Video Notes: 

• First, we must keep in mind the beginning of Romans 12, “therefore”. This passage and all the passages in this chapter and going forward are written to Christians who already stand in the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. These actions and commands do not make us right before God, rather we get to do them because we are already right before God.
• Live in harmony with one another – Having the same mindset toward one another.
  • This does not mean we all think the same, but rather that we have the attitude toward one another and the same goal of unity and love in grace.
• So, we should not be arrogant. Why not?
  • Because we have nothing to be haughty or arrogant about. All that we have is a gift from God. Our salvation, our righteousness, our calling, our skills, they are all gifts.
  • Furthermore, we now get our identity from Christ. God esteems your neighbor just as much as He esteems you. So, again, there is no place for arrogance.
• So, we should associate with the lowly ones. This doesn’t indicate that these people are less-than in the church, but rather how they are seen in the society. Jesus ate with tax collectors, the lowest of the low. Since we have no cause for arrogance and realize that we stand in the same gift-given place as every other Christian, we can associate freely with every other Christian.
  • This would have been a shocker for the Roman culture, both Jew and Gentile. Their culture all about associating with the right people.
  • It’s not all that different today. Jesus is counter-cultural.
• This harmony or unity comes from God. He has already united us and set us as equal members of the body of Christ, though with different functions. True love lives in that unity, knowing our value in Christ, seeing that same Christ-value in others, and acting accordingly.