Romans 12
The New Life in Christ
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers
and sisters,a by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your
spiritualb worship. 2Do not be
conformed to this world,c but be transformed by the
renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of
God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.d
3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of
yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober
judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For
as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same
function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in
Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We
have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in
proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering;
the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in
exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the
compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil,
hold fast to what is good; 10love one another
with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do
not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.e 12Rejoice
in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute
to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice
with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live
in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the
lowly;f do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do
not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the
sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God;g
for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20No,
"if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them
something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their
heads." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.