Romans 12:3-8

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Romans (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

MANY GIFTS BUT ONE BODY
Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think.

• Every church in our community has a distinct aroma to it.
• Most churches in the community could describe what their distinct aroma is.
• What is Leavener’s?
• Now if each church can describe their own distinct aroma… don’t you think they would prefer their own aroma over others?
• But the question is, is one better than the other?
• Is this a form of passing judgment?

Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

• but to think (sensibly) so as to have sound judgment, as God has (distributed) allotted to each a measure of faith (to each one).
• NASB 95
• “a measure of faith” by itself describes that the Church has been given a general faith.
• “a measure of faith to each one” describes that each individual has been given a measure of faith.
• Faith comes from God.
• Does is really matter if God gave us all the same amount of faith or varying amounts of faith?
• When we speak about faith in this context, I am referring to belief and trust.
• Not everyone in this room has equal amounts of belief or trust… or do they?
• I have the same Spirit in me that you do.
• Why wouldn’t we have the same amount of faith?
• Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.[1]
• I go back to the August 22nd message on Romans 12:1-2
• Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.[2]
• What is your focus?
• We get so easily distracted with “stuff”
• Since that message, I have been swamped with “personal stuff”.
• But if it wasn’t for my faith in Jesus Christ, I would be puddle on the floor.
• Yah, I get emotional. But I am good… because of what I believe and trust… because of my faith.
• The same faith that you have… is it by measure or the renewing of my mind?
• US Open – Emma Radacanu – Pulled out of the 4th round of Wimbledon due to a panic attack.
• Won the US Open as a qualifier because she was able to maintain her focus on tennis.
• There is a lot surrounding our daily lives.
• It causes us to go into tailspins, lose focus, self-medicate and even withdraw from life.
• As a community, we have to remind each other of our identity in Christ and to stay focused on the eternal matters.

4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

• We are uniquely designed individuals (soul/personality) that have one common bond (spirit).
• “Calling” – What is our calling?
• Romans 11:29 - since God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.[3]
• Calling being the use of your God given abilities and interests AFTER listening to the Spirit of God inside of you.
• Using your God gifted abilities and interest for the purpose of glorifying God rather than your own self.
• I am capable of doing some things that you are not capable of doing.
• You are capable of doing some things that I cannot.
• We have been woven together as one body in Christ.

6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.[4]

• Paul talks about the gifts God has given the Church for its health and flourishing in three different texts: here in Romans 12, again in Ephesians 4, and yet again in 1 Corinthians 12.
• The lists of gifts as you compare these passages differs among these three texts.
• I think what we are to conclude from that is that Paul is nowhere trying to give us a complete list of the gifts that might be available to the Christian Church.[5]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 10:17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 12:2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 11:29). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Ro 12:3–8). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Moo, D. J. (2014). NT331 Book Study: Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.