Calvary Road Baptist Church
“BODY LIFE”
Romans 12.3-8
My text is a passage that is almost universally recognized by Bible scholars as a passage that pointedly deals with a Christian’s ministry within the Church congregation. I point this out because so many Christians have departed from the Biblical practice of serving God in and through the local Church and have opted for the rather recent trend that I refer to as freelance Christianity.
As I have chosen to define the term, freelance Christianity is behavior that is labeled as Christian conduct and ministry, but which apart from its stated goals and objectives does not bear a resemblance to the Christian practice that is described in the Bible. Understand that I am not in any way questioning the motives of those Christians that I believe to be involved in freelance Christianity. Neither am I criticizing their level of commitment to the cause of Christ. I am, however, pointing out the unscriptural nature of what they refer to as ministry. Let me explain.
As I understand the Word of God, believers in Jesus Christ are graced by God to properly submit to the four kinds of divinely ordained authority that currently exist: The authority of government, the authority of the home, the authority of the master over the servant (or the boss over his employee), and the authority of the Church. Do you realize that only that person who has been reconciled to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ is empowered to submit to God through these authority structures? But because of “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” lost people have no hope of realizing true and genuine submission to these four authorities God has established and through which God administers. But you would expect such behavior from lost people. However, by God’s grace and the spiritual illumination that He provides to enable His children to discern His will, you have every right to expect better of God’s children. God’s children ought to be among the best citizens. God’s children ought to be among the best workers any boss ever had. God’s children ought to have the best of homes. And God’s children ought to do right by their Church.
Sadly, we don’t have much of that nowadays. Concentrating our attention on the Church, consider the wide variety of so-called ministries that are completely independent of and unwilling to submit to the authority of a single Church. Gideons. Women’s Bible Fellowship. Campus Crusade For Christ, now called Cru. Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. And there are hundreds more. Why we even have pastors of large Churches and evangelists that start so-called ministries that have absolutely no New Testament counterpart or justification.
I stand before you a Baptist preacher. And I am a Baptist by personal conviction. Unique to Baptists is the belief that the only institution in existence through which God uses His people to win people to Christ, make disciples for Christ, and to otherwise serve Jesus Christ, is the local New Testament Church congregation. Because I am of the firm conviction that the Bible teaches what I have just stated to be true, I am a Baptist.
“But pastor, I am a Christian.” It’s fine that you are a Christian. I am a Christian, as well. And because you are a Christian, I shall enjoy your company here on earth and shall share your joy with you in heaven. But because I believe the Bible teaches it, I choose to serve my Lord as a conscious member of this Church, the Calvary Road Baptist Church. And I will serve my Lord in conscious submission to the authority of this body because I am convinced that the Bible teaches it to be His will for believers.
Turn to our text, Romans 12.3-8. In just a moment you will notice that what I have just described for you is exactly what the Apostle Paul indicates is the proper response of a believer to the doctrine of justification by faith. Recognized, as I said before, by scholars as a passage that addresses the issue of a Christian’s ministry within his congregation, Paul here describes for us the second aspect of behavior that results from correct belief.
We saw, in Romans 12.1-2, that proper understanding of God’s plan of salvation should lead to the commitment of your whole being to God. Beyond that, in our text for today, we shall see that a proper understanding of God’s plan of salvation should also lead to a commitment to serving God through your local Church. Please stand for the reading of our text, Romans 12.3-8:
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
As can be seen in this passage, two critical factors affect the justified person’s ministry in his Church:
THE FIRST FACTOR HAS TO DO WITH THE USE OF YOUR MIND (12.3)
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
That your mind is the key to your service to Christ should surprise no one. But what may surprise you is Paul’s view of a barrier that characteristically prevents Christians from serving Christ in and through the Church congregation. If you are one of our people, and you are not involved in some ministry of this Church, whether it be a formal ministry or an informal one, you are about to discover what the real reason is that you are not so serving. It isn’t because you’re tired. It isn’t because you are discouraged. It isn’t because you haven’t yet made up your mind. Four things to take note of as we discover what a barrier to serving Christ through this Church is:
First, acknowledgment:
“For I say, through the grace given unto me.”
No superiority is claimed by Paul in making the statement he is about to make. He acknowledges that the position from which he speaks as an apostle of Jesus Christ is the result of God’s wonderful and matchless grace and is completely undeserved. Perhaps Paul acknowledges God’s grace in his own life and ministry so that we will be reminded of God’s grace in our own lives and ministries. Wonderful, matchless, and completely undeserved.
Second, audience:
“To every man that is among you.”
This means that what Paul is saying he is saying to everyone. There was not a Roman Christian that this was not directed to. There is not a Christian who is excepted and for whom there is not direct application of this truth to his life. The audience, folks, is you and me.
Third, advice:
“Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly.”
Here it is. Paul’s piece of advice provides the clue to discerning why a particular Christian does not serve Christ through his Church, assuming he has a proper understanding of justification by faith. He thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. He has a magnified sense of self-importance. He thinks his wants and desires; she thinks her wants and desires, are more important than are God’s directives. But any way you slice it, this believer has resisted the ministry God has designed for him or her. Look it up. Ephesians 2.10:
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
And those good works are supposed to be ministry through our Church. So, how does a person justify, how does a person rationalize, how does a person reason, to explain to himself why he does not serve as others serve, why she does not minister as others are doing, as the Holy Spirit leads? He thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. She thinks more highly of herself than she ought to think. That is the definition of pride.
Finally, appraisal:
“According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
This statement provides guidance for the carrying out of the advice Paul has just given. This is how an individual is to think soberly, and not more highly of himself than he ought to think. By this statement Paul is counseling his readers, is counseling you and me, to base our opinions of ourselves, not on feelings and opinions and comparisons we make between ourselves and other people, but solely based on our unchanging and undeserved relationship with Jesus Christ. When you begin to evaluate who and what you are by the standard of our being Hell-bound but for the grace of God by faith in Jesus Christ, then your opinion of yourself becomes more accurate, and you will be delighted, you will be eager, to have the opportunity to serve the living God, to glorify your Savior, through the Church He died for.
And what about your wants? What about your hurts and pains? What about your disappointments? What about your schedule and agenda for living? With a correct appraisal of yourself in light of God’s truth about justification and what you and I deserve, your wants, your hurts and pains, your agenda, suddenly become far less important in comparison to God’s plan for you to play a role with other Christians in reaching this world for Christ. Yes, the first factor that affects your ministry to this Church is your mind and the thoughts that are in your mind.
THE SECOND FACTOR THAT AFFECTS YOUR MINISTRY TO THIS CHURCH HAS TO DO WITH THE USE OF YOUR GIFTS
Assume that the battle for control of your thought life has been won and you, not thinking overmuch of yourself, are ready, willing, and eager, to serve. But how to accomplish it all is the question. How do you serve? With the spiritual gifts that have been given to you. These are divine enablements given to you by God to be used to serve Him.
Look at the context of the gifts in 12.4-5:
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
These two verses are very important because they establish the proper frame of reference in which the use of spiritual gifts is to be understood by Christians.
What do we see in these two verses about the context in which the spiritual gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit are to be used?[1] Our observations can be summed up in two phrases: Organic unity and functional diversity. Organic unity refers to the oneness of the members. To be sure, our ultimate identity is what we are in Christ. And related to that “in Christ” identity that we have, as believers, each Christian is also in the family of God.
But God has given us a more close at hand organic unity as well. It is this assembly that we are a part of. And that’s what is being referred to here. Not only are all believers one in Christ, but we here are one in this assembly. Do we not also realize that to accomplish a goal we must be willing to sacrifice a portion of our identities? Does a football or basketball player on a winning team do only what he wants to do? Must not each player voluntarily choose to forgo a portion of his freedom of choice and action for the accomplishing of the team’s goal of winning? So it is within a Church congregation. We are an organic unity. But we also have functional diversity. We are unique individuals who, on top of that, have been given our own set of spiritual gifts to use. And, contrary to the freelance Christian’s understanding of spiritual gifts, except for the sign gifts, these gifts have been given for us to use to minister to each other within the body. So, think about Calvary Road Baptist Church.
Not only is this Church the setting within which spiritual gifts are properly exercised, but this Church is the most concrete and visible expression of Christian unity that is possible this side of the Second Coming of Christ. Getting a proper context for the use of spiritual gifts suddenly becomes more important, does it not? Of course, you can use your spiritual gifts any way you want to use them, but that’s not why they were given to you. They were given to minister to your brothers and sisters here so that by such ministry we will corporately be better prepared to represent Christ out there. To be sure, you have to be willing to surrender a portion of yourself for the corporate good. But not your uniqueness. Not your functional diversity. Use those gifts which you have been given, not for yourself, but the common good of the body and the cause of Christ.
With the proper context for gifts established, look now to one’s conduct with the gifts (12.6-8)
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
We are given two guides in these three verses: First, our recognition about gifts. You and I have different gifts. Recognize that reality. And no matter what you and I want to do about it we cannot alter what gifts we have been given. The participle “having” shows us that it’s a done deal. Believers have gifts. So, be satisfied with what God has given to you, by way of gifts, because He’s not going to give you any more. Finally, our responsible use of gifts. Here Paul gives guidance on the proper use of some important spiritual gifts to minister to others in the assembly. Prophesying is supposed to be done in agreement with the Christian faith. That is, no prophesying is to extend beyond the limits of the faith delivered to the saints. Sadly, the rule among too many preachers is to violate that prohibition by going beyond what God’s Word says.
Next comes ministry. Ministry translates the word for deacon. Were Paul referring to general service to God he probably would have placed this word at the beginning or the end of this list. But placed in this location, I think he is referring to deacons who are to serve within the proper guidelines of deacon service as it is described in the Bible. And again, in a great many Churches this guideline is ignored by deacons whose ministries bear no resemblance to those found in the Bible.
Teachers are supposed to be focused on their teaching. And this guideline is also needed, since teachers of God’s Word sometimes want to do more than teach, more than God wants or has equipped them to do. If someone has been equipped to teach, period, he needs to concentrate on teaching, period.
The same is true of the exhorter. If the immediate goal of the teacher is to impart truth, then the immediate goal of the exhorter is to help those who are taught to live out their obedience to the truth. Still, stick to what you are gifted to do. God gave you that particular gift for a reason.
The giver should give with simplicity. That is, contrary to the giving of some who have been blessed with prosperity, the person who has been gifted by God to be a giver should give without ulterior motives. Prior to me being the pastor here a wealthy Church member used to come to the Church on Monday and place her very large check on the Pastor’s desk to remind him that she was a big giver. That’s not good.
The word “ruleth” translates a word that means “to set before.” It can refer to being set before others as a leader or as a protector. The other places in the New Testament this word is used is in conjunction with the ministry of elders.[2]
Finally, there is the mercy gift. Oh, how mercy is needed in Churches today. Mercy should be shown with cheerfulness. Not jokes and loud laughter, necessarily. But with a radiant countenance and a bright smile. My, how that ministers to a Church member who is lonely, who is sick, and who is discouraged.
I wonder how many people would serve in their Church if they only realized that they are a part of the Church, that they have been wonderfully equipped by God with amazing spiritual gifts to be a real blessing to the people in the Church, and that God actually provides direction in His Word on how to actually perform the doing of it?
Right belief produces right behavior. If you know your doctrine, you will do your duty. And after eleven chapters of concise and logical truth related to the salvation of unworthy sinners and their future glory in heaven, we ought to be ready to do right. Amen? We ought to be ready to do right toward God. Present your body as a living sacrifice. And be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you can prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. And what is the first thing Paul deals with after he speaks of the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God for our lives? Serving Him through the assembly. And what two factors most affect your ministry to Calvary Road Baptist Church? Your mind and your spiritual gifts.
If your mind is right, if your view of yourself is the result of a sober evaluation in light of God’s Word, then you will not think so highly of yourself as to believe that Church ministry is beneath you, or that receiving the ministry of others in your life is not needed by you. Isn’t that a round about description of humility?
We have to realize that although we are new creatures in Christ with our sins forgiven, God created us for dependency. We need Him. And one of the important ways He ministers to our needs is through others in the body. If you think you don’t need the ministry of others in this body, let me ask you this: What about others needing your ministry? After all, we don’t want to gather here only to get. Do we? We want to gather here to serve others, as well. Don’t we?
And how are we to serve? Using our spiritual gifts. And you will use your spiritual gifts properly when you recognize that they were given to you, primarily, for ministry to others within the body. The question is, do you minister to others within the body? Some of you do, and wonderfully so. You minister to the very young in the nursery or Sunday School, giving kids their first introduction to the assembly as a place where folks are loved, and needs are met. Others, such as my wife, minister to the aged and the infirm in an informal and unstructured way. Brian and Dali, and others, minister to the aged and infirm.
Hey, Christian. Do you want to do good? Go ahead and do good — volunteer for something. But if you want to do best, begin serving to minister to others in this Church, so that by your ministry this Church will be better prepared to win our community to Jesus Christ. Play a part, not just in people feeling better or getting well or getting educated, but in Christians being prepared to effectively serve the true and living God.
Get involved in a Church ministry. Minister to children or adults, either formally or informally. But do more than that which is merely good by adding that which is best. Stop using mere talents and skills and begin using your spiritual gifts to minister to others in this holy assembly.
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[1] 1 Corinthians 12.4, 7-11
[2] John D. Harvey, Romans - EGGNT, (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2017), page 303.
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