Christian Behavior
Romans 12:9-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. [2 Corinthians 5:17]
This is one of two Scriptures that I like to read at Baptism services. The other is Rom 6:3-7:
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.”
Water baptism is a picture of a new creation in Christ. The old was crucified with Christ [past tense]. That old man [our old self] died with Christ on the Cross and water immersion symbolizes that death. The rising, however, symbolizes the resurrection life, a new life in Christ, a new creation. “Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.”
This new life is described in detail in Romans 12 and the chapters after. It is real life application of the doctrines of Justification and Sanctification. The old man was crucified with Christ [Justification], the new man raised with Christ in “newness of life” [Sanctification]. The change is in behavior, at least it should be, as we grow and mature in the likeness of Christ. This is what is described in our text this morning.
It begins with presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, our reasonable service [ref. Rom 12:1]. God then cultivates spiritual gifts in our lives to serve [ref. Rom 12:3-8].
The emphasis in vv. 9-21 is our attitude in using these gifts. It is possible to use spiritual gifts in unspiritual ways. That is why love, the greatest gift, is key. Paul highlights this greatest gift in 1 Cor 13.
“Love is the circulatory system of the spiritual body, which enables all the members to function in a healthy, harmonious way” [Wiersbe].
Paul highlights this important Christian behavior at the onset of our passage this morning: “Let love be without hypocrisy.” [Rom 12:9]
