Romans - The Gospel Powered Life
August 15, 2020

The Gospel Powered Life

Main Point – Jesus is asking us to live life transformed and empowered by the gospel.

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. 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. —Romans 12:1-2

As our hearts are changed by God’s presence and love, and His love is poured into us through Jesus Christ, our minds are renewed and we respond by offering ourselves to Him.

We begin to get a proper view of who we are: not superior or inferior to anyone else but gifted and needed as a part of the community of Christ.

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. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 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; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 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. —Romans 12:3-8

Every Christian has at least one gift, though no Christian has them all, and God wants us to join in using our gifts for the good of His kingdom.

We are to demonstrate our love to one another as the body of Christ – the church.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. —Romans 12:9-13

Seven ways we can show our love to one another:
• By being sincere
• By being truthful about what is good or evil
• With persistence and loyalty
• By honoring one another
• Remaining positive and encouraging
• Being generous
• Being hospitable

We are also to demonstrate our love for Jesus by loving those who are not with us, or who are unlike us.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 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. 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.” —Romans 12:14-20

Seven ways we can show our love to those who are not in Christ:
• Desire good for those who oppose you - especially God’s good
• Aim to empathize with what people are going through
• Stay humble
• Seek to do what is right regardless
• Offer peace, as far as you can
• Abandon the desire for revenge
• Let your actions be such that they give your enemies an opportunity to become awakened

Our objective is to be like Jesus, and to offer ourselves to God as those who seek to overcome evil with good.

**Takeaway: **By embracing the gospel and continuously relying on the gospel we can live the transformed life.

Discussion Questions
1. Think of the various ways God has shown mercy to you. How does your awareness of these mercies impact your day to day life?

  1. In what ways has God transformed your thinking, as well as your attitudes and behaviors?

  2. Do you know what your spiritual gift is? Do you have a place where you are able to use that gift for God’s purposes?

  3. Which of the seven ways of loving others within the body of Christ do you find most easy to live out? Which of these is most challenging for you? Do you find any of them confusing, so that you want to understand it better? Where in scripture do you see Jesus living these out?

  4. Which of the seven ways of loving people outside of the body of Christ do you find most easy to live out? Which of these is most challenging for you? Do you find any of them confusing, so that you want to understand it better? Where in scripture do you see Jesus living these out?

Table Discussion Question — Paul says we are to “overcome evil with good.” How did/does Jesus do that? What does this mean for our day to day life? Where would you like to see evil being overcome with good today? What can you/we do about that?