Lesson 155

Romans Chapter Twelve

Responsibilities in the Christian Life

Review:

12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; Apathy among believers

- Sphere = in diligence

- Responsibility = not lagging behind

12:11b fervent in spirit, this phrase looks both ways, is to characterize our diligence, and also to characterize our service.

Sphere = in the sphere of the spirit tw/| pneu,mati

Responsibility;

- “fervent” to boil [not in anger] ze,w the sense is showing enthusiasm; effervescence; Acts 18:24-25 very eager, not cold or unemotional.

12:11c serving the Lord; lit. in the Lord serving

Sphere; With reference to your relationship with the Lord; in the sphere of your relationship with the Lord serving.

Responsibility;

Word here is douleuw which describes being in service to God; to serve and obey God;

- Why is service a major issue?

- The implication of servant hood has to do with listening, had to be a good listener if your to be a good servant, must know what is expected of you; being obedient to His will; carrying out, executing His will.

12:12 these next three exhortations can be understood either as 3 independent exhortations or as amplification of just how we are to serve the Lord.

rejoicing in hope,

Sphere; in hope; with ref. to hope; in the sphere of hope, rejoicing!

The reason that there is no uncertainty with this hope is related to the object of the hope the one who guarantees our hope, God.

- He called us through the gospel so that ultimately we might gain this eternal state, the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Col 3:4

* How can we have such a hope, a strong confidence? Today, tomorrow!

#1 our hope is in God 1 Pet 1:21

#2 our hope is in Christ 1 Tim 1:1

#3 our hope is also related to the word! Psa. 119:49,81

* Many times the use of hope speaks of something not presently in hand but is still sure because of the one who makes the provision.

- Titus 2:13 "blessed hope"

* Results of "hope" in our lives;

- patience 1 Ths 1:3 patient endurance related to the circumstances of life.

- Hope in the right object leads to purity of life 1 Jn 3:2-3.

persevering in tribulation,

- Sphere: in the sphere of tribulation/pressure

- Responsibility: perseverance u`pome,nw patient endurance, ability to stay under; load carrying ability;

- The only way that we are able to develop the load carrying ability, the patient endurance that we need to have is through dealing with, working through the various pressures of life lived in a world under the curse of sin by applying the truth of the Word of God.