Chapter 12
At the end of the extended revelation of mystery in Chapter 11, Chapter 12 starts with "Therefore...":
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [Rom 12:1 ESV]
Our "correct" reaction to what God is doing in the world, in history, in His plan. How can one not be humbled completely in the light of this knowledge.
2021 - And also, Paul is pointing again to his original point. If we are part of this, in our bodies, then it is NOT for us to indulge and compartmentalize the things of the body from the things of the Spirit. Our bodies are to be holy, what we do in them is to be holy. Because we are so unworthy to occupy this place grafted into the "cultivated" olive tree that we dare not corrupt our position.
2022 - It is also a tie to the sacrifices of the Mosaic Law. Those sacrifices were external and physical. The New Covenant is a spiritual, internal covenant. But it requires sacrifice still, and that sacrifice is our own bodies - corrupt and insufficient just as bulls and goats were insufficient - and live in the Spirit and not in the physical. This is why he puts it this way.
This verse:
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. [Rom 12:3 ESV]
In the context of what came just before, this is not about simple pride, but about knowing our place in God's plan. We are wild olives grafted in, NOT the chosen of God. The Jewish Christians in Rome were the remnant God was saving to continue with His promise until the chosen time to save the whole nation. These few are saved, but how many of their brethren are doomed to perish because of the hardening, and they have individually done NOTHING to be the ones chosen for heaven. Do not be proud of yourself!
2022 - Does this also say that not everyone can be Billy Graham, and ought not to try. That what we ought to do is find our place, our role, our gifts, and do the things that God puts in front of us to do. MSB seems to say the same thing. We are each gifted in the exact proportion required to carry out the roles assigned to us by God - and I would add in service to the church.
Paul goes from here to Spiritual gifts, to be used humbly by each person according to what God has given him:
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. [Rom 12:4-8 ESV]
How should we live? Paul has a list. A very long list that runs to the end of the chapter. Still, it is very worth copying in entirely:
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Rom 12:9-21 ESV]
2021 - This needs to be copied and pasted into the note on "How are we to live", if it isn't there already. Comparing each of these lists - all written by Paul I believe - would make a good study.
MSB note organizes these characteristics of the Spirit filled life under four headings:
1) Personal duties. vs. 9
2) Family duties, vs. 10-13
3) Duties to others, vs. 14-16
4) Duties to those who consider us enemies, vs. 17-21