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The reader should prayerfully and conscientiously ponder these matters. Some of the
points mentioned will apply to all, while others will have a more particular application.
Beneath the specific acts mentioned there is revealed an underlying principle, and this
principle is traced back to one or other of the three graces, Faith, Love and Hope.
FAITH (Rom. 12: 6-8). Seven Gifts. |
Prophecy.
Ministry.
Teaching.
Exhorting.
Giving.
Ruling.
Showing Mercy.
LOVE (Rom. 12: 9-11). Seven Aspects. |
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Abhor evil.
\
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Cleave to good.
\
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Kindly affectioned.
\ Serving the Lord.
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In honour preferring.
/
/
Not slothful in business.
/
\
Fervent in spirit.
/
HOPE (Rom. 12: 12-15). Seven Consequences. |
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Patient in tribulation.
\ Yourselves.
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Continuing in prayer.
/
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Distributing to necessity. \ Others.
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Given to hospitality.
/
/
Bless them that persecute you.
\ Yourselves.
\
Curse not.*
/
/
Rejoice with them that rejoice. \ Others.
\
Weep with them that weep.
/
[* - "Curse not" is a negative extension of the positive command "Bless",
and so must not be counted separately.]
We find the same sort of relationship in I Cor. 12: and 13: as we have already found
in Rom. 12: I Cor. 12:, with its figure of the one body and its many members, which is
introduced, as in Rom. 12:, to illustrate the diversity and yet essential unity of the
various gifts, is followed by I Cor. 13:, with its emphasis upon faith, hope and love.
And just as I Cor. 13: declares at the close, that love is greater than all, so after
the interval of Rom. 12: 17 - 13: 7, the Apostle returns to the fullness of love as the
all-inclusive grace. This, of course, is as true to-day as when it was written. The
changing of the dispensations makes no difference to the pre-eminence of love, except
perhaps to make that pre-eminence more intensely true.