As we enter Romans 12 and venture forth, we see how all the rich theology of the previous eleven chapters becomes lived theology, how the truth about the death and resurrection of Jesus takes root in us and creates actual patterns of living. First of all, these patterns of living are not superficial attachments like ornaments on a Christmas tree. No, a much deeper change has occurred. “By God’s mercy, present your bodies as a living sacrifice; this is your worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern the will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2) The life we live by following Jesus is not simply a series of different decisions made, but a transformation in the very way in which we make decisions. The mental, emotional, and spiritual muscles by which we think and discern have been remade in the image of Christ.
And the first effect of this foundational shift? Radical humility. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. We are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (12:3-5) Chapters 9-11 explored Israel’s dislocation as the covenant people of God, and the gentile-infused Church taking on that title. But that title cannot be a source of hubris for the Church, lest we suffer the same dislocation. And so Romans 12 calls us to be the community of diversity without hierarchy.
There is a diversity of gifts within the Christ-centered community, but not one of them has any claim to being more or less special. There is only “the measure of faith God has assigned.” (12:3) The richness of faith in the Church will produce a word of prophecy from someone. Where there is a will to teach, serve, or encourage, God will raise up Jesus followers to teach, serve, and encourage. Where God has planted the virtues of diligence, sincerity, and joy, God will raise up Jesus followers to lead, give, and show mercy.
There’s a cause to all this effect, a point of origin to which we can trace back the roots of these gifts: And mercy. Grace and mercy. Grace and mercy. Again and again and again. As always in Romans, it’s all about grace and mercy.
Grace is Paul’s word in Romans to say that the initiative is all God’s, that God’s generosity exists without prerequisite; it simply is. God is lavishly generous to the Church with these spiritual gifts, not because we have qualified for them, but simply because God is, by his nature, abundantly generous. Grace is the main character in this story. Grace is what possesses Paul to have something to say in the first place (12:3). Grace is what animates the Church into its life of humility, fellowship, and self-giving love. And mercy is Paul’s word for just how astonishingly available this grace is to more people than we expect.
Every spiritual gift given to the Church is not a reflection of who we are, but a reflection of who God is, an extension of his very being. That’s why we call ourselves his body. We need to be talking less about what we’re doing and a lot more about what God is doing, because the initiative is all his. The life of humility, fellowship, and self-giving love is only possible in the first place because we have abandoned ourselves, our very minds and bodies, to his transforming grace and mercy. And in this abandonment, in this relinquishing of everything not born out of his grace, our will finds itself in his will; everything we say and do is exactly what he is already saying and doing.
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