Responding to the Gospel

Romans 1-11 reveals how the gospel demonstrates God's own righteousness by reclaiming sinners through faith alone. Because all stand equally guilty, all are justified freely by grace through Christ's death, all are kept secure by the Spirit, and even Israel's present unbelief cannot finally undo God's covenant faithfulness.

Romans 11:33-36 (Doxology)
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! 34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?
35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

From this glorious place of God's deliverance through justification, we enter the fruitfulness of sanctified transformation.

Romans 12:1-2
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The Traps Within the Transformation (12:3-6a)
“You should think and act just like me.”
"I've arrived; I don't need this anymore."
"I don't really need the rest of you."
“My spiritual gift is more important than yours.”

Romans 12:6-8
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.”
-F. Buechner, Wishful Thinking, 1973

Practical Guidance (12:9-21)
Authentic Relationships (9-10)
Passionate Devotion (11)
Hopeful Perseverance (12)
Service Readiness (13)
Helpful Humility (14-16)
Victorious Forbearance (17-21)

For deeper study, we have some articles curated for you at the CFC for You! Center.