Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Romans Chapter 12
Metaphysically Interpreting Romans 12:1-8
12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 12:2And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
12:3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. 12:4For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: 12:5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 12:6And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;12:7or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 12:8or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
November 11, 1928: Romans 12:1-2
What is the meaning of presenting the body “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”? The body is the house of the mind and the soul and it should be a perfect house, in order to express the perfection of God. “Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?”
If the body falls short of perfection what shall one do to attain perfection? Paul says, “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our thoughts are responsible for our bodily conditions, and those conditions can be made to conform to the divine pattern by our right thinking.
September 20, 1936: Romans 12:1-3
How does one offer one's body as a living sacrifice to God? The sacrifice consists in devoting the body to spiritual service, transforming it meanwhile, by renewing the mind at the one source.
How does any one, assure himself of what the divine will for him is? By waiting daily upon God in silence and meditation, man proves “what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” for himself.
Is it possible for man still to remain humble while feeling confident of the rightness of his cause or course? Man’s need of waiting upon God in prayer for his daily supply of wisdom keeps him humble, and the same prayer habit brings him needed light and confidence.
How else may man offer the living sacrifice? By thinking of his body as filled with life, health, and strength, and always identifying it in thought with that which is perfect.
What characterizes the life that his hid with Christ”? A few of the characteristics of the life that is “hid with Christ in God” are diligence, enthusiasm, and willing and eager service, rendered to” the best of one's ability. Hope and steadfastness lend it further strength.
March 20, 1938: Romans 12:1-2
What is spiritual service? Spiritual service consists in keeping the body pure and clean and the regenerated consciousness quick and sensitive to right and Truth.
December 3, 1950: Romans 12:1-2
How is the body made a “living sacrifice”? By being given over to the service of All Good in purity of thought, word, and act in the power of the I AM, we claim and lay hold of the Christ as the mainspring of all our expression.
How do we transform the mind and body? By the renewing of the mind. As we lay hold of the Christ, we gain the Christ consciousness, and the Spirit of the Christ begins the work of renewal in us.
What is meant by being “fashioned according to this world”? To be “fashioned according to this world” is to attach greater importance to material than to spiritual matters. Things of the Spirit should always come first in our life.
Can we, of ourselves by taking thought, transform our mind and body and heighten our abilities? Of ourselves we cannot, by taking thought, add one cubit to our stature, but by thinking of the Christ and claiming the power of the Christ in all that we do, we do express a higher degree of power than we have known before.
December 27, 1942: Romans, 12:1-3
How does one live the sacrificial life? By sacrificing all selfish, personal desires and filling mind, soul, and body with the Spirit of the Christ.
What is our spiritual service? To make the body a living expression of the Christ, so that it may bear testimony to the life of the Christ.
What transformation takes place in the one whose life is touched by the influence of the Christ? The mind is renewed and so quickened that one can discern what the will of God is without doubt or uncertainty.
Why does each one have to think of himself “according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith”? It takes faith to think the truth about ourselves in the face of contradictory appearances; to see only the truth as it is in Christ, expressing itself in our body, mind, and soul. A certain measure of faith is necessary before we can make even a beginning in the way of the Christ.
December 3, 1950: Romans 12:6-8
To what especial work should each of us devote himself? To that for which we have especial aptitude. Each one should develop his “gift”, or that which he does best and most gladly.
In what frame of mind do we give most effectually? In liberal-mindedness. “He that giveth, let him do it with liberality.” By giving grudgingly, we nullify the value of the gift and impoverish ourselves.
Metaphysically Interpreting Romans 12:9-21
12:9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 12:10In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; 12:11in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12:12rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer; 12:13communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.
12:14Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. 12:15Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 12:17Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 12:18If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. 12:19Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. 12:20But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. 12:21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
November 11, 1928: Romans 12:9-21
What are some of the thought standards to which we should conform? “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good”; love candidly and openly; that is without hypocrisy. “Be tenderly affectioned one to another; in one to another; in honor preferring one another.”
What should be the attitude of our service toward the Lord? “In diligence, not slothful; fervent in spirit serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
How should we act toward our associates? We should bless those who persecute us, and rejoice with those who rejoice.
Should we weep with those who weep? If we have fulfilled the law of rejoicing and praying and serving the Lord, there will be no occasion for weeping.
What did the apostle mean when he said, “Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly"? He meant that we should not be high and mighty in our own conceits; but in meekness and lowliness of heart, we should listen to the inner whisperings of Spirit.
How can we keep the command, “Render to no man evil for evil”? By realizing that only the good is real, we shall have the foundation for expressing the good always. When we allow no place in our thoughts for evil, it cannot gain a foothold, no matter how great the provocation to think evil.
How should we follow the injunction, “Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord”? We should never give place to destructive thoughts of any kind, because they react upon the thinker and destroy the cells of the body; therefore it is good policy, if others have injured us, to leave all retribution to the divine law of justice.
How do we overcome evil? By affirming that only the good is true, and that there is no reality in evil. This makes us positive and constructive in the good, and dissolves all appearance of evil.
September 20, 1936: Romans 12:9-21
Can anyone bless those who curse him without hypocrisy? Only he who is well grounded in love and understanding of the Christ way of life can bless without mental reservation those who curse him.
Of what is the ability to enter into the interests of others a sign? This ability shows self-dominion and love.
How does one overcome evil with good? In oneself one overcomes evil with good through a sincere desire to learn the principles of the Way. As regards others, one returns active good for what appears to be active evil, denying silently all conscious intent on their part to injure, and offering them mentally the grace of full forgiveness. Thus one regains strength to remain true to principle under adverse conditions,” which is the acid test of spiritual understanding.
December 27, 1942: Romans 12:9-21
What is the first prerequisite to the Christ life? Sincerity. It is useless for us to pre tend that we love all people. When the Spirit of love possesses us, we love all people, but not until then. To pretend that we do so, when we lack the Spirit of love in ourselves, is to practice hypocrisy.
Is it Christlike to “prefer one another” in honor? To put the personal self in the background is Christlike, and this is effectually done by giving others precedence always, where “honor” or credit is being bestowed.
What trait is emphasized as necessary to the Christ life? Active practice of our faith. We are to be diligent, fervent in spirit, “serving the Lord.” We are to live what we believe.
What spirit are we to display under varying circumstances? When filled with hope, we are to rejoice in that state of mind and heart. When undergoing tribulation, we are to be patient. In prayer, we are to be steadfast.
What should be our attitude toward evil? We should keep the mind turned toward the good (cleave to it) and refuse to entertain any thought of evil. We are under no circumstances to return evil for evil. We should not even harbor resentment, or try to avenge ourselves. We are to return good for evil and in this way “overcome evil with good.”
Sunday, July 22, 1951: Romans 12:9-21
Can love and hypocrisy exist together in the same heart? No. Love is the essence of truth and sincerity, and, when love fills our heart, there is no room in it for hypocrisy.
Can we avoid evil by not fixing our thought upon it? Yes, when we cleave to the good, evil disappears of itself from our mind and consciousness.
What state of mind makes for friendly and neighborly relations between people? A sincere regard for others and a selfless putting them in the first place and oneself in second place.
How can we maintain a zealous approach to life? By being diligent in work, having a fervent spirit in our zest for life, and by serving God faithfully (“serving the Lord”).
Should we actually “weep with them that weep”? No, we should avoid negativeness at all times, but we can always be understanding and considerate and hold a constructive attitude of mind toward those who are troubled.
How can we “be of the same mind, one toward another”? By giving first consideration to others, rather than to ourselves, and by holding thoughts of love, joy, and peace toward all.
Is it possible to “give place unto the wrath of God”? It is possible to entrust all our problems and social relations to the divine law, knowing that we need not take matters into our own hands in order to secure our rights. Cause and effect are here represented, as “the wrath of God.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-29-2013
