Most of you will recall that in our study of the Epistle to the Romans, we have arrived at the 16th verse in the 12th chapter,

the 12th chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans, verse 16.

Be of the same mind one toward another.

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of lowest state. Be not wise

in your own conceits. Now, this is the third Sunday, Friday evening, that we've been considering

these injunctions that are recorded here at the end of this chapter,

beginning at the 14th verse, and going on to the end of the chapter. Here, as I've been indicating,

the apostle is teaching us how we are to react to the things that happened to us and to people. He's already told us how we are to

behave towards others. Here, he is telling us how we are to react to others and to what they do

to us. And we have already seen that he's told us to bless them which persecute us and bless them and not curse them.

We've also been told to rejoice with them that do rejoice and to weep with them that weep.

But now in this 16th verse, he comes and makes this special appeal to us about having a common mind be of the same mind one toward another.

He's emphasizing the importance of agreement amongst God's people in the church.

It's the only way to have harmony in the church.

Now, I must remind you again that the two statements, really, the two verses that govern the whole of this section are verses 9 and 10.

Let love, he says, be without dissimulation.

Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honour preferring one another. Now, there are the controlling principle,

and from thereon he goes on to work those out and to show us how they are to apply in the particular details of our lives.

Now, that, of course, is a great appeal again for this agreement, this common mind that

he's talking about here in this 16th verse, be of the same mind, one toward another.

And then as is his custom, as a very wise teacher,

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