Romans 12:14-21 Living With A Sense of Christian Duty Part 2 – The Imperative of Grace
Overview: The Struggle between duty and separation:
Review: Romans 12:9-13 – A sense of Christian duty – The imperative of love.
Preview: The Christian Life – Living on Purpose
I. Romans 12:14 – Grace and Those Who Persecute Us
A. The Pressure of Persecution B. The Prescription for Persecution
II. Romans 12:15 – Grace and Those Who Suffer and Who Rejoice
A. The Pull of the Flesh B. The Persuasion in the Spirit
III. Romans 12:16 - Grace and Harmony
A. Avoid Haughtiness B. Associate with the Humble
IV. Grace and Our Enemies –
A. V17 – The Rule Regarding Retribution B. V18 – The Rule Regarding Peace C. V19-20 – The Rule Regarding Vengeance D. V21 – The Rule of Grace
V. The Imperative of Grace Applied
A. Just as love is to characterize the transformed life as a shared attribute of God, so is grace to characterize the transformed life as well. B. Our responsibility towards those who persecute us according to grace is to bless them and pray for them. C. Grace requires us to know the state of those to whom we minister and to celebrate with those who rejoice and grieve with those who suffer. D. The grace of God bestowed in salvation should cause us to be meek as we relate to other people, especially associating with those who would be considered humble. E. The grace of God operating in us prohibits us from taking vengeance, but to treat our enemies respectfully, knowing that God will exact vengeance on those who refuse to repent in His timing.