We are presently looking at the mandates for the believer to function in impersonal or integrity love inside the PPOG that are found in Rom 12:14-21;
These mandates are in the context of Rom 12:1-2; that show that the believer’s adherence to these mandates is enabled by the Mercies of God (Grace) and is part of their "reasonable (logical) service "NET (verse 1) and is enabled by the transformation that occurs in the believer's thinking that comes from their continuous persistent PMA of Bible Doctrine that results in their performing the will of God. (verse 2).
There are mandates from the imperative mood of the Original Language found in verses 14, 16,19,20 and 21.
In this study we are looking at Rom 12:17 where Paul repeats the principle taught by David to Solomon found in Prov 20:22; where we have the principle of waiting on the Lord for vindication.
This is only possible when believers function in personal love for God that results in unconditional integrity or impersonal love for all mankind.
When believers understand God's purpose in it all through continuous persistent PMA of Bible Doctrine and as a result they can function in James 1:2; because they understand and believe that they are the beneficiaries of the testing that God permits in their lives 1Cor 10:13; that results in the proving of their doctrine. 1Pet 1:7 and it results in supergrace blessings. Rev 3:21-22;
Believers are undergoing a metamorphosis that causes them to be transformed in to a form that will glorify Him.
From their faith perception via the PMA of Bible Doctrine they are confident that when the process is complete they will come forth, made in the image of TLJC, and as a result will be thankful for every step of the process. 2Cor 4:16-18;
Rom 12:17b:NET "Consider what is good for all people"
The word translated "consider" in the NET and "Respect" in the NASB is the Greek word "pronoeo" that means to think about something ahead of time, for the purpose of being prepared to respond appropriately in the event it is necessary.
It means to have foresight and to be ready to respond properly to any adversity.
Regardless of the pressure of adversity and the evil that is being done to them, believers are to keep on producing divine good as they keep on doing a right thing for the right reason in the right way at the right time under the mentor ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
Rom 12:18; Live and let live as much as it depends on you by using the problem-solving devices to maintain harmony with everyone.
The "if clause" here is a first class condition and can be translated, "If it is possible and it is."
Believers can live with others in harmony because they have the capacity to do so from metabolized Bible Doctrine, or at least they have the potential to do so dependent upon their spiritual growth and persistent function inside the PPOG.
It is not possible to acknowledge sin for other believers. It is not possible to be filled by the Spirit for other believers. It is not possible to apply doctrine for other believers.
But believers have these power options available to them and they are to maintain harmony with other believers because this harmony depends on them.
With impersonal integrity love it is the integrity of the subject not the attractiveness of the object that is in view.
The honor code functions under the filling of the Holy Spirit and application of resident doctrine. This gives the advancing believer the capacity to make harmonious rapport possible.
However, it is impossible to live in harmony with those who refuse to live in the honor code.
This is why the verse reads, "as much as it depends on you." You must function in the integrity of the honor code even if others choose not to do so.
Believers must apply truth for themselves. There is no single solution that will enable believers to resolve all their human relationships, but Biblical principles must guide the believer’s thinking and application in all situations.
The believer's responsibility to people lies between two extremes that must be avoided.
One hand, the believer is not to be insensitive, but on the other hand they should not allow themselves to be enslaved by anyone’s implacability either.
We are not to ignore the just cause of anyone, but neither should we be motivated by fear or guilt to resolve something. The believer's responsibility lies between these two extremes.
If the problem can be alleviated, we should go to the extent that justice, sensitivity, and common sense dictate in easing the situation.
Often the problems are complex. Usually both parties in any dispute are responsible to some degree. Some so-called “solutions” would only aggravate the problem.
We should be thoughtful and generous and should walk the extra mile Matt 5:41; but when nothing more can be done, we must leave the situation in the Lord’s hands for the solution as we press on in our Christian lives. Phil 3:13-14;
This is what David did in 2Sam 12:13; Psa 51:4; even though others were unable to. 2Sam 11:3; 2Sam 23:34; 2Sam 15:12;
No matter whose volition originally caused the problem, each person is ultimately responsible for applying truth in their own life.
The believer must live their life as unto the Lord, not as unto people.
This is not to be construed as ignoring the human dimension of a problem, but application of the law of volitional responsibility does not put the believer into bondage in order to pay for past failures.
The PPOG demands the virtues of humility, personal love for God, and impersonal love toward other people. Matt 22:37-40;
Bad decisions inevitably cause problems, and when a believer commits a sin, they must take responsibility for its consequences toward God, self, and as much as possible with others.
Rom 12:19; states the principle given to Israel in Lev 19:18;
Not only is this mandate a part of the Royal Family Honor Code, it is to be regarded by the Church Age believer as The Royal Law of Love.
James 2:8 If you are fulfilling the Royal Law, which is according to the Scripture (Lev 19:18;), "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," then you are doing the right thing in a right way.
These principles were included in the Torah as God's commands for Israel.
Deut 6:5; You yourself shall love the Lord your God with all your heart (your right lobe), with all your soul, and with all your power.
Lev 19:18; You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
In the Church Age we have received the power of God the Holy Spirit as the Enabler of the unique spiritual life of the church. We love God only in the spiritual life. No one loves God by being ordered to love Him, but God never issues a mandate without supplying the means of compliance.
Through spiritual momentum from the perception and application of Truth, we obey the Divine mandate for personal love for God that results in the capacity to love our neighbor as our self.
These mandates were restated by TLJC during his mission to the earth in the DUHC.
Matt 22:37-40; And He said to him, " YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
But only possible to fulfill with the spiritual life of the church age. John 4:24;
Rom 7:14; For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
Rom 8:4; So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Rom 12:19; the word translated "leave" in the NASB is the second person plural aorist active imperative of the Greek word "didomi" that means to give or provide.
In this case the believer is being commanded to give God the opportunity to take up their case in his timing and his way in his perfect justice to be executed.
This is done through the application of the Faith Rest Drill.
Believers claim promises by recalling an appropriate doctrinal rationale, and reach a doctrinal conclusion that enables them to take control of the situation
Faith-rest, is the God given spiritual mechanic that believers use to apply Bible Doctrine to any situation.
The ability to avoid mental attitude sins comes from self-discipline in applying the doctrine we know.
There is a doctrine available to neutralize every mental attitude sin.
Vindictiveness and implacability are set aside by taking God at His word when He says, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay"
Fear is removed by the doctrinal rational established from Rom 8:31;.
Arrogance and self-righteousness are excluded when we remember that we are not appointed to judge other people Matt 7:1-2; Luke 6:37; Rom 14:4;
Believers are left with no cause for jealousy since their own blessings from God's grace are sufficient and perfectly timed for maximum benefit and contentment.
Believers must concentrate on what they have, not on what they do not have. Matt 6:25-34;
Rom 12:19; We must also remember that God's "wrath” is an anthropopathism because God is never angry.
References to "God's wrath" are simply referring to what automatically accrues to those who fail to align with the perfect justice of the integrity of God by appropriating his righteousness within the amount of time or "Grace Space" that he has given for that alignment in his Grace policy. John 3:36;
Rom 12:20; is quoted from Prov 25:21-22;
The word translated "feed" in the NASB is the second person singular active imperative of the Greek word "psomizo" and the words translated "give him something to drink" is the second person singular active imperative of the Greek word "potizo".
In doing this, the believer demonstrates their total dependence on the integrity of God and total independence from people and circumstances. Jer 17:5-8;
They demonstrate their belief in the reality that their sufficiency is only from God and that they know that they will never be without sufficient provision or be depleted by what they do. 2Cor 9:8;
This is only possible when the believer is in the cognitive independence of spiritual autonomy or the cognitive invincibility of spiritual maturity. Phil 4:13; Phil 4:19;
The believer at spiritual maturity has maximum contentment. Phil 4:11-12;
The wisdom developed in momentum testing assures the believer that God and His Word along with the enabling power of the Holy Spirit are the only assets that are needed to endure and pass any kind of testing.
Knowing that God is in control of every situation no matter how impossible it seems becomes the basis for the believer sharing the happiness of God.
The believer's inventory of ideas from Bible Doctrine and its application is such that they are invincible in the face of all that the kosmic system can throw at them.
The believer is completely convinced that God is the source of their blessings, that they are irrevocable Rom 11:29; and that they will be conveyed fully in God's timing. Isa 30:18a;
We have studied the escrow blessings that are on deposit in Eph 1:3.
Peter refers to them as in "inheritance" in
1Pet 1:4; We have an inheritance (escrow deposit) which is incorruptible (irrevocable) and undefiled (not even by sin) and will not fade away (not retained by failure to fulfill the escrow agreement), reserved in heaven (the depository) for those of us
v. 5 who are guarded (by the wall of fire) by the power of God through faith alone in Christ alone for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (by the resurrection body at the rapture of the church).
Paul calls them a "prize" in:
Phil 3:13 - Fellow believers, I do not evaluate myself to have laid hold of it yet (the high ground), but one thing I concentrate on: forgetting those things which are behind (sins confessed & forgiven) and reaching out toward those things which are ahead (escrow blessings in time),
Phil 3:14; I keep advancing toward the objective (spiritual maturity) for the prize (decoration) of the upward call (efficacious grace which begins the advance) of God which is in Christ Jesus (the Depositary).
The writer of Hebrews informs us that the fulfillment of the escrow agreement occurs when the believer reaches spiritual maturity in: