Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 12:3-5

INTRO:  A man who imagined himself to be quite spiritual was talking to a more mature friend and asked him to pray that he might be more humble. 'Pray for me that I might be nothing' he asked. His friend replied with some wisdom. 'You are nothing brother, take it by faith'.

EXP: We live in a time of superlatives -- the greatest evangelist, the greatest preacher, the greatest theologian, the greatest actor -- we desire dignity, position.  We want a title and to be addressed properly. We want to be noticed and known in our church and community. We want to be recognized for our  accomplishments.

      Is it no wonder the world can not see Christ in us.

BACKGROUND: Paul has spent the past 11 chapters showing us the sovereignty of God, that, He is in control and we are who we are, we have what we have and we do what we do by the will and grace of God alone. With this in mind, don't you find it interesting that when Paul begins to talk about how to be rightly related to one another as the People of God, he begins by speaking on humility!

     I would have thought they would understood that...but it is true that we don't understand it either,  even though we have spent over 30 messages looking at and exploring the sovereignty of God, we still have a problem in the church today with humility.

 And that is why Paul begins this section of relating to one another as the People of God by first telling us to be humble.

TRANS: In Romans 12:3-8, Paul tells us that God has given special gifts to His people to be used for the building up of His church.  In verses 3-5 Paul says that these gifts are exercised by first  accurately accessing who we are.

I. By accurately accessing who you are. (Rom. 12:3-5)
    A. Personal Humility (vs. 3)
Read: Romans 12:3
     1. I say
         The first thing that draws my attention in this verse are the words, 'I say'. Paul does not say 'I beseech you' or 'I beg you' as he did in verse 1. NO, he says, 'I command you'. These words in the Greek are very strong and show authority.

     2. Every Man
         The next thing that stands out for me is that Paul is not speaking just to the Elders or leadership of the church in Rome..or in Oceanport. He is commanding, all of us. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, what Paul is going to say is not an option for you. It is expected because you are the People of God.

     3. Not to think more highly of yourself, than you ought
         Paul goes on to tell us the nature of his command. We are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Paul addresses our personal humility.

Question: Do you think it is true that believers sometimes think they are more important to God and to His Church than they really are?

    Believers in the church today become conceited, prideful and 'puffed up'.

Question: What are some of the things in the life of a believer that they can become 'puffed up' about?
 -importance, looks, popularity, position, abilities, performance, wealth, possessions, opinions, education, goodness, title...

     There are, in the church today, those who esteem themselves too highly and who think they are better or at least deserve better treatment than others. This is pride and God says that He opposes, He stands against, the proud.

     4. Measure of faith
         The last thing that caught my attention in verse 3 is the phrase 'measure of faith.
             a. Some interpret this to mean an amount of faith . Not a full amount but a measure or partial amount. That no one is given a full amount of faith in anything or they would be perfect. Therefore be humble because you don't have it all. And certainly there is nothing wrong with that.

             b. There is another interpretation which I feel is more in line with Paul and what he has said to date.  You see the word in the Greek for 'measure' is also translated in other places as 'standard'.

         The idea is that God has given to each Believer a 'standard of faith' by which they are to measure themselves. A fixed point of reference if you will.

Question: Who is this standard of faith, our fixed point of reference?    Jesus Christ.

         Paul is not asking Believers to evaluate themselves according to their own faith. That is once again putting the emphasis and focus on who?  ...US!

         Paul is saying that we are to consider or evaluate ourselves in light of JC as revealed by the Holy Spirit and His Word.. Christ as our standard of faith  is the key to thinking rightly about ourselves. This is the basis of humility.

TRANS: And humilities goal is to be rightly related to others.
READ: Rom. 12:4-5
    B. Corporate Interdependence (vs. 4-5)
     1. Just
         The word 'just' here in verse 4 is a connecting word relating our personal humility in verse 3 with our corporate interdependence in verses 4 & 5. When we think rightly about ourselves, when we begin to exhibit personal humility we will be better able to rightly think and relate to others in the body of Christ.

     2. The physical body
         Paul uses the illustration of the physical body to draw our attention to the corporate, spiritual body of Christ which is made up of all those who profess Christ.

        I don't want to spend a lot of time here because I don't think we have a incorrect understanding of what Paul is saying.  But let me briefly explain in perhaps the best way I can, by using Scripture to explain Scripture.

Read: 1 Cor. 12:12-26

     Do you understand what Paul is saying? It is pretty simple. We need and must depend on one another. We must learn to relate to one another and work together for the good of us all. We must all contribute to the body. No one is more valuable than anyone else. That is God's will and that is how we are to live as the People of God and when we do, the world will see Jesus Christ and not me or you.

Conclusion: Francis Schaeffer once said 'We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus' claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of oneness of true Christians.  Now that is frightening.  Should we not feel some emotion at this point?'

     Lets take a look at what the world often sees as oneness in the Christian life, how we relate to one another as the people of God in the area of our most intimate relationship: husband and wife and in our corporate relationship in the local church.

Use Overheads

     You see, the problem with living as the people of God when it comes to personal humility and corporate interdependence is not understanding it, it's living it. We either don't want to, don't think we have to or don't know how to. In any case, what Francis Schaeffer said is true. Unless the world sees our oneness, they will not believe Christianity is true. Oneness requires personal humility and corporate interdependence. And that responsibility comes down to you and me.
 

 Are you willing to do what it takes of Live as the People of God?

 Opportunities to learn how to relate rightly to God and to one another are available.

 Consistent, committed, active attendance at Sunday Morning Worship is a start.

 Participation in a small group study like Women's Walk or Home Improvement for men will help.

 Involvement in personal or group discipleship like 'Experiencing God'  is available.

 Personal Bible study, reading and private as well as corporate prayer will also help.

 Signing up for a Dinner 8 is a good idea too.

 Attending Adult Sunday School or an upcoming small group Bible Study are all ways you can learn to live as the People of God.

 He must increase, John the Baptist said of Jesus, and I must decrease. When this happens the world will marvel at our oneness  and see Christ and not you or me.