General Idea: This passage is about how we are to treat others around us. The theme of the Sermon on the Mount is clearly echoed here in this passage. The call is to serve others as Christ has served us, and to treat others as Christ has treated us.
Theme: Jesus introduced a life which runs opposite our feelings and impulses. We respond differently to enemies, sensitively to others, humbly with believers, and peaceably with all.
Paul here explains how to live out the will of God: Keep in mind the rich mercy of God to you – past, present, and future (by the mercies of God). As an act of intelligent worship, decide to yield your entire self to Him (present your bodies a living sacrifice).
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Verse 12 appeals to the necessity of judging ourselves now in the light of the fact that God will review our case at the judgment seat. We should not sit in judgment on others; rather, we need to judge ourselves.
Humility and empathy are required for living alongside others in such a way as to bless those who persecute, to rejoice with those who rejoice, to weep with those who weep, and to associate with the lowly.
If we are mistreated, we should not seek vengeance for ourselves, but instead try to bless the person who has harmed us. The message here is not to be a passive victim who is taken advantage of by others; it is to overcome evil with good. If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink.
God's people are called to love one another and at the same time be uncompromising in keeping our spiritual fervor as we seek to serve the Lord. We promote that which is good in our neighbor and seek to correct him gently when he falls. This is not always easy, as we are apt to have disagreements with one another.
Whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord's (14:8) … So then, each of us will be accountable to God (14:12) … Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another” (14:13). Note that Paul does not adjudicate the disagreement; that is, he does not implore the “weak in faith” to become meat-eaters.
Honor Faith and Conscience First
Their master is God and should work to please Him in their lives. Disciples who live like this should not judge or criticize other believers and shouldn't do things to “make them stumble” (Romans 14:21, ESV).
Those who cannot partake in good conscience—even though they are free in Christ to do so—should not do so. To violate their conviction is sin. It is also wrong for strong-faith Christians to tempt weaker-faith brothers and sisters into sin by insisting on exercising their own right to eat and drink those things.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but aovercome evil with good.
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). The implicit temptation here is to regard what God has given as our own and keep it for ourselves. It's easy to say, “It's my home.” Yes, it's the home God has given to you.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. This verse deals with the subject of Christian empathy, not sympathy. Sympathy is subjective emotionalism, whereas empathy is the ability to objectively relate to another person's situation. Empathy is the ability to identify with people in their problems.
21 Do not let evil things win against you! Instead, do good things. Then you will win against the evil things that people do.
Romans 12 encourages us to be living sacrifices in view of the mercy we have received in Christ Jesus. We do this through renewing our minds to the truth of God's word, serving and blessing the body of Christ through our gifts and above all by loving and being devoted to one another.
In Romans 13:11-14, Paul tells us that the time of our salvation is rapidly approaching. He urges us to lead a life of integrity, where we clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and abandon our desire to satisfy our sinful nature.
Christians should not do things that may cause other believers to stumble. If believers cannot do something in faith then they should not do that thing. If a fellow believer thinks that it is wrong to consume a particular substance, then we should not participate in that thing around or with that believer.
Those who cannot partake in good conscience—even though they are free in Christ to do so—should not do so. To violate their conviction is sin. It is also wrong for strong-faith Christians to tempt weaker-faith brothers and sisters into sin by insisting on exercising their own right to eat and drink those things.
Paul's advice to the strong is simple: when the exercise of your legitimate liberty emboldens the weak to violate his conscience, you must defer to his interests and refrain from what would otherwise be permissible for you to do.
Romans 12:2 shows that we live out God's will when we change our thoughts to God's thoughts, rather than living like the world dictates. The world will always pressure us to live sinfully and selfishly, but to live the good life God wants from us requires changing how we behave—by changing our thoughts.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 14:11-12 In-Context
For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: “ 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. ' ” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Don't repay with evil, but be honorable in the sight of all. Consider how to act honorably instead of retaliating. Think beforehand to give honor, not to do to others what they have done to you. As it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:18 recognizes that while we can't control everything, we should try our best to seek peace. For instance, you can't control someone else's anger or vitriol, but you can control yourself. By controlling our words, our actions, and our conduct, we can encourage peace rather than discord.
In Romans 12:9-21 we find some fundamentals for growing in our relationships. There are actually 24 commands within this passage but we can group them into 10 commands. Love must be sincere, without hypocrisy.