Romans 12 3 8 The Call to Humility

Romans 12: 3 -8 The Call to Humility and Service by Eric Douma Gospel of Grace Fellowship January 28, 2018

The Need for Humility Romans 12: 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 1. Each has a different amount 2. Each has a similar share in the total Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 1

The Unity of the Body of Christ Romans 12: 4 -5 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 2

The Need to Use Our Gifts Romans 12: 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith… 1. According to our personal faith ability 2. According to the standard of the faith Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 3

The Need to Use Our Gifts Romans 12: 7 -8 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 4

Applications 1. We should understand the difference between prophecy that all believers can perform and the unique office of the prophet. 2. We should learn to love Christ and our fellow believers by using our gifts in a sacrificial way. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 5

Views on Prophecy Sign Gifts: tongues, prophecy, miracles, and healings Functional: No Prophets, but believers can “prophesy” Non- Cessationist Gospel of Grace Fellowship Cessationist ggf. church 6

The Functional Usage of “Prophecy” Romans 12: 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith… 1 Cor. 14: 31 -32 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 7

The Functional Usage of “Prophecy” Ephesians 1: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 1 Thessalonians 5: 20 -21 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 8

Use Your Gifts in Love Romans 12: 9 -11 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord… Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 9

Use Your Gifts in Love 1 Cor. 13: 1 -3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Gospel of Grace Fellowship ggf. church 10