060- SRP: DAY TWENTY THREE Romans 12 Part I

Paul spent the first eleven chapters in just deep, theological thought, but then he gets to chapter twelve and it’s like “Okay, now let me put the kid gloves on.” There’s a good reason for that, and it’s not just something Paul does in his letter to the Romans. In fact, this is part of Paul’s writing style. 

I need you to remember allllll the way back to the first episode (it might have even been the introductory episode) when we talked about Paul’s letter form. After the body of the letter, Paul includes the “Paraenesis,” which means “practical application,” and the closing. Chapter twelve, the chapter we’re talking about today begins the “Paraenesis.” 

We won’t dig into this chapter too much, because it is really just “practical,” but I do want to point out one of my favorite words in the Bible here. 12:1, it’s a great verse and worth reading– “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.” My favorite word is in this verse, and it is “Therefore.” I know it’s weird, but as we say in elementary school, “Anytime you see a therefore, you have to ask, “What is it there for?”” Therefore means “that’s why,” and there are four instances of “therefore” in Romans. You’ll have to look them up yourself after this. The reason I love this word is because it makes sense, and when you see it, you know what to do. Go back and look at what the text said before and then put “that’s why” where you see the word “Therefore.” So let’s do that.

You ARE a Bible reader.
You CAN understand God's Word.
You WILL be changed by what you learn.

And, in turn, the Word of God will change your family, your community, and your world.

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