Romans 12:6-8
The Bible can be confusing, especially when the same author uses the same word with different meanings. For example, in the Book of Romans, Paul uses the word, “law” in several senses.
Law: God’s rules for humanity that place us under the curse of sin.
Law: The way the world works or a principle such as the law of gravity.
Law: The Torah, or the five books of Moses.
In the reading from Romans 12, Paul uses another common word in a couple senses, “grace.” We typically use the word, “grace” to refer to the free gift of salvation through Christ. That’s what we mean when we say that we are saved by grace, through faith, on account of Christ.
This grace is the same for everyone. All are sinners, and all fall short of God’s glory.
Sometimes, though, Paul uses the word, “grace” to refer to something different. He frequently writes about the grace given to him for being an apostle. In Romans 12:3, he writes, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone…” In this sense, the grace can be individualized according to God’s design.
This second kind of grace flows from the first. In other words, we only get the individualized gifts through the grace that’s common to us all.
In the reading above, St. Paul writes that we all have received gifts that differ in accordances with the grace given to us. We ought to use them for the good of his church.
God has sent us gifts, abilities, by his grace to use to love and serve each other. Check out the sermon to learn more.