2. Guidelines For Christian Living (2)
Romans 12:4-12

3. A Christian Must Work Peacefully With Other Christians (4-8)
The teaching of Romans 12:4-8 is dependent on the preceding verse
Humility is a necessary ingredient for success
There may be war with the world, but there should not be war amongst Christians
This is clear in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27

4. Different abilities and gifts are necessary to make things work
A body (v. 5) has different parts and each with an important function
God will “temper” or “compose” all together

5. “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (ESV)
The added “let us use them” is the necessary conclusion
There is a broad spectrum of abilities and gifts here
Any withholding undermines the possibility of success

6. A Christian Must Be Sincere And Honor Others (9-10)
“Let love be without hypocrisy”
Sincere love
Agape, “selfless active interest in the welfare of another” (AG)
This is explained in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love in the church (v. 10)
The words used show a family relationship
“Kindly affectioned” is philostorgos
“Brotherly love” is philadelphia, indicating siblings
We are to prefer one another (Phil. 2:2-4)

7. Evil is completely unacceptable and rejected
Abhor is a strong word meaning “have a horror of”
It is the sin, not the sinner
“Cling to what is good”
“Cling” (or cleave) denotes a glue or adhesive (1 Thess. 5:21-22)

8. A Christian Must Be Industrious, Happy, Patient, Prayerful (11-12)
The Christian is not to have some sense of entitlement
The world does not owe you a living
Working is a good thing (Eph. 4:28)
Serving the Lord will keep us busy
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4)

9. Let us realize that things will not always go our way
Hope is an anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:19)
It is not always negative (Rom. 5:3-4)
Let us be steadfast in prayer
Do not let prayer be hindered by other things (1 Thess. 5:17)
Continue in prayer (Col. 4:2)