I believe the context of Romans
12:1-2 is connected to the context of Romans
11 because Romans
12 starts off with “Therefore…”
The main context of Romans
11 probably is the grace of God (Romans
11:1-6). Grace of God is often known as “what we get which we do not
deserve.” We do not deserve God’s love because every human being is a sinner
because of human wisdom, I believe. The world prompts us to deny God and create
independence on ourselves. I think this is related to the story of the first
couple had eaten the fruit in the knowledge of good and evil. Romans
5:12-14 explains that the sin was carried into every human being from the
time of Adam, the first man that God created. This is probably the main reason
that God sent Jesus Christ, as an image of Himself, into the world to crucify
Himself on the cross (Colossians
2:13-15). God did this to prove everyone that there is a better way that
leads to the life (John
10:10). Jesus Christ have declared, “I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now
on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John
14:6-7)
Mercy of God is often known as what “we don’t get what we
truly do deserve.” The Grace and mercy of God have almost identical definition.
I think the specific meaning for God’s grace is about God’s love and for God’s
mercy is about God’s forgiveness. Therefore, my term of God’s grace would be
like ‘the God of grace is getting God’s unconditional love which we do not
deserve’ and God’s mercy would be like ‘the God of mercy is getting God’s
forgiveness which we do not truly deserve.’
At one time we too were foolish,
disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We
lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the
kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of
righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the
washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us
generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by
his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a
trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who
have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. (Titus
3:3-8)
Romans
12:1-2 do not intended to mean that we are to live as a living sacrifice
that is toward God religiously or out of legalism. God does not want to see
only our actions to please and satisfy Him and let Him know that He is doing
good works within every one of us. He only wants us to connect our hearts to
His heart (1
Samuel 16:7). He is not trying to get satisfied with Himself and His good
works. He desires us to be one with Him like God and Jesus. This is the main
reason that God has poured His Spirit into us when Jesus was crucified and
resurrected, I believe (John
16:7-15). Hence, we have to deny our own desires and passions and transform
those into God’s through His Spirit (Romans
12:2; Galatians
5:24-25).
But now apart from the law the
righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets
testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe. 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. God presented Christ as a
sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by
faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance
he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his
righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies
those who have faith in Jesus.
Where, then, is boasting? It is
excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the
law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart
from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of
Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will
justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the
law. (Romans
3:21-31)
What
happens if we cannot decide whether our thoughts come from ourselves or from
the Spirit? Bible, God’s written word, is the main method of determining them.
If our thoughts do not match with His word, then they come from our flesh. If
our thoughts match with the Bible, then they come from the Spirit of God or
they are okay to have those thoughts, I guess. Apostle Paul urges to have
“thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and
admirable” and “excellent and worthy of praise.” If we
continue to have these positive thoughts, then the Bible says that the peace of
God will be with us (Philippians
4:8-9). I used to be overthink whatever I feel I am not
confident about and have negative thoughts about God. Thus, I told my mentor
about these and she said, “Just go with the flow with the Spirit” or something
like this. I think I am overthinking about God again. I think my thoughts are
God is so judgemental. Nevertheless, He is not, even though He is the Judge (James
4:12) but with compassionate, gracious, and lovely heart (Psalm
103:8). Thus, I think I have to continue on practice going with the flow of
the Spirit but with the truth according to God’s word.
All Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in
our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2
Timothy 3:16-17)
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