking about here? _____________________________________________

What are the ways in which this can be lived out? _______________________________

Where do these verses apply? _______________________________________________

When are there opportunities to live this out? ___________________________________

Why is this important? _____________________________________________________

How can we fulfill these commands? _________________________________________

By loving one another in and out of the church, by sacrificing our lives to God and to serve others, by praying for those who hate us, and forgive them when they don't deserve it, we are more like God than at any other time. By this love, they will know that we are the children of God. And that is a powerful magnet to draw others to Christ.

This is the second installment of a Bible study for prisoners, either in person, which means in the prison or county or city jail, or to be used by correspondence. This Bible Study can be copied and pasted, edited, and also used for family or small group Bible studies or church plants or Sunday schools. It is free to do with whatever you may choose to do so. The only thing that I would ask is that it is not to be sold.

Originally published at NACM where you can find additional, free Bible Studies.