Audio commentary on this verse

Note 13 at Ro 12:3: Paul began this sentence with the conjunction "for." That means the point he was making in Ro 12:3 was a continuation or result of what was said in Ro 12:2. Many times the word "because" can be used interchangeably with "for."

Paul had just admonished them about humility and submission (living sacrifices) being the way to true success. He here continued that thought by giving these people another reason for humility: the fact that every person has been dealt "the measure of faith" (see note 15 at this verse).

In other words, we all, as believers, have perfect plans for our lives that we can "prove" (see note 10 at Ro 12:2) if we will totally yield ourselves to God. We may have different gifts, but they are not better than someone else's. Paul then continued in Ro 12:4 with the word "for" again, and drew a comparison from the way our bodies have different parts but they all work together to make one body.

Note 14 at Ro 12:3: Religion has interpreted this verse to say that we should think of ourselves in a lowly manner, but that is not what Paul was saying. It would be proper to say that we shouldn't think of ourselves more highly or more lowly than we ought to. We need to remember that any good thing we have is a gift from God (1Co 4:7). Paul was admonishing us to have the correct viewpoint, not a lowly viewpoint.

Note 15 at Ro 12:3: The dictionary defines "according as" as "in proportion to." Paul was saying we need to remember that God has given every believer "the" measure of faith (see note 13 at this verse). This sobers us up because we recognize that what we have is a gift from God that every child of God possesses. Some of us live up to more of our potential than others, but it's only God's mercy that makes it possible for any of us to accomplish anything.

Note 16 at Ro 12:3: God has dealt to every person "the" measure of faith, not "a" measure of faith. There are not different measures with God. The Lord doesn't give one person great faith while another person is given small faith. We were all given an equal amount of faith at salvation. The problem is not that we don't have faith, but rather we don't know how to use our faith, because of a lack of renewing our minds.

Peter said we had "like precious faith" with him (2Pe 1:1). The same faith that he used to raise Dorcas from the dead (Ac 9:36-42) is in us too. The same faith that Peter used is the same faith that we have.

Paul said he was living his Christian life by the faith of the Son of God (Ga 2:20). Since we all have been given "the" measure of faith, then that means we all have the faith of the Son of God in us. Our faith is sufficient. The problem we're experiencing is a result of our minds not knowing what we have.

In the same way that a car battery transfers its power to the starter through battery cables, so our minds are what allows this faith of God that is in our spirits to flow into our bodies. If our minds are not renewed, then it's like having corroded cables. The power is there, but it won't flow. Likewise, we believers have the same faith that Jesus has, but it won't flow through us until we renew our minds through the Word of God.