Why Should Christians Volunteer at Church?

November 21, 2025

Why Should Christians Volunteer at Church?

Romans 12-14

Addison Hudspeth

Big Book Idea

The things that we do should stem from good theology.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Chapter 12

A Living Sacrifice

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^{1

12:1
Or brothers and sisters} by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^{2

12:1
Or your rational service} 2 Do not be conformed to this world,^{3

12:2
Greek age} but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^{4

12:2
Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God}

Gifts of Grace

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members,^{5

12:4
Greek parts; also verse 5} and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,^{6

12:8
Or gives aid} with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,^{7

12:11
Or fervent in the Spirit} serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.^{8

12:16
Or give yourselves to humble tasks} Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it^{9

12:19
Greek give place} to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Chapter 13

Submission to the Authorities

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Chapter 14

Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master^{10

14:4
Or lord} that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess^{11

14:11
Or shall give praise} to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.^{12

14:21
Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened} 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.^{13

14:23
Some manuscripts insert here 16:2527}

Footnotes

[1] 12:1 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 12:1 Or your rational service
[3] 12:2 Greek age
[4] 12:2 Or what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
[5] 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5
[6] 12:8 Or gives aid
[7] 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit
[8] 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
[9] 12:19 Greek give place
[10] 14:4 Or lord
[11] 14:11 Or shall give praise
[12] 14:21 Some manuscripts add or be hindered or be weakened
[13] 14:23 Some manuscripts insert here 16:25–27

Introduction to Romans

Timeline

Author, Recipients, and Date

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome. He probably did this while he was in Corinth on his third missionary journey, in A.D. 57 (Acts 20:2–3).

Theme

In the cross of Christ, God judges sin and at the same time shows his saving mercy.

Purpose

Paul wrote Romans to unite the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome in the gospel. He also wanted the church in Rome to become the base of operations from which he could proclaim the gospel in Spain (15:22–24). The ultimate goal of preaching the gospel is the glory of God (11:33–36). Paul longs for the Gentiles to become obedient Christians for the sake of Christ’s name (1:5).

Key Themes

All people are sinners and need to be saved from their sin (1:18–3:20; 5:12–19).
The Mosaic law is good and holy, but only Christ can remove sin and overcome its power (2:12–29; 3:9–20; 5:20; 7:1–25; 9:30–10:8).
Through the righteousness of God, sin is judged and salvation is provided (3:21–26; 5:12–19; 6:1–10; 7:1–6; 8:1–4).
With the coming of Jesus Christ, a new age of redemptive history has begun (1:1–7; 3:21–26; 5:1–8:39).
The atoning death of Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan of salvation (3:21–26; 4:23–25; 5:6–11, 15–19; 6:1–10; 7:4–6; 8:1–4).
Justification is by faith alone (1:16–4:25; 9:30–10:21).
Those who are in Christ Jesus have a sure hope of future glory (5:1–8:39).
By the power of the Holy Spirit, those who have died with Christ live a new life (2:25–29; 6:1–7:6; 8:1–39).
God is sovereign in salvation. He works all things according to his plan (9:1–11:36).
God fulfills his promises to both Jews and Gentiles (1:18–4:25; 9:1–11:36; 14:1–15:13).
Because of God’s grace, Christians should be morally pure, should show love to their neighbors, should be good citizens, and should welcome their fellow believers into fullest fellowship (12:1–15:7).

Outline

The Gospel as the Revelation of God’s Righteousness (1:1–17)
God’s Righteousness in His Wrath against Sinners (1:18–3:20)
The Saving Righteousness of God (3:21–4:25)
Hope as a Result of Righteousness by Faith (5:1–8:39)
God’s Righteousness to Israel and to the Gentiles (9:1–11:36)
God’s Righteousness in Everyday Life (12:1–15:13)
The Extension of God’s Righteousness through Paul’s Mission (15:14–16:23)
Final Summary of the Gospel of God’s Righteousness (16:25–27)

The Setting of Romans

c. A.D. 57

Paul probably wrote Romans from Corinth during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2–3). Rome was the epicenter of the powerful Roman Empire, ruling over many of the great ancient centers of Western civilization. Paul had established the church at Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–11).

The Global Message of Romans

The global message of Romans is that all people everywhere have free access to the riches of God’s grace in Christ as they respond in faith to the gospel. In his own Son, God has made a way for lost people to be restored to him—lost people whether they are Greeks or barbarians, wise or foolish (Rom. 1:14).

Romans and Redemptive History

The letter to the Romans itself recounts much of global redemptive history. Paul moves from the problem of sin (Romans 1–3) to the solution provided in Christ (chs. 3–8) to how that solution applies in a practical way among God’s people (chs. 9–16).

The second half of Romans 1 tells us of God’s righteous wrath upon unbelieving Gentiles (Rom. 1:18–32). In chapter 2 Paul says, however, that not only immoral people but also moral people are under God’s judgment (2:1–16). And then he presses in even deeper, saying that even religious people are ripe for judgment (2:17–29). The conclusion is that “all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin” (3:9).

All this is a result of the fall of mankind, which we read about in Genesis 3. The sin that has flooded throughout the world is rooted in the rebellion of one man and one woman who represented all of humanity, with the man as the head (see Rom. 5:12–19). Yet at the climax of human history, at just the right time (5:6), God sent his Son to die in the place of his people and thus to begin to undo the effects of the fall (3:21–26; 5:6–21).

This great salvation is the fulfillment of promises made to ethnic Israel (Rom. 9:6). Yet the gospel has burst through all ethnic boundaries, spilling out to Jew and Gentile throughout the world until the time when Christ will come a second time and restore not only God’s children but, with them, the entire cosmos (8:19–22).

The Global Reach of God’s Righteousness

Indeed, one of the great themes of Romans is the worldwide scope of the gospel. The theme statement of the letter makes this clear: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel is God’s saving power to anyone who trusts in Christ. This is not a geographically segregated gospel. It is not for a certain class, or ethnicity, or education level. It is for everyone who is prepared to acknowledge their sin and rebellion and turn in trusting faith to Christ.

Romans 9–11 makes this especially clear. Here Paul explains that, although God chose ethnic Israel to be his unique covenant people and made special promises to them, they failed to live up to their side of the covenant. Yet the word of God has not failed (Rom. 9:6). Indeed, God himself has sovereignly overseen everything that has taken place in Israel, even down to their own hardened hearts (9:6–24). Despite Israel’s covenant failure, God has reserved a remnant among them (11:1–12). And, Israel’s failure has been God’s mysterious way of breaking open his grace to the Gentiles all over the world (11:13–36).

In this way, the hand of God down through history is bringing his salvation to every tribe and tongue and people group.

Universal Themes in Romans

Human sin. Sin is described in Romans as ungodliness (Rom. 1:18), unrighteousness (1:18), foolish and darkened hearts (1:21), idolatry (1:23), and impurity (1:24). Paul makes clear that no one is exempt from this condition. All people everywhere are “under sin” (3:9). They are “slaves of sin” (6:17). Sin does not affect us simply by causing us occasionally to make bad decisions or other mistakes; rather, sin infects all that we are and do: mind, heart, and will. This is true of all people, Jew and Gentile alike (3:9).

The extensive reach of redemption. The reach of sin is pervasive indeed, extending to every corner of the globe and to every dimension of the human person. Yet the reach of the redemption achieved in Christ is deeper still. The magnificent letter to the Romans opens and closes with resounding statements of the global reach of the gospel of grace. In his opening greeting, Paul declares his desire to visit Rome, “in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles” (Rom. 1:13). He goes on to say that he is “under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians” (1:14). And at the close of the letter Paul explains that he has made it his ambition to bring the gospel “from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum” (15:19).

The very point of the Christian gospel is that God’s grace is not for a select few—otherwise grace would not be grace (11:6). The sacrifice Christ has made is available to all people everywhere in the world. The whole world will one day be cleansed of sin and injustice, and all those who have put their faith in Christ will be restored to the glory of God for which they were created (2:7; 3:23; 8:18).

The Global Message of Romans for Today

The letter to the Romans provides the greatest remedy the world could ever know (Christ) to the greatest problem the world has ever seen (sin). And this remedy is available to the greatest diversity of people the world could ever produce: everyone.

Global Christians wrestle today with problems on a variety of fronts: political, social, economic, and more. Accordingly, God calls us to engage our world with faithful presence, representing Christ and the gospel with faithfulness and fortitude in all these various arenas of life. In Romans we see an example of this in Paul’s admonition to the Roman believers to submit to the government that God has placed over them (Rom. 13:1–7).

Yet the message of Romans for the church today does not fundamentally address political or social problems; rather, it addresses the very human heart that makes such political or social problems arise. Romans tells us and shows us that the human heart is sick. Indeed, the self-salvation attempts to which all humans are so prone are both futile and unnecessary. For Romans teaches that, while immorality does not earn God’s favor (Romans 1), neither does morality (ch. 2). Our goodness cannot accomplish the salvation that our badness requires. “Works of the law” will justify “no human being” (3:20). Instead, God put forward his own Son to be a sacrifice for sin that turns away divine wrath (3:25). God the Father solves the human dilemma by sending God the Son and applying the benefits of the Son’s achievement by God the Holy Spirit (ch. 8).

What can Christians around the globe do in response but gladly surrender our lives as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1) in heartfelt praise to the God of grace?

Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33–36)

1 Timothy Fact #4: Hospitality

Fact: Hospitality

Hospitality was encouraged within the early church (5:10). Peter teaches Christians to “show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Pet. 4:9; see Rom. 12:13) The writer of Hebrews even comments that some who offered hospitality actually “entertained angels” without realizing it (Heb. 13:2).

Romans Fact #11: What does “discern” mean?

Fact: What does “discern” mean?

What does “discern” mean? To discern something means to understand it. For Christians, discernment involves the use of wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to figure out how to apply biblical principles to the concrete issues of life (12:2; see also Eph. 5:10).

Romans Fact #12: Should Christians always pay their taxes?

Fact: Should Christians always pay their taxes?

Should Christians always pay their taxes? Paul says that paying taxes is one way in which Christians show honor to the authorities God has placed over them (13:1–7). Christians should obey their government unless doing so means disobeying the Lord (Acts 5:29).

1 Peter Fact #2: What is God’s purpose for civil government?

Fact: What is God’s purpose for civil government?

What is God’s purpose for civil government? God has established civil governments around the world in order to punish wrongdoers and promote the good of society (Rom. 13:1–4). Peter teaches believers to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” (1 Pet. 2:13–17; see 1 Tim. 2:1–2).

Spiritual Gifts in Paul’s Letters

Romans 12:6–8	1 Corinthians 12:7–10	1 Corinthians 12:28	Ephesians 4:11
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us	To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good	God has appointed in the church	And he gave
		apostles	the apostles
prophecy	prophecy	prophets	the prophets
			the evangelists
	ability to distinguish between spirits
	utterance of wisdom
teaching	utterance of knowledge	teachers	the shepherds and teachers
exhorting
	working of miracles	miracles
	gifts of healing	gifts of healing
service		helping
leading		administrating
	various kinds of tongues	various kinds of tongues
	interpretation of tongues
giving
	faith
mercy

Study Notes

Rom. 12:1 Therefore points back to the entire argument in 1:18–11:36. mercies of God. Sacrificial language from the OT is used to describe the new life of Christians. Bodies refers to the whole person. Both body and soul belong to God. Christians are a living sacrifice. They enjoy new life with Christ (6:4). “Living” also means that they will not be put to death as OT animal sacrifices were. Spiritual worship means offering one’s whole life to God (see Heb. 13:15–16).

See chart See chart

Spiritual Gifts in Paul’s Letters

Romans 12:6–8	1 Corinthians 12:7–10	1 Corinthians 12:28	Ephesians 4:11
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us	To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good	God has appointed in the church	And he gave
		apostles	the apostles
prophecy	prophecy	prophets	the prophets
			the evangelists
	ability to distinguish between spirits
	utterance of wisdom
teaching	utterance of knowledge	teachers	the shepherds and teachers
exhorting
	working of miracles	miracles
	gifts of healing	gifts of healing
service		helping
leading		administrating
	various kinds of tongues	various kinds of tongues
	interpretation of tongues
giving
	faith
mercy

Study Notes

Rom. 12:2 The present evil age still tempts Christians, so they must resist its pressure. Their minds are made new (contrast 1:28), so that they are able to “discern” or understand God’s will. By testing you may discern translates a Greek word that means finding out the worth of something by testing it.

Romans Fact #11: What does “discern” mean?

Fact: What does “discern” mean?

Study Notes

Rom. 12:4–5 The diversity and unity of the church is compared to the human body. (See also 1 Corinthians 12 and Eph. 4:4, 12–16.)

Study Notes

Rom. 12:6 On the gift of prophecy, see notes on Acts 21:4; 21:10–11; 1 Cor. 12:10; Eph. 2:20; 1 Thess. 5:20–21; and other notes on 1 Corinthians 12–14. in proportion to our faith. Those with the gift of prophecy should speak only when they are confident that the Holy Spirit is truly revealing something to them.

Study Notes

Rom. 12:7–8 Christians should use the gifts God has given them, whether in serving others, teaching God’s Word, or in exhortation and encouragement.

See chart See chart

Spiritual Gifts in Paul’s Letters

Romans 12:6–8	1 Corinthians 12:7–10	1 Corinthians 12:28	Ephesians 4:11
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us	To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good	God has appointed in the church	And he gave
		apostles	the apostles
prophecy	prophecy	prophets	the prophets
			the evangelists
	ability to distinguish between spirits
	utterance of wisdom
teaching	utterance of knowledge	teachers	the shepherds and teachers
exhorting
	working of miracles	miracles
	gifts of healing	gifts of healing
service		helping
leading		administrating
	various kinds of tongues	various kinds of tongues
	interpretation of tongues
giving
	faith
mercy

Study Notes

Rom. 12:9 The rest of the chapter describes the life that pleases God. Not surprisingly, love heads the list (see note on John 13:34–35).

Study Notes

Rom. 12:13 Hospitality was very important for early Christians, because most of them could not afford to pay for lodging when traveling.

1 Timothy Fact #4: Hospitality

Fact: Hospitality

Study Notes

Rom. 12:14 Bless . . . do not curse. These words reflect the teaching of Jesus (Matt. 5:44).

Study Notes

Rom. 12:17–19 Repay no one evil. . . . Vengeance is mine. This alludes to Jesus’ teaching (Matt. 5:39).

Study Notes

Rom. 12:20–21 burning coals. See Prov. 25:21–22. Most interpreters think Paul is teaching that Christians must do good to people so that the others will feel ashamed and repent. That sense is possible. But in the OT the concept of “burning coals” always represents punishment (see Ps. 11:6). Thus another interpretation is that Paul is repeating the thought of Rom. 12:19: Christians are to do good to wrongdoers, whom God will punish on the last day if they refuse to repent. Overcoming evil with good includes acts of kindness toward evildoers. It may sometimes include the “good” (13:4) of the civil government stopping evil through the use of force (military or police). See 13:3–4. See note on Prov. 25:21–22.

Study Notes

Rom. 13:1 Sometimes God gives good authorities as a blessing, and sometimes he allows evil rulers as a means of trial or judgment (2 Chron. 25:20; 32:24–25). On God’s rule over earthly authorities, see Ps. 75:7 and Dan. 2:21.

Study Notes

Rom. 13:3 rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Civil government in general is a great blessing from God.

Study Notes

Rom. 13:4 Governing authorities are God’s servants, for they carry out his wrath on evildoers, and they do so for your good. Even though Christians must not take personal revenge (12:17–20), it is right for them to turn punishment over to the civil authorities, who have the responsibility to punish evil. Sword most likely refers to capital punishment (see Gen. 9:6).

1 Peter Fact #2: What is God’s purpose for civil government?

Fact: What is God’s purpose for civil government?

Study Notes

Rom. 13:5 Christians should obey civil authorities to avoid God’s wrath (coming through those authorities, v. 4) and because their conscience tells them to submit to the government (see note on vv. 1–7).

Study Notes

Rom. 13:1–7 Christians are to be subject to (which generally means to obey, see 1 Pet. 3:5–6) the government because it has been put in place by God. Several other passages show that God approves of Christians disobeying government, but only when obedience to government would mean disobeying God (see Ex. 1:17, 21; Est. 4:16; Dan. 3:12–18; Acts 5:29; Heb. 11:23).

Romans Fact #12: Should Christians always pay their taxes?

Fact: Should Christians always pay their taxes?

Study Notes

Rom. 13:8 Verses 8–10 focus on the Christian’s relationship to the Mosaic law. Owe no one anything does not prohibit all borrowing. It means that one should always “pay what is owed” (see v. 7), fulfilling whatever agreements have been made.

Study Notes

Rom. 13:9 Paul cites several OT commandments regarding responsibility to others. All of these are summarized in the call to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).

Study Notes

Rom. 13:11–12 The final verses of this section (12:3–13:14) call Christians to action, given the shortness of the time before Jesus returns.

Study Notes

Rom. 13:14 The metaphor of putting on clothing implies imitating Christ’s character and living in close fellowship with him. This requires denying the flesh and refusing to gratify its desires.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:1 As for the one who is weak. The strong are tempted to argue with those weaker in faith.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:2 The strong believe all foods are allowed. The weak eat only vegetables, probably to avoid eating unclean foods (see Dan. 1:8, 10, 12, 16).

Study Notes

Rom. 14:4 This verse is likely directed to the weak. They are not to pass judgment on the strong, who answer to their own master (the Lord).

Study Notes

Rom. 14:5 The weak thought some days were more important than others. Given the Jewish background (see v. 14), the day is the Sabbath. The strong think every day is the same. Both views are fine. Each person must follow his own conscience. Unlike the other nine commandments in Ex. 20:1–17, the Sabbath commandment seems to have been part of the “ceremonial laws” of the Mosaic covenant. Like the laws about sacrifices and diet, sabbath observance is not binding on new covenant believers (see also Gal. 4:10; Col. 2:16–17). However, regular times of worship are commanded for Christians (Heb. 10:24–25; see Acts 20:7).

Study Notes

Rom. 14:10–12 The strong should not despise the weak. The weak should not judge the strong. Everyone will stand before God, who will judge all on the last day. The future day of judgment is prophesied in Isa. 45:23. Every person will give an account of his life to God at the judgment.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:14 Christians are no longer under the old covenant, so Paul rejects the view that some foods are unclean (see Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14). Still, if anyone thinks certain foods are unclean, then that person should avoid them.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:15–17 For the sake of the weak, the strong should refrain from eating certain foods. They must be careful not to destroy the faith of a brother or sister. Lack of love for the weak contradicts Christ’s love. God’s kingdom centers on the gifts of righteousness, peace, and joy granted by the Holy Spirit. Bodily appetites are secondary in importance.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:20–21 Paul urges the strong not to destroy God’s work in the weak by eating food that will offend them.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:22 The strong are likely addressed here. The faith that you have means their faith that they may eat anything (see vv. 1–2, 23). They are not asked to change their convictions, but they should not behave in a way that injures the faith of others and so brings judgment on themselves.

Study Notes

Rom. 14:23 No one should eat unclean food if he has doubts about the rightness of the activity. Indeed, anything believers do apart from faith is sin.

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As Paul appeals to the church in Rome, he prompts them to look back and be reminded of God's never-ending, beautiful mercy that he displayed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The response that Paul is exhorting God's people to have is to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Romans 12:1), and Paul calls this an act of worship to God.

Living our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ is not a prerequisite to obtaining salvation or love from God. The desire and ability to live in a way that is pleasing to God is only a result of God's saving grace that leads to new life and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

I love that Scripture sheds light and lets us know what is acceptable and pleasing to God. And we learn from Romans 12 that a beautiful act of worship (and what God views as holy and acceptable) is giving our whole body, soul, and mind in service to God.

If you are wondering what is a practical way you could present your body as a living sacrifice, Paul answers this question by sharing how God's people are to serve God's church through the use of their spiritual gifts. I love the metaphorical imagery that Paul uses with body parts and the use of spiritual gifts. I can often think my gifts are not as important to the church because my gifts are not as flashy or often seen by others. But I am so wrong in that way of thinking because God, in his marvelous grace, views all his children's gifts as vitally important to the good of the church.

Since all members and their spiritual gifts are for the good of the church and the glory of God, then how important is it to learn how God has gifted you individually and to use those gifts to serve the local body!

This month's memory verse

"There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

– Romans 3:22b-24

1. Where have you seen the mercies of God in your own life?

2. Are you living in a way that presents your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God?

3. What spiritual gifts has the Lord given you to serve the church?

4. How are you using your gifts to serve the body of Christ?