Understanding Commitment

Romans 12:1-3

Romans 12:1–3 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE PRINCIPLE (Romans 12:1a)

Romans 12:1a (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

A. What is the command?

1. Yield your entire being to Christ

(Romans 6:12–16)

Romans 6:12–16 (NLT)

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

2. The physical body

(Philippians 1:20)

Philippians 1:20 (NLT)

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

(2 Corinthians 5:10)

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)

10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

3. The eternal soul

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT)

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

4. The intellectual mind

(Mark 12:30)

Mark 12:30 (NLT)

30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

B. What is the Motivation?

Illustration:

During a late evening jog, a man took a shortcut to his house through a large cemetery. In the darkness of the night he did not see a freshly dug grave, and fell into it. For the better part of the next hour he struggled to climb out. He tried every conceivable maneuver but just couldn't escape. Finally, he resigned himself to curling up in the corner and waiting for morning. Within the next thirty minutes another late-night jogger suffered the same fate and fell into the same grave. He tried to quickly climb out but fell down on his first attempt. The first jogger then put his hand on the shoulder of the other man and said, "You can't get out." But he did!

("Solitaire," Gene Appel, Seeds Tape Ministry, July 24, 1994)

1. God’s mercy and love demonstrated at Calvary.

(Romans 5:6–8)

Romans 5:6–8 (NLT)

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

(Hebrews 4:15–16)

Hebrews 4:15–16 (NLT)

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

II- THE PRACTICE (Romans 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

A. Die to sin and live unto holiness. (Romans 12:1b-2).

1. You will either live to sin and die by it or die to sin and thereby live.

(Romans 6:23)

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Holiness means living a life separated and dedicated to serving Christ.

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

B. Make God’s acceptance your primary goal. (Romans 12:1b)

Romans 12:1b (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

(2 Corinthians 5:9)

2 Corinthians 5:9 (NLT)

9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

1. There is a danger when anything else is substituted.

(a) God’s warning to Cain

(Genesis 4:7)

Genesis 4:7 (NLT)

7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

C. Give God the service that he is due. (Romans 12:1c)

Romans 12:1c (NLT)

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

“τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν·” “which is your reasonable service.” (This is truly the way to worship him)

1. “reasonable” = “according to reason, logical, intelligent”

2. “service” = spiritual service (worship)

(Proverbs 1:7)

Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

D. Reject a self-focused life. (Romans 12:3).

Romans 12:3 (NLT)

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

1. The path to fulfilling this is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.

III- THE PROBLEM (Romans 12:2).

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

A. The Pressure to conform to the world:

1. Its nature:

(a) Ridicule

(b) Persecution

(c) Ostracizing

2. Its Sources:

(a) Friends

(b) Family

(c) Foes

(d) Religious People

B. The Power of Transformation:

1. Complete change

(Titus 3:5–6)

Titus 3:5–6 (NLT)

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

(a) Into a new person

(b) Changing the way you think, speak, act

2. Used to describe Jesus’ appearance

(Matthew 17:2)

Matthew 17:2 (NLT)

2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.

CONCLUSION:

Years ago, I am told, an old organist sat at his bench playing the instrument for the final time. He was a good organist and had served the church faithfully and well. Now a new organist was to come and the old organist wanted to step aside with dignity and grace. He struck the last chord, closed the instrument, locked it, and placed the key in his pocket. He then made his way to the rear of the church.

There, eagerness flashing in his eyes, the young organist was waiting for him. He asked for the key and, after a moment's pause, he raced to the organ, opened it, and began to play. The old organist had played with precision the notes before him, but this new organist played with a depth of soul and feeling that brought tears even to the eyes of the retiring organist. Reports of his artistry spread by word of mouth, and soon people came from miles around to hear him strike the keys of the console.

This new organist was a master at his craft; to that, the ear and the soul would abidingly attest. He was, in fact, none other than Johann Sebastian Bach. As the old organist left the church he thought to himself: "Just suppose I had not given the master the key!"

We do not know what spiritual music these sermons of ours have in them, but we do know that they shall be what He wants them to be, if we simply give the Master the key.

[1] Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013), Ro 5:6–8. [2] Συνσχηματίζεσθε = to assimilate ⇔ be conformed v. — to be or become behaviorally or socially similar to; conceived of as being or becoming shaped or molded to a certain pattern. [3] μεταμορφοῦσθε = to be transformed v. — to be or become changed in outward appearance or expression as manifesting a change in nature or essence. [4] ἀνακαινώσει = “to make new” (ana, “back” or “again,” kainos, “new,” not recent but different)[4]