In our studies of the 12th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, as you most of you will recall,

we come this evening to verses 17 and 18, verses 17 and 18 in the 12th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Recompense to know men evil for evil, provide things honest in the sight of all men

if it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men

now I suggested when we were making a general analysis of the chapter, and as we resumed three weeks ago, I suggested that here in the 17th verse, we come to the final, the last subsection of this chapter.

Here, the apostle, as I have reminded you, is dealing with the practical application

of the great doctrine that he's been laying down, especially in the first eight chapters,

and indeed also in the subsequent chapters 9, 10, and 11. But here he comes to this application.

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies,

a living sacrifice, and so on.

That you be not conformed to this world, but that you be transformed by the renewing of your

mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And then he's proceeded to deal with this.

We've got to exercise the gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit in the realm of the church.

He deals with that until the end of verse 8.

The church is the body of Christ.

And as in the body are several members of their

differing functions, but all serve the same common end and object and purpose, so it is

in the church. Well, then, from verse 9 and 10 onwards, he deals with our general attitude

towards other people and the way in which indeed we conduct ourselves

in general.

Then from verse 14 onwards he is dealing with our reaction to what other people do to us.

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