Important Words Romans 12:3 2

Something We Need To Hear “For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you” A “Now Hear This” moment (Acts 2:14; 22:1) Paul always appreciated his opportunity to preach (Rom. 1:15; 1 Tim 1:12) God has chosen preaching to deliver His message (Rom. 10:11-17; 1 Cor. 1:21) The gospel is for everyone (Mk. 16:15; Rom. 1:16; Col. 1:28)

This is something very important Recognize it like Cornelius (Acts 10:24; 33; cf. 11:14) Examine it like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) Receive it like the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:13)

A Word Of Caution! “Not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think” This particular problem is more than likely behind the failure to observe God’s word and/or behind many church problems

There are better uses for our thinking (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Phil. 2:3-4) Examples: Self-deception (Gal. 6:3) Prejudice (James 2:1-4) Flattered into senselessness (Psa. 78:36; Prov. 24:13; 25:16) Inflated self-importance (Lk. 18:11-12) “Not me” (Matt. 26:33) There are better uses for our thinking (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Phil. 2:3-4)

Thinking Correctly “But to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” Thinking soberly This is very important, the antithesis of the previous remark We should think on right things (Phil 4:9) We should do so “of a sound mind; in one’s right mind” (Vine’s) We should live as we think (Titus 2:12)

Personal evaluation We dare not use ourselves as the measuring stick (2 Cor. 10:12) Should be by “the measure of faith” “Measure” denotes an instrument - - faith Faith is by the word of God (Rom. 10:17) “It equals the idea that the gospel is the measuring instrument; for our faith cannot go beyond the gospel, and should not fall short of it”